Kruse, Donna Mae (Tollefsrud) -- 1924 - 2011
KRUSE, TOLLEFSRUD, HERBRANSON, CASPER, OLMSCHEID, HEKE, KEMPLE, HALVORSON, ARMSTRONG, HEADINGTON, LOVSTUEN, LIND, HEGLAND
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 6/3/2012 at 18:02:48
Decorah Journal Feb. 24, 2011
Donna M. Kruse, 86, of Decorah, died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. Funeral service is at 11 a.m. today (Thursday, Feb. 24), at First Lutheran Church, Mabel, Minn. with Rev. Gail Klavetter officiating. Visitation was 3 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and also is Thursday one hour before the service at the church. Organist is Joyce Raaen. Soloists are Lester Erickson (“The Lord’s Prayer,” “Ava Maria” and On Eagles’ Wings”) and Joan Garness (“In The Garden”). Congregational hymns are “Abide With Me” and “Amazing Grace.” Casket bearers are Tim Kruse, Christopher Kruse, Norbert Lovstuen, Neal Lovstuen, Dennis Hegland and Bernelle Tollefsrud. Interment is at First Lutheran Cemetery in Mabel. Arrangements are by Fjelstul Funeral Home, Decorah, www.fjelstul.com .
Donna Mae Kruse was born May 21, 1924 in Winneshiek County, the daughter of George and Selma (Herbranson) Tollefsrud. She was baptized June 10, 1924 at First Lutheran Church in Mabel and was confirmed Oct. 31, 1937 at Locust Lutheran Church. She attended rural Hesper grade school, and was a 1942 graduate of Decorah High School in Decorah. Following graduation she taught rural school in Springfield Township for one year and at the VanVliet School for two years.
Donna was united in marriage to George Kruse Aug. 18, 1942 at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. This union was blessed with four children: Robert, Gary, Lynee and Geoffrey.
Donna worked alongside her husband, George on their farm north of Decorah. She had worked for a number of years in the catering department of Luther College. They were host and hostess to a Danish foreign exchange student, Inger Otteson, for one year. In 1973 they traveled to Denmark to visit her and her family.
Donna was a member of First Lutheran Church of Mabel and had been active as a former chairman of Ladies Aid, Sunday school teacher and WELCA. She also was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Joan of Arc Club. She had many interests which included Norwegian cooking, crocheting doilies, Norwegian rosemaling, sewing, flower and vegetable gardening and cake decorating; and she was ever the ultimate hostess to her family and friends.
Donna is survived by her husband, George of Decorah; four children: Robert (Priscilla) Kruse of Wayzata, Minn., Gary (Eloise) Kruse of St. Cloud, Minn., Lynee (John) Casper of Urbandale, Geoffrey (Mary) Kruse of Decorah; 11 grandchildren: Haley, Kerri, Christopher and Elizabeth Kruse, Tim (Heidi) Kruse, April (John) Olmscheid, Jennifer (Clive) Heke, David (Laura) Casper, Steven Casper, Kylie and Kelsey Kruse; one great-granddaughter, Adele Kathleen Casper; one brother, Charles Tollefsrud of Mabel, Minn.; four sisters; Margaret Kemple of Rochester, Minn., Inga Halvorson of Wabasha, Minn., Delores Armstrong of West Plains, Mo., and Florence Headington of Decorah; two sisters-in-law: Velva Lovstuen of Mabel, Minn.; and Mila Mae Lovstuen of Decorah; and by many nieces and nephews.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, George and Selma Tollefsrud; two brothers, Truman (Beth) Tollefsrud and Gilman (Irene) Tollefsrud; two sisters, Gloria (Bernie) Lind, LuVerne (Raymond) Hegland; six brothers-in-law: Alert Lovstuen, Milton Lovstuen, Richard Kemple, Duane Halvorson, Bob Armstrong, Milo Headington.
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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