Catherine Ella Fikse

Hills, MN        Catherine Fikse age 87 of Hills, MN died Thursday, March 2nd, 2017 at Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, MN.        Funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9, 2017 at the American Reformed Church in Luverne, MN, with Pastor Cory Grimm officiating.           Burial will be in the United Reformed Cemetery in Hills, MN        Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the American Reformed Church in Luverne, MN       Catherine Ella Fikse was born on October 26, 1929 rural Rock Rapids, IA, the daughter of John and Johanna (Vander Sluis) Proost. She grew up on a farm near Rock Rapids and attended country school near there.  On June 24, 1949, she was united in marriage to Everett “Bud” Fikse at the Steen Reformed Church in Steen, MN.  They made their home in Hills, MN where they were part owners of Fikse Produce, along with other family members.  Catherine and Bud were blessed with nine children, Eugene, Donavan, Gary, Faith, Leroy, Judy, Rodney, Lois and Joan.  Catherine worked various jobs throughout her life but Tuff Memorial Home was one that she really enjoyed.  Even after becoming a resident at Tuff Home her granddaughter, who also worked there said Catherine would help in any way she could like she was still working there.  She was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne, MN, where she had been active in the Rebecca circle.  She loved to sew things, making blankets. Over the years, she sewed over 700 blankets that were sent to children in Haiti, Afghanistan as well as America. Catherine and Bud were quite active with the Emergency Relief Program where they volunteered at various places throughout the United State.  After sixty years of marriage Everett “Bud” Fikse passed away on July 3, 2009.  In 2016, Catherine moved from her home in to Tuff Memorial Home where she passed away this past Thursday, March 2, 2017 at the age of 87.  She will be greatly missed.       Catherine is survived by seven children:  Gary Fikse of Luverne, MN, Faith (Butch) Kruse of Rock Rapids, IA, Leroy Fikse of Norwalk, CA, Judy DeBondt of Bakersfield, CA, Rodney Fikse of Lakewood, CA, Lois (Alan) Leuthold of Hills, MN and Joan (Steve) Michael of Larchwood, IA; sixteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; three siblings:  Joan (Walt) Bouwman of Artesia, CA, Verlyn “Jay” (Elaine) Proost of Twin Falls, ID, and Cheryl (Jerry) Pennington of Bakersfield, CA; sister-in-law, Jean Proost of Artesia, CA; many nieces, nephews and other extended family.        She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Johanna Proost; husband, Everett “Bud” Fikse; two sons, Eugene and Donavan Fikse; grandson, Aaron DeBondt; brother, John “Bud” Proost; and sister, Evelyn Van Middendorp.