Grace M. Derr 1915 - 1987

DERR, KNUTSEN, BAXTER

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 3/2/2014 at 14:23:43

Onawa Democrat, Onawa, (Monona), Iowa, 26 Nov 1987:

GRACE M. DERR

Grace Marie Derr, 71, of Whiting, Iowa, died on November 18, 1987, in St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, after a long illness.

She was born December 2, 1915, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, the daughter of William J. and Laura (Knutsen) Baxter. She married Charles Philip Derr October 8, 1944, in Mitchell, South Dakota. The couple came to Whiting in 1957. Mr. Derr died January 23, 1965, in Mesa, Arizona.

Grace was secretary to the Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Education of the Whiting Community School for 22 years. She was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ where she was currently a Deaconess and had been treasurer of the Women’s Fellowship. She was very active in the Eastern Star in Mitchell and was a member of Queen Esther Chapter No. 222, Order of Eastern Star of Onawa. She was a volunteer at the Whiting Public Library and had been a chaperone for the girls’ basketball team at the Whiting Community School.

Survivors include a son, Philip, of Whiting; a daughter, Deborah Tuerk of Omaha, Nebr.; a sister, Joan Clayton of San Pedro, Calif.; and five grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and infant daughter, Laurie Ann; and one brother, William Homer.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 20, 1987, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Whiting, Iowa, with Rev. James Stroh officiating. The organist was Mrs. E. B. Matthews and the pianist was Mrs. U. V. Garred. The vocalist, Mrs. Robert McFarland, sang “Sweet Hour of Prayer”.

Casket bearers were Garry Tucker, Dean Forbes, Dr. Dean Niffenegger, E. R. Bridgford, Robert Rodman and Cleo Ping.

Interment was at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 21, 1987, with Rev. James Stroh officiating at Graceland Cemetery, Mitchell, South Dakota. Arrangements were by Pearson Funeral Home, Onawa, Iowa.