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Dolores Leona Alberta Ridder

1905 - 2001

Dolores L. Ridder

Dolores L. Ridder died June 7, 2001 at Westview Care Center in Britt. She was 95.

Funeral services were held in the Klemme United Methodist Church on Monday, June 11.

Burial was in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme.

Casket bearers were Randy Ridder, Brian Ruter, Jason Ruter, Dennis C. Ridder, Paul Kruse and Blake Petersen.

Dolores Leona Alberta Ridder, eldest daughter of Albert G. and Lillie M. (Lau) Koerner was born on July 21, 1905 in Klemme, Iowa. She attended school in Klemme and was a member of the first class to graduate from Klemme High School in 1924. She worked as a switchboard operator for her father who began the first independent telephone company in Klemme. The switchboard office was located in her parents home.

She was united in marriage to Levi A. Ridder on June 14, 1928 in Mason City, Iowa. he couple lived in Manly where they operated a billiard parlor and tavern.

Mrs. Ridder enjoyed quilting, the history of Klemme, traveling, keeping a spotless home and her family. She worked for the seed corn companies in Belmond, detasseling in the '40s and '50s and working at the corn plant in the fall for many years.

Mrs. Ridder and her husband traveled to Europe and throughout the United States. She attended many World's Fairs.

She was an avid sports fan and staunch supporter of the Klemme Shamrocks and the Iowa Hawkeyes. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and her church circle in Klemme. After her health failed, she became a resident of Westview Care Center in Britt.

Survivors include her sons, Roger Ridder and his wife, Margot of Klemme; Dennis Ridder of Mason City; daughter, Maralee Ruter of Britt; grandchildren, Monica Kruse, Randy Ridder, Sylvia Shell, Gloria Bittner, Sonja Ridder, Wendy Grove, Brian Ruter, Jason Ruter, Marilyn Petersen, Marian Klein, and Dennis C. Ridder; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Other survivors are a brother, Gerald Koerner and his wife, Bernice, of Klemme and Nova Gelner and her husband, Leon of Klemme.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Levi, in 1975; her parents, an infant daughter, Marilyn; a grand-daughter, Marlene Ridder; and a brother, Kermit Koerner.

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 20 Jun 2001, page 6, column 2

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Dolores Leona Alberta Ridder, 95, died Thursday, June 7, 2001. Funeral services were at the United Methodist Church at Klemme on Monday, June 11, with Rev. Curtis DeVance officiating. Interment was at Ell Township Cemetery near Klemme. Music was provided by Margaret Tue, organist; Lance Arnold, vocalist. Ushers were John Schwichtenberg and Bob Scott. Casket bearers were Randy Ridder, Jason Ridder, Dennis C. Ridder, Paul Kruse, Brian Ruter, and Blake Petersen.

Dolores Leona Alberta, the eldest daughter of Albert and Lillie (Lau) Koerner, was born July 21, 1905 in Klemme. She attended school in Klemme and graduated with the first class to graduate from Klemme High School in 1924. She was a telephone operator for her father, with the switchboard located in her home.

She was united in marriage to Levi Ridder on June 14, 1928 in Mason City. They lived in Manly, where they operated a billiard parlor and came to Klemme in 1930, and operated a billiard parlor and tavern. Dolores was well know for her baking and quilting. She and Levi traveled to Germany in 1958 and World's Fair in Brussels, Belgium and the 1934 World's Fair in Chicago. She did some traveling after Levi's death. She was an avid sports fan, She was a member of the United Methodist Church and church circles in Klemme.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; infant daughter, Marilyn; granddaughter, Marlene; and brother, Kermit Koerner. Survivors are her son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Margot Ridder of Klemme, son Dennis of Mason City; daughter, Maralee Ruter of Britt; grandchildren, Monica Kruse, Randy Ridder, Sylvia Shell, Gloria Bittner, Sonja Ridder, Wendy Grove, Brian Ruter, Jason Ruter, Marilyn Petersen, Marian Klein, and Dennis C. Ridder; 15 great grandchildren; brother, Gerald Koerner and his wife Bernice of Klemme; sisters, Valeria Bridges of Klemme, and Nova Gelner and her husband, Leon of Klemme.

source: Independent, Belmond, Iowa, 8 Jun 2001

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