Franken, Mrs. Howard (Wilma) - 1928-2004

FRANKEN, VANDE KIEFT

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/31/2010 at 15:07:07

Wilma Joyce Franken, 76, of Luverne, Minnesota, died Thursday, September 23 at the Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Funeral service was at 10 A.M., Monday at the American Reformed Church in Luverne with the Rev. David Sikkema officiating. Burial was in the Luverne Garden of Memories Cemetery.

Mrs. Franken was born July 11, 1928 in Sioux Center to William and Henriet (Knubal) Vande Kieft. She graduated from Sioux Center High School. She married Howard Franken on August 4, 1948, at First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center. The couple farmed northeast of Sioux Center. In 1951, they moved to the farm southwest of Luverne.

She was a charter member of American Reformed Church in Luverne, where she was one of the first organists, playing for 30 years. She was also a Sunday school teacher for 30 years and a member of the Ladies Aid, Extension Club, Sewing Club and the Luverne VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed reading, handwork, flower gardening, cooking, her great-grandchildren and family weekends at Round Lake in the summer.

Survivors include her husband, of Luverne; daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Gene Edstrom of Luverne; two sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Pam Franken and Byron and Kristi Frankel, all of Luverne; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Howard (Gwen) Vande Kieft of Lynden, Washington; and two sisters, Vivian Vander Veen and Shirley (Paul) Van Zanten, all of Lynden.

Sioux Center News, September 29, 2004