Lois Kruger

Lois Kruger, age 96, of Lakefield, Minnesota, entered into rest on Thursday, October 14, 2021, at her residence in Lakefield, surrounded by her family. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, October 22, 2021, at the Osterberg Funeral Home in Lakefield. Funeral service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2021, at Indian Lake Baptist Church in Worthington, with Pastor Steve DeKok officiating, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow the service at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Worthington.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to go to local organizations in Lois’s honor.

Lois Lila Kruger, daughter of Jesse and Elsie (Steffen) Wolff, was born on December 19, 1924 in Lakefield MN.    She attended school in Lakefield MN through grade 10 when her family moved to Oregon.  With her family, she moved back to Lakefield MN in 1942.  She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on July 7,1940.  Lois was united in marriage to Benjamin Kruger on September 24, 1944.  Following their marriage, the couple lived in Harris, Iowa.  This union was blessed with 11 sons and 3 daughters.  They lived in Iowa until 1946, when they moved to the farm in Indian Lake Township, Nobles County MN. She and Ben continued to farm near Round Lake until December, 1972 when they purchased a farm near Okabena and farmed there until retiring and moving to an acreage by Lakefield MN in 1988. For a short time in 2020, Lois lived in assisted living, but with Covid and the restricted contact with friends and family, Lois returned to her home where she was visited daily by her children and grandchildren. On October 14, 2021, Lois peacefully took the Lord’s hand and entered her eternal life, at the age of 96 years, 9 months, and 26 days.

        During her life, Lois was a very busy woman.  Fulfilling her duties as a farm wife, she raised her 14 children with Ben and helped in every capacity.  She planted a large garden every year, raised and butchered chickens, and cooked an enormous amount of potatoes.  Her skills for baking included weekly bread making, cookies, cakes and pies.  The falls were busy with canning fruits and vegetables.   She sewed  dresses for the girls and became an expert at patching jeans,  a skill she continued until her last days.  Her hands were also kept busy with crocheting.   She made dozens of baby afghans and larger ones for all her kids and grandkids.  This too was a hobby she enjoyed her entire life.   After moving from the farm, she and Ben enjoyed time together traveling, with trips to Montana, Colorado, Hawaii, Alaska, Germany and the UK.  They also went on frequent fishing trips.  Her trophy catch is hanging in her home.  They bowled together and made visits to the casino.  Casino trips continued after Ben’s passing with her favorite driver.   She also enjoyed card club and was happy if she won 15 cents.

     Mom was blessed with frequent meals of fresh walleye caught by her talented family.  If you stopped by the house,  you knew that there was a pan of Rice Krispie bars sitting next to the fridge.  She made sure it was never empty. They were enjoyed by all who entered.

     Her greatest pleasure was time with her family.  Nobody could put a smile on her face like the grandchildren.  She loved holding new babies.  She was a confidant to each of her kids.  She supported them and prayed for them nightly.  She enjoyed going to the steak fries at Okabena and rarely missed pork chop night at Round Lake Legion.  All these were done with several of the kids along for the ride. 

     We all have special memories of mom and they will live in our hearts forever.  She had a good life;  she will be missed, but we have the lessons  she shared to keep her love surrounding us.   God bless her memory.

Lois is survived by her children:  Dennis of Denver CO; Gary of Worthington MN; James of Cold Spring MN; Roger of Mankato MN; Marvin (special friend Laurie) of Dundee MN; Stanley of Jackson MN; Sandra (Tim) Boisen of Sioux Rapids IA; Karen (Marty) Martodam of Plymouth MN; Larry of Okabena MN; Harvey of Okabena MN; Robert of Heron Lake MN; Joseph of Lakefield MN; Phillip (Lori) of Lakefield MN and Diane of Windom, MN; grandchildren: Missy (Chad) Raverty, Wendy Kruger, Ryan (Stacey) Kruger, Jason (Cassie) Kruger, Ashley (Cody) Kolbe, Dallas (Abby) Boisen, Riley (John) Shonka, Sarah Martodam, Josh (Alyssa) Kruger, Jessica (Nick) Brouwer, Eric (Elsie) Kruger, and Rachel (Ethan) Gibson; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Lois was preceded in Death by husband Benjamin and sisters, Arlene Schultz, Mable Wasko,  Pearl Stumpf and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Blessed be the memory of Lois Lila Kruger.

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