Services for Dorothea Bierkamp are at 10 a.m. Friday, May 24, at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. The Rev. John Pehrson will officiate. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne. Visitation is from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 23, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne. Visitation will also be from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday at the church.
Dorothea "Do" Bethune Bierkamp, 85, Clarksville, Tenn., a long-time resident of Luverne, died Saturday, May 18, 2002, at Montgomery County Nursing Home in Clarksville.
Dorothea Ihlan was born to Otto and Helga (Helgeson) Ihlan on July 10, 1916, in Luverne. She graduated from Luverne High School in 1934 where she was active in basketball, school plays and the school paper. She attended the University of Minnesota during the 1945-1946 school year studying fine arts. She returned to Luverne to care for her mother. She worked at Rock County Courthouse, an income tax office and J.C. Penney during the 1930s. She then worked several years at Tri-State Insurance in Luverne.
She married Arlo Bierkamp on Oct. 12, 1946, in Luverne. After their marriage the couple lived in Luverne. She was a homemaker. She also worked at the Rock County Treasurer's office part-time. She moved to Clarksville, Tenn., in 1997.
Mrs. Bierkamp was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Luverne and women's circle for many years. She was also a member of Eastern Star, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and Luverne Moccasins. She enjoyed gardening and antiquing. She was very creative in all she did. She loved nature, animals and walking outdoors in all seasons.
Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Shirley Bierkamp, Clarksville; one daughter, Mary Bierkamp, Minneapolis; and two grandchildren, Andy and Stephanie Bierkamp, Clarksville.
Mrs. Bierkamp was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Arlo, on Sept. 13, 1994.
Dingmann Funeral Home, Luverne, was in charge of arrangements.