CHURCH, Gertrude May (VanGorder) Kruse --- 1885-1958

VANGORDER, KRUSE, CHURCH, RILEY, WAGNER, SKIDMORE, VREELAND, ANDERSON, GRIENER

Posted By: Ia GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 11/17/2011 at 19:10:05

Rites Held For Former Resident

MURDO, SOUTH DAKOTA -- Funeral services were held for Mrs. C. W. Church, Tuesday afternoon, June 24, in the Methodist Church at Murdo, South Dakota, with the Rev. Walter Nelson officiating. Interment was made in the Murdo Cemetery.

Gertrude May VanGorder, daughter of Jason and Mary VanGorder was born on May 30, 1885 in Clayton County, near Luana. She lived with her grandmother from early days of her life and until young womanhood. In 1902 on December 11 she was united in marriage to William Kruse and to this union two children were born, LeRoy and Helen Kruse.

In 1906 she was separated from her husband and came west with her daughter Helen. She took up a homestead about six miles north of where the town of Murdo now stands. She returned to her home in Iowa in 1908 and a month later returned to Dakota where she was met at Mitchell and was united in marriage to Charles Wellington Church and to this union six girls and a boy were born.

In the fall of 1909 the family moved to the eastern shore of Maryland where they lived for 10 years, then sold out their business interests and returned to Murdo in 1920 where they have lived ever since.

Mrs. Church was active in community affairs and busy always helping relatives and friends. She was a member of the Methodist Church and belonged to the VFW Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary.

She passed away at the Murdo Hospital on June 20, 1958 at 6:45 p.m. at the age of 73 years and 21 days.

She leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Charles W. Church, Sr., and her children, LeRoy Kruse of Luana; Helen, Mrs. Daniel Riley of Spokane, Washington; Clevie, Mrs. Charles Wagner, Echo, Nevada; Marie, Mrs. Carl Skidmore, Marathon, Florida; Ruth, Mrs. Leo Vreeland, Seattle, Washington; Elma, Mrs. Haakon Anderson, Murdo; Lucille, Mrs. William Griener, Murdo, and Charles W. Church, Jr. of the U. S. Navy, aboard the air craft carrier "Antietan".

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.