Gertrude I. Hoiland

GERTRUDE HOILAND was born October 7, 1926 to Edmund and Sophie (Dhaemers) Willems in Belgrade, Minnesota. When she was a baby her family moved to Jasper, Minnesota where she resided for her childhood years. She graduated from Jasper High School in 1944. It was in high school that she first met Gene Hoiland, her future husband. He entered the Army to serve in WWII and Gertrude headed to Minneapolis, Minnesota where she took a job making parts at Maine Manufacturing. She stayed there until the end of the war and then moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she was employed at J.C. Penney’s in the sales department. During her time in Sioux Falls, she would frequently ride the train to Jasper to visit family and friends. She and Gene were married on January 14, 1948 in the rectory at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper. The couple made their home on a farm near Beaver Creek, Minnesota and later lived on farms south of Jasper. Gene passed away on March 8, 2000. After his death, Gertrude continued residing on the acreage east of Jasper until 2002 when she moved into an apartment in Jasper. She later lived in Pipestone, Minnesota until 2007 when she moved to Luverne, Minnesota. On Friday, December 23, 2011, Gertrude died at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 85 years, 2 months and 16 days.

Gertrude was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper. While she was raising her children, she enjoyed helping with 4-H. She also enjoyed her card club and her birthday club. She held various jobs throughout her life, but her greatest joy came from being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Gertrude is lovingly remembered by her children, Terry Hoiland of Glendive, Montana, Tim (Ruth) Hoiland of Sherman, South Dakota, Marietta (Dick) Dubbelde of Sherman, Rosanne (Tom) Krier of Sioux Falls, and Becky (Dave) Dobson of Springfield, Minnesota; 14 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jim (Mary) Willems of Mitchell, South Dakota and Ed (Clarice) Willems of Watertown, South Dakota; and a sister, Judy (Arnie) Callsen of Hardwick, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; an infant daughter, Ann Rita; her parents; and sisters, Lucille Bierman and Dorothy Serie.