ROLLEFSON, Dena 1906-2007

ROLLEFSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 12/27/2007 at 16:35:55

Dena Rollefson, age 100, of Forest City, died on Wednesday, September 5, 2007, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 8, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Hanlontown. Burial was in the Brush Point Cemetery in rural Hanlontown.

Dena Vaage Rollefson, was born in Kenmare, North Dakota, on October 1, 1906, the daughter of Jorgen and Christine (Erickson) Vaage. She was baptized at Saviors Lutheran Church in Kenmare. She moved with her family to Iowa and settled near Fertile. Dena was confirmed in the Fertile Lutheran Church and attended rural school at the Ellington Township School.

On April 3, 1926, she married Russell Rollefson and the couple made their home in Thompson, Iowa. To this union two sons were born, Raymond and James. Russell and Dena farmed near Thompson for 14 years, then moved to a farm near Fertile. Russell and Dena later purchased a farm in Ellington Township and farmed there until they retired and moved to Hanlontown.

Russell passed away on September 15, 1992 and Dena stayed in her home in Hanlontown until she moved to the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City, Iowa. She resided there with her new-found family that she grew to love and received much love back.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Jackie Rollefson of Clear Lake and her family. Also surviving are grandchildren and their families, Steve and Lori Rollefson of Forest City, Barbara and Rick Bitterman of Algona, Gary Rollefson and son, Jesse of Mason City, Cherrie Parris of Clear Lake, Al and Laurie Rollefson of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Russ and Sara Rollefson of Clear Lake and Debbie and Marvin Miller of Clear Lake.

Dena was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Rollefson; her two sons, James and Raymond Rollefson; a sister, Hannah Norem; and brothers, Helmer, Engvold, Ed, John, Andrew, George, Carl and Nick Vaage.