Lorinda Jonette Brekke Obituary

Lorinda Jonette Brekke was born on Wednesday, March 1, 1916 to Andrew and Bertha (Berg) Brekke at the family farm eight miles south of Andover in ScotlandTownship, Day County, South Dakota.  She was baptized at BethanyLutheranChurch, Andover.  In 1919 the family moved to Pierpont and she was confirmed in 1931 at BethlehemLutheranChurch.  She attended school in Pierpont and graduated from PierpontHigh School in 1933.  Lorinda attended Northern Normal and IndustrialSchool in Aberdeen where she obtained an Elementary School Certificate in 1935 to teach. She taught for twelve years in rural schools, three years in the southwest district of Pierpont, three years in the Holmquist district, north of Holmquist, and six years in the Fountain school district, north of Bristol.  It was while she taught at the Fountain school, south of BergenChurch, that she met Maynard Sigdestad.

On July 8, 1942 she married Maynard at the Bergen Lutheran parsonage north of Bristol. After their marriage, the couple farmed on the Sigdestad family farm until moving into Bristol in the fall of 1983. Maynard passed away in March 1993. After his death, she continued to live in Bristol.  She moved to the JohnsonCenter in August 1999 and then entered Sun Dial Manor in January 2002.

She was a member of BergenLutheranChurch and served in many capacities.  Lorinda was a teacher at heart.  She loved to talk about her teaching days in the rural school system.  During the summer months when she wasn’t teaching school she taught VacationBibleSchool.  She had a special love for music and gave piano lessons to many students.  She taught the high school Sunday School class, played the piano for services at BergenChurch, plus directed the Bergen choir.  She and Maynard sang duets at many weddings, funerals, church services and get-togethers.  Their rehearsal venue was their car as they were going to and from Bristol on a Saturday night.

Lorinda went to be with her Lord on December 8, 2007 at Sun Dial Manor in Bristol at the age of 91 years, 9 months and 7 days.

Survivors include one son, Richard (Marian) Sigdestad of Bristol, SD; one daughter, Lola (James) Klein of Columbus, OH; four grandchildren, Johann (Jennifer) Klein and Amadeus Klein of Columbus, OH and Heather and Heidi Sigdestad of Bristol, SD; and one great-granddaughter, Alexsandra Klein.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five sisters, five brothers, four half-sisters and two half-brothers.

Lorinda was very sincere in her Christian faith.  Her comforting presence and loving care will be keenly missed by her children, relatives and friends.  Blessed be the memory of Lorinda Sigdestad……

Read Full Post »

Mary Elizabeth Klein’s Obituary

Mary Elizabeth Atkinson Klein died following a short illness, at Arbor’s East Subacute and Rehabilitation Center November 7, 2001.  She was 85 years old.

A memorial service was held at Bethesda Lutheran Church, Bristol. South Dakota on December 16 at 2 p.m.

Mary Elizabeth Atkinson was born August 15, 1916 in Willmar, Minnesota to James and Lula Atkinson.  The family moved to Day County when she was around 2 years old.  She graduated from Bristol High School and received her certificate of nursing from Peabody School of Nursing, Webster, South Dakota, June 3, 1938.

She married Bernhardt (Barney) Klein April 2, 1941 in Newcastle, Wyoming.  In 1950 the family moved to a farm northeast of Bristol, South Dakota, where they lived for 17 years.  In 1987 they moved into Bristol where she and her husband served as co-administrators of the newly erected Sun Dial Manor Nursing Home.  She was Director of Nursing Services from June 1, 1968 until her retirement in the fall of 1981.

In 1983 she moved to Bemidji, Minnesota and in 1995 to Columbus, Ohio to live with her son, James, and family.  She made friends quickly and was involved in church and community activities.

Her parents, an infant sister, Naomi, and her husband preceded her in death.

Survivors include one sister, Thera Bury, Bristol, her son, James, Columbus, Ohio and two grandsons.

Read Full Post »