Johanna Mathilda Kraayenhof, 79, Luverne, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2002, at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center in Luverne.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Oct. 1, at American Reformed Church, Luverne. Burial was in Eastside Cemetery east of Steen.
Mathilda Medema was born Sept. 6, 1923, on the family farm near Rock Rapids, Iowa to Peter and Anna (Van Ommeren) Medema. Her early years were spent on the farm, but as a young girl she moved into Rock Rapids with her family. She received her education in Rock Rapids. She spent her early womanhood as a domestic helper for other families in Rock Rapids. On April 19, 1943, she was united in marriage to Ed Kraayenhof on Ed's family farm near Steen, MN. The couple lived on Ed's family farm and eventually took over operating the farm. In 1975, they retired from farming and moved into Luverne.
Mrs. Kraayenhof was a former member of the Steen Reformed Church and a current member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne. She always had a big garden and enjoyed sewing for her family and neighbors. She loved to go to auctions and was a collector of bells and Delft china.
Survivors include, her husband, Ed Kraayenhof, Luverne; 4 sons, Ed (Peggy) Kraayenhof, Sioux Falls, S.D., Dennis (Jo) Kraayenhof, Easton, Doug (Nancy) Kraayenhof and Brian (Darla) Kraayenhof, all of Hills; four daughters, Helen Kraayenhof, Hills, Joyce (Dale) Helmke, Kandiyohi, Glenda (Rodney) Kuehl, Beaver Creek, and Mary Kraayenhof, Luverne; 18 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Johanna DeBoer, Eldon, Mo.; two sisters-in-law, Pearl Medema, Rock Rapids, Iowa, and Delma (Don) VanGeest, Okoboji, Iowa; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
Mrs. Kraayenhof was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, John, Tony, and Joe Medema; three sisters, Anna Fluit, Marie Ver Meer, and Henrietta Kruse.
Engebretson Funeral Home of Luverne was in charge of arrangements.