Deters, Carol Lorraine (Burton) 1917-2005

GREEN, BURTON, DETERS, FURU, IWEN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 1/26/2006 at 14:13:39

Carol Deters

Carol Lorraine Deters was born May 7, 1917, in Fergus Falls, Minn., to Beryl (Green) and Benjamin Burton. Her childhood was spent in Minneapolis, where her father was a math instructor at Edison High. When she was 13, her family moved to Virginia, Minn., where she graduated at the age of 15 as valedictorian of a class of 600 students.

Her college career included Winona State University, University of Minnesota, Luther College, and University of Iowa. She was honored in many ways in college. She was a member of National Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Tau Delta, Purple Key, National Quill and Scroll, National Forensic League, and was named the State of Minnesota Debating Champion three years in a row. She also worked for three summers while in college as a canoe trip guide portaging through the Northern Minnesota and Canadian Boundary Waters. In 1933 she was presented the United States Medal of Honor for her work among the Net Lake Indian families in Northern Minnesota.

Carol was devoted to education. Her teaching career spanned 30 years - five years in Minnesota and 25 years in Waukon, Iowa, in the Allamakee Community School District.

November 29, 1939, she married Harold Frank Deters at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ in Eitzen, Minn. They divided their time between their home in Waukon and their farm in Union City Township. Both being avid outdoor lovers, they were interested in, and did a great deal of work in conservation. Carol and Harold made many travels both in and out of the United States. They wintered for many years in Arizona where she spent one day every week working with the Navajo Indian children in their schools, contributing money and materials to help them.

Carol was civic minded and involved in her community. She was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Waukon, where she held numerous offices, and also served terms on the Park Board, Library Board, and Allamakee County Housing Board. As a very outgoing and social person, she enjoyed long term memberships in P.E.O., Eastern Star, and White Shrine in La Crosse, and was a Tri Delta Sorority member in college. She was also a part of Searchlight Club and the local Retired Teachers Association. Her hobbies included collecting English bone china cups and saucers, cat figurines, and bells. She was a voracious reader and accumulated a collection of over 4,000 books.

Carol died Wednesday, December 14, 2005, at her home in Waukon.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harold, who died in 1989 in their 50th year of marriage; her parents; a sister, Marion Furu; and two brothers, Dwight and Buddy Burton.

Survivors include her three children, a daughter, Andrea (Dr. Bill) Iwen of Algoma, Wis., and twin sons, Reverend David (Charlene) Deters of La Crosse, Wis., and Dr. Michael (Pat) Deters of Waterloo, Iowa; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Private services were held Monday, December 19 at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. Burial was in St. Luke’s Cemetery at Eitzen.

Pall bearers were Bryan, Jayson, Mark, and Eric Iwen and Kevin, Matthew, and James Emerson.

Waukon Standard, December 28, 2005