Dorothy Kraayenhof

DOROTHY ANN KRAAYENHOF was born on April 21, 1944 to Floyd and Ilene (Oldre) Jackson at the Luverne Community Hospital in Luverne, Minnesota. She was baptized at the Kenneth Lutheran Church in Kenneth, Minnesota and received her confirmation in 1958 at the Blue Mound Lutheran Church in rural Luverne. She grew up on the farm north of Kenneth until her family moved to a farm north of Hardwick, Minnesota when she was in the eighth grade. Dorothy often helped her mother with baking and cooking. She enjoyed playing with her brothers. Dorothy graduated from Luverne High School in 1962. Dorothy would live the rest of her life in Luverne. After high school, she was employed at Tri State Insurance for six years. On August 2, 1967, she was united in marriage to Edward Kraayenhof at Blue Mound Lutheran Church. The couple later divorced. From 1968 until 1980, Dorothy was a homemaker and cared for their children. In 1980, she became the secretary at American Reformed Church in Luverne and she remained in that position until her retirement in 2009. On December 2, 2020, Dorothy died peacefully surrounded by her daughters at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 76 years, 7 months, and 11 days.

Dorothy was a member of the American Reformed Church. Besides being the secretary, she was active in Circle, Quilting, the Ladies Group which provided kitchen service at various church events, and volunteering with her church group at Justice For All in Rock Valley, Iowa. Dorothy was a volunteer with ACE (formerly RSVP), Bookin’ Buddies, and Good Samaritan Society - Mary Jane Brown serving coffee. In her spare time, Dorothy enjoyed sewing, crocheting, baking, flowers and plants, butterflies, and recently enjoyed reconnecting with people on Facebook. Dorothy will be remembered for her kindness, gentleness, and her servant’s heart. She was soft-spoken and very loving. She believed in always doing and giving your best.

Dorothy will lovingly be remembered by her two daughters, Loree Ness of Luverne and Kristi (Scott) Van Der Weide of Ankeny, Iowa; two grandchildren, Kathryn (Katie) and Anna Van Der Weide; siblings, Milton (Susie) Jackson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and David (Gwendolyn) Jackson of Brandon, South Dakota; special “grandpup”, Zoey; and many nieces, nephews and other family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Ilene Jackson; and brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Nancy Jackson.