Gwendolyn Jorran Grothe

Gwendolyn Jorran “Gwen” Grothe, age 83, of Fergus Falls, died Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Gwendolyn was born on April 30, 1933, in Pope County to Martin and Gida (Nelson) Mikkelson. She lived and worked on the family farm as a child and attended District 14 Country School, and then she went to Glenwood High School and finished with a home course, graduating in 1951.

Gwen met Robert Frederick Grothe at the roller rink. They were married on October 8, 1950 at Chippewa Lutheran Church in Brandon, which was a small old church. After they were married, Gwen and Robert moved to Minneapolis and lived there for 7 years. After that, they lived in Glenwood, Minnewaska, Benson, Willmar, Alexandria, Owatonna and lastly Fergus Falls. Later in life, they loved to go camping in their mobile home at Elks Point in Fergus Falls.

Gwen was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls and the Gathering of the Goddesses. She enjoyed sewing, embroidery, gardening, reading, cooking and watching her daycare kids.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Gida Mikkelson; her husband, Robert Grothe; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Jean; three brothers, Lester, Marvin and Charles; a daughter-in-law, Sheila Grothe; and a grandson, Matthew Grothe.

Gwendolyn is survived by her children, Robert Jr. (Deb) Grothe, Valerie (Larry) Payne of Benson, Roxanne (Kelly) Chandler of Dalton, Cylinda (Darcy) Cherrington of Alberta, Canada, Randall Grothe, Jason Grothe and Tasha Korby, all of Fergus Falls; her grandchildren, Christian Grothe, Martina (Greg) Cannon, Chad (Missy) Payne, James (Pam) Payne, Rick (Melissa) Payne, Joshua Payne, Nate (Katy) Chandler, Maggie Chandler, Karli (Ryan) Johnson, Michelle Gronewold, Jeremiah (Brianna) Mullen, Bradley (Goose) Mullen, Stacey (Nick) Proudfoot, Brittney Grothe, Derek Grothe, Syliah Grothe and Cody Grothe; twenty-three great-grandchildren; one great-great- grandchild; and all of her daycare children that she watched and loved as her own.

Visitation: 2:00- 4:00 PM on Sunday, June 12, 2016, at Olson Funeral Home
Service: 10:30 AM on Monday, June 13, 2016 at the Olson Funeral Home Chapel
Clergy: Reverend Kate Bruns
Burial: Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in Fergus Falls
Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, Minnesota