Marian Boltjes

Ellsworth, MN

     Marian Boltjes, age 95, of Ellsworth, MN, died Sunday, December 17, 2023, at the Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth, MN. 

     A funeral service will be at 10:30 AM, Thursday, December 21st at the Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth, MN, with Rev. Randy Knuth officiating. Burial will follow at Grand Prairie Cemetery in Ellsworth.

     Visitation will be Wednesday, December 20th from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth.

Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids is in charge of services.

     Marian Boltjes was born on December 29, 1927, to Jacob and Johanna (Heeren) Tjepkes.  She grew up in the Sibley and Little Rock area.  She attended school in rural Sibley and Little Rock, Iowa.

    She was united in marriage to Arendt Boltjes on January 10, 1948, at Emmanual Presbyterian Church in rural Rushmore, Minnesota. They lived near Reading, MN, while Arendt worked as a hired hand. They then moved to Brewster, MN and they farmed in 1954. Then in 1957 they moved to a farm near Worthington, MN. In 1959 they moved to a farm near Ellsworth, MN. Marian worked at Nelson’s Furniture, and Campbells Soup in Worthington. After they retired from farming they moved into Ellsworth and she began working at Park View Manor as a nurse’s aide.

    She was a member of the Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth, Minnesota, and a member of the Women’s Auxiliary.  Marian enjoyed crocheting, painting, drawing, ceramics, and making porcelain dolls.  Above all, her favorite pastime was beating everyone at cards.

    Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Sandra Groen of Little Rock, IA, Lonnie (Diane) Boltjes of Ellsworth, MN, Audrey (Dean) Sieperda of Naples, FL; 10 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; sister, Leona Geerdes of Blackduck, MN; sister-in-law, Frances Erpelding of Adrian, MN, brothers-in-law, John (Essie) Boltjes of Worthington, MN, Alvin Berning of Luverne, MN; along with many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

    She was preceded in death by her husband, Arendt; daughter, Donna Schilling; brothers, Luke, Martin, and Harry Tjepkes; sisters, Tina Rust, Johanna Gross, Viola Johnson, Kathyrn Rosenberg, Fanny Lutjens, and Lorraine Newman.