Mercedes Vortherms

Mercedes Josephine Vortherms. . .

was born to Alphons and Helen (Klontz) Tennessen on October 4, 1929 on the family farm near Kenneth, Minnesota where she was raised. She attended St. Anthony Catholic Elementary and High School. After her graduation from high school in 1947, she did some housework. She later worked for the telephone company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Kenosha, Wisconsin. On October 4, 1951, she was united in marriage to Robert Vortherms at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lismore. Following their marriage, they started farming at Adrian, and then farmed near Edgerton, Minnesota and Woodstock, Minnesota. They moved to their present farm by Ruthton, Minnesota which they purchased in 1975. Robert preceded her in death on November 18, 1999. After his death, Mercedes continued to live on the farm. In 2018, Mercedes moved to Bennett, Colorado to live with her daughter. On Sunday, July 5, 2020, Mercedes died peacefully at her home in Bennett at the age of 90 years, nine months, and one day.

Mercedes was a member of St. Martin Catholic Church in Woodstock. She was also a member of the Earl Gruis American Legion Auxiliary in Holland. For many years she volunteered as a driver for the Murray County Volunteer Transportation Program. She enjoyed spending her time painting ceramics, watercolors and oil colors. She also liked baking and decorating cakes.

She is lovingly remembered by her two children, Judy (Charles Delp) Craig of Bennett, Colorado, and Ron (Jane) Vortherms of Lake Wilson, Minnesota; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bob (Chris) Tennessen of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Jim (Kay) Tennessen of Minneapolis, Minnesota; one sister, Jeanette (Al) Henning of Worthington, Minnesota; and one sister-in-law, Mary Tennessen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and two sisters, Theresa Tennessen, and Roselyn Vortherms; and one brother, Al Tennessen.