Thief River Falls - Blanch Goethe, 71, died Tuesday, March 31, 1998 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 4 at 1 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls with Reverend Marcia Sylvester officiating. Paula Adamson was the organist, and special vocal music was provided by Jan and Diedre Nordin. Casketbearers were Larry Goethe, Laurence Goethe, Richard Jorde, Jimmy Rondorf, Philip Rondorf, Ronnie Rondorf, Wally Rondorf and Steve Thorstad. Honorary casketbearers were all of Blanche's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery. The Green Funeral Home of Thief River Falls was in charge of the arrangements.
Blanch Agnes Rondorf was born on May 22, 1926 near St. Hilaire, the daughter of William and Marie (Anton) Rondorf. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church and attend rural Riverside School near St. Hilaire. Blanch attended high school in St. Hilaire and received her G.E.D. in 1971.
On April 9, 1947 Blanch was united in marriage to Herbert G. Goethe at First Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. The couple lived near Goodridge and farmed in Kratka township. From 1980 until 1985 Blanch worked at Rosemount, Inc. in Eden Praire. During that time, she and Herb lived with their daughter in St. Louis Park and returned home to their farm every weekend.
Blanch was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. She especially loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed embroidering, dancing, quilting and radio contests.
Blanch is survived by her husband, Herbert; two daughters, Diane Hanson of Thief River Falls and Esther (Don) Pollard of St. Louis Park; one son, Howard (Ann) Goethe of Thief River Falls; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Ben Kleinwachter of Strandquist; five sisters, Delores Gulley of Forest Grove, OR, Ardellis (Marvin) Hempel of Portland, OR, Beverly (Martin) Baker of Wright City, OK, Sylvia (Charles) Wilcoxson of Glenwood, IA, and Millicent (Allen) Paulson of Thief River Falls; six brothers, LaVerne (Olive) Rondorf, Eugene (Edna) Rondorf, Alvin (Mildred) Rondorf, Leonard (Sylvia) Rondorf and William (Burnell) Rondorf, all of Thief River Falls, and Rally (Kathy) Rondorf of Minneapolis; two sisters-in-law, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by two daughters, Emily Goethe and Dee Kleinwachter; her parents; son-in-law, Ron Hanson; and one sister, Marzella Jorde.