Irene Ehlert

Irene Ehlert, 94, Breckenridge, MN passed away on Saturday, November 7, 2009 at St. Francis Healthcare Campus, Breckenridge , MN . Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 10:30 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Breckenridge , MN with Father Kenneth Popp officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 from 4 pm to 8 pm with a prayer service at 7 pm and a Christian Mother’s Rosary at 5 pm at Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home, Breckenridge, MN. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery , Breckenridge , MN .

Irene was born August 14, 1915 to John and Elizabeth (Tekippe) Timp at DeSmet , SD. At a young age the family moved to Hoven , SD where she completed her schooling. She then moved to Kent , MN where she worked for various families doing housework and childcare; then worked at Willow Creek Dairy, and later became the housekeeper for St. Thomas Catholic Church in Kent . It was there that she met Gerhard Ehlert.

Irene was married to Gerhard on October 19, 1937 at the Cathedral on the Prairie at Hoven , SD. The couple farmed near Kent until 1970 when they moved into Breckenridge , MN . Irene then started working at Nash’s Retirement Home which is now known as St. Catherine’s Living Center in Wahpeton, ND until she retired. Gerhard preceded her in death on May 4, 1989 and she later moved to the York Manor in Breckenridge. In June 2009 she moved to the St. Francis Healthcare Campus.

Irene enjoyed embroidering, quilting, gardening, especially her rose garden and faithfully watching Lawrence Welk on television.

Irene is survived by her children: Vincent Ehlert, Wahpeton, ND; Virgil (Merrilee) Ehlert, Minot, ND; Nancy Bladow, Hankinson, ND; Patricia Paler, North Pole, AK; Gerhard Jr.(Glenys) Ehlert, Pelican Rapids, MN; David (Janice) Ehlert, Fergus Falls, MN; Sharon (Don) Hegre, Moorhead, MN; her nineteen grandchildren: Andrew (Raynee) Ehlert, Mary (David) Kleinoeder, Julie (Billy) Penrod, Susan (Randy) Pithey, Barbara (Gregg) Magnuson, Jacklyn (Andrew) Birchem, Jeffrey Bladow, Wesley Bladow, Douglas (Cate) Bladow, Todd (Cindy) Paler, Ronald Dean (Sandi) Paler, Tama (Marc) Lutsko, Bryon (Jessica) Paler, Carrie (Bryan) Newman, Bethany (Joel) Cooner, Jason (Erin) Ehlert, Jeremy Ehlert, Allison Ehlert, Vanessa (David) Syverson; her twenty great grandchildren: Nadia Ehlert, Christopher Siedschlag, Katelyn Magnuson, Matthew Magnuson, Nicholas Birchem, Cassandra Birchem, Hillary Birchem, Robert Bladow, Amy Bladow, Ashlyn Bladow, Gabriella Birchem, Kelsea Paler, Devon Paler, Joseph Newman, Madison Cooner, Nathan Cooner, Jonathan Newman, Kendall Ehlert, Danielle Syverson, Justin Syverson.

Irene was preceded by her parents: John and Elizabeth Timp; her husband, Gerhard; her two infant grandsons: Richard Ehlert, and Francis Ehlert; her one great granddaughter: Juliet Rose Cooner; her five sisters: Louise Schmidt, Genevieve Frost, Florence Frost, Loretta Sautner, Emma Timp; her brother: Edmund Timp.