Mildred Ahrendt

MILDRED ADELINE AHRENDT was born To Joseph and Amanda (Dolge) Kampa on November 20, 1925, on a farm near Sherman, South Dakota where she was raised and received her education. After her graduation from Sherman High School in 1943, she helped the wives of the area farmers care for their children. A short time later, she became employed by the Jasper State Bank in Jasper, Minnesota. In 1946, she was united in marriage to Dwayne Ahrendt. Following their marriage, they lived in Jasper where they owned and operated D.J.’s Café for 25 years. In 1975, they sold their restaurant and moved to an acreage by Sherman. At this time, Millie began working at the Jasper Locker and later, the grocery store in Jasper. Her husband preceded her in death on January 3, 1985. Millie continued to work at the store until she was 70 years old. She retired to her acreage for several years prior moving into town in Jasper. In September of 2019, Millie became a resident of the Sunrise Village in Jasper. After a stay in the hospital over the winter, she moved to the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne, Minnesota in order to be closer to her family. On Tuesday, January 14, 2020, Millie passed away at the age of 94 years, one month, and 25 days.

Millie was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Jasper where she served in the Ladies Aid. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. Millie enjoyed the outdoors and could often be found working with her flowers, or mowing her lawn. She also enjoyed caring for wildlife including ducks, geese, and pheasants, at her acreage. However, her biggest joy in life was spending time with her kids, grandkids, and greats. Many Sundays she would have fresh baked cookies and her well known pies along with any other special request awaiting their arrival. Her one-of-a-kind sense of humor was sure to make them laugh until they cried. You never knew what was going to come out of her mouth. She truly was a treasure.

She is lovingly remembered by her sons, Danny (Pam) Ahrendt of Trent, South Dakota, and Steven Ahrendt of Dell Rapids, South Dakota; her daughter, Toni Bullerman of Adrian, Minnesota; eight grandchildren, David, Jennifer, Dallas (Heather), Brandi (Marty), Jill (Jeremy), Amber (Kelly), Audrey (Jeff), and Andrew (Emily); 13 great-grandchildren, Taylor, Paige, Makaya, Travis, Hayden, Ashton, Marek, Stella, Raegan, Reese, Ryder, Talon, and Wyatt; and life-long friend, Gert Benson. She was preceded in death by her baby daughter; husband, Dwayne "Dud"; two sisters, Pearl Kickland and Dorothy Mackley; two brothers, Bernard Kampa and Eugene Kampa; son-in-law, Mike Bullerman; and great-grandson, Caleb Weiss.