Skip to main content

Ethel Ossefoort

Lead Summary

Ethel Marie Ossefoort, 95, Luverne, died peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Monday, Sept. 7, at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Burial was at St. Martin Catholic Cemetery in Woodstock.
Ethel Van Dam was born Sept. 28, 1924, to Nicholas and Catherine (Herwith) Van Dam II in Trent, South Dakota. She moved with her family to Dell Rapids, South Dakota, at age 2. She attended St. Mary’s Academy in Dell Rapids, where she was a boarding student from the first through fourth grades. Following school, she helped out at home and caring for her family.
On Jan. 14, 1948, she married Louis Ossefoort at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dell Rapids. They lived on the Ossefoort family farm near Woodstock. Ethel was a homemaker and mother to their nine children. In 1987 they sold the farm to their son Bob and moved to Luverne. Ethel worked part time in the bakery at Kenny’s Super Valu in Luverne from 1995 to 1998. Louis died on Feb. 10, 1998. Ethel continued to live in Luverne. She began working at Luverne Public Schools in 1998 in the lunchroom and became known as Grandma “O” by the students. She retired in May of 2010.
Ethel was an active member of St. Martin Catholic Church in Woodstock. She was currently a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne and a member of Ladies Aid. She also volunteered as a quilter and cared for the church linens for 12 years. She was a member of the Pink Ladies and the VFW Auxiliary, where she served as president for five years. She enjoyed gardening on the farm and caring for her flowers. She enjoyed her family and helping out wherever she could.
Ethel is survived by her children, Jean (Gary) Staeffler of Luverne, Gerald (DeAnn) Ossefoort of Fulda, Beverly (Tom) Martius of Luverne, Robert (Bonnie) Ossefoort of Woodstock, James Ossefoort of Grand Rapids, Joyce (Curt) Roos of Edgerton, Doug (Dawn) Ossefoort of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, David (Marjean) Ossefoort of Pipestone and Richard (Lynette) Ossefoort of Luverne; 27 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; five great-great-granddaughters; sister-in-law Joann Van Dam; and other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Louis; two grandsons, Kelly Staeffler and Steve Ossefoort; a great-granddaughter, Addyson Ossefoort; a daughter-in-law, Tammy Ossefoort; and four siblings, Nicholas Van Dam III, Gerald Van Dam, Helena Kriens and Joseph Van Dam.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
 (0910 F)

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.