Beulah Grotegut, 93, Albert Lea

Published 9:23 am Monday, February 14, 2011

Beulah I. Grotegut, 93, of Albert Lea, and formerly of Decorah, Iowa, died Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, at New Richland Care Center in New Richland.

Grotegut

Beulah Iola Grotegut was born Feb. 5, 1918, to Herman and Josephine (Kittelson) Hendrickson on a homestead near Cando, North Dakota. She was baptized in her home and later confirmed at Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper, Iowa near her family’s farm. She attended country school there through the eighth grade and high school in Mabel. Tragedy struck her family in 1937 when her brother Glenwyn was killed in a farming accident and her mother died in 1938. She moved to Decorah, Iowa, with her father and worked at a factory supporting World War II efforts and later for McMasters and Headington optometry office.

She was united in marriage to Calvin H. Grotegut on Feb. 18, 1951, at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. This union was blessed with one daughter Brenda.

After their marriage, they farmed in rural Burr Oak, Iowa, until 1956 when they moved to Decorah. Beulah worked for Montgomery Ward and later Decorah Community Schools as a school food service worker. Her organizational skills led her to a position as supervisor for the school district’s hot lunch program from which she retired in 1983. Beulah and Cal moved to Albert Lea in April 1994 to enjoy closeness to family. After celebrating 50 years of marriage, Cal passed away Sept. 12, 2001. Beulah continued living in their home until January 2011 when she moved to the New Richland Care Center, New Richland.

Beulah had been a member of Big Canoe Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Church in the Decorah area, and currently was a member of First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. In years of health she enjoyed sewing, needlework, rosemaling, genealogy, auctions, gardening, canning and baking. In later years she loved reading, caring for her cat and spending time with family.

Beulah is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and David Van Fossen, and one grandson, Matthew Van Fossen, all of Albert Lea, and by several cousins.

She was also preceded in death by her father in 1980.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 12, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. David H. Andreae officiating. Burial will be in Big Canoe Lutheran Cemetery in rural Decorah. Visitation was Saturday, Feb. 12, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah.

Friends may sign Beulah’s guest book or send condolences online at www.fjelstul.com.