Nellie (Rowland) Onken, 83, Rushmore, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2001, at Arnold Memorial Nursing Home in Adrian.
Services were Tuesday, Oct. 2, at First Presbyterian Church in Rushmore. The Rev. Glen Pearson officiated. Burial was at Sunset Rest Cemetery in Rushmore.
Nellie Breeman was born to Isaac and Kommertje (Van Rij) Breeman on Nov. 23, 1917, in Boyden, Iowa. She was raised and attended school in the Rock Rapids, Iowa, area.
She married Bert Rowland on March 15, 1939, in Rock Rapids. After their marriage the couple lived a short time near Ellsworth before moving to a farm three miles south of Rushmore. Mr. Rowland died Sept. 11, 1961.
She married Harm Onken on Dec. 6, 1965, in Rushmore. Mr. Onken died on Sept. 15, 1968. She moved to Rushmore in 1977. She worked as a waitress at Rushmore CafŽ for about 35 years. She also worked at the Coliseum in Worthington.
Mrs. Onken was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Rushmore, the Rushmore Booster Club and Dodge Center American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed cooking, flowers, gardening, dancing, music and was an avid Twins fan.
Survivors include one son, Loren Rowland, Rushmore; one daughter and son-in-law, Audrey and Thomas Erwin, Dodge Center; six grandchildren, Jeanette (Corey) Pruka, Stacy Erwin, Kevin Erwin and his fiancŽe, Michele Wencl, Casey Erwin, Cynthia Rowland and her special friend, Daniel Dischner, and Chandra Rowland; Nellie's special friend, Larry Summerfield, Worthington; three sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Onken was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, one brother, Ike Breeman Jr., two sisters, Pauline VerMeer and Cora Brommer, and a daughter-in-law, Arleen Rowland.
Dingmann Funeral Home, Worthington, was in charge of arrangements.