Mildred Tonetta (Tokheim) KEEN

KEEN, MJELDS, CAPMAN, DUTTON, TOKHEIM, NELSON, THOMPSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/30/2009 at 06:57:19

October 29, 2009
Fort Dodge Messenger, Iowa

THOR - Mildred Keen, 99, of Thor, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at the Long Term Care Unit of the Humboldt County Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday at the Ullensvang Lutheran Church in Thor. Visitation is from 1-2 p.m. Friday at the church. Interment will be in East Ullensvang Cemetery, Thor. The Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home of Humboldt is assisting the family.

Mildred is survived by her children, Linda (Gregg) Mjelds of Thor and Gary (Susan) Keen of rural Thor; two grandchildren, Fara (Kirk) Capman of Des Moines and Brett (Carly) Mjelds of Council Bluffs; two step-grandchildren, Bryon and Brett Dutton; four step-great grandchildren, Paige, Gracie, Brock, and Braydon. She is also survived by her sister-in-laws and brother-in-law, Ethel Tokheim, Mabel Nelson, Richard and Beverly Keen, Corrine Keen, and Wanda Keen; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Willie; sisters, Anne Thompson and Genevieve Thompson; brothers, Edwin, Elmer, Olaf, Alfred, and Robert Tokheim; and one infant brother.

Mildred Tonetta Tokheim was born on November 18, 1909 to Ed and Martha Tokheim at rural Thor. She was educated in rural country schools and graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1926. She rode the train from Thor to Eagle Grove every week to attend classes. In the 30's she graduated from the Paris Academy of Beauty in Cedar Rapids and operated her own beauty shop The Beauty Spot above the bank in Thor for seven years. On November 8, 1946, she was united in marriage to Willie (Bill) Keen. They made their home on a farm near Hardy for eight years before moving to their farm near Thor. Willie passed away in 1972 and Mildred made her home in Thor until moving to Long Term Care in January of 2009. Mildred learned to bake pies at the age of 13 for the oats thrashing crews and was know for her baking and cooking abilities. She was devoted to her family and loved baking kringla for them. She was a member of the Thor Legion Auxiliary and Ullensvang Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School for several years.