Gertrude Kiebach

Gertrude M. Kiebach, age 92 of Osakis, formerly of Sauk Centre, Minnesota passed away Thursday, December 22, 2005 at Community Memorial Home in Osakis, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 7, 2006 at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre, with Rev. Steve Hayden officiating. Interment will be in Luverne Memorial Gardens, Luverne, Minnesota on Monday, January 9, 2006 at 1 p.m.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at Zion Lutheran Church in Sauk Centre. Following the service, lunch will be served.

Gertrude, the oldest of seven children was born to Willy Daniel and Selma (Kasemodel) Petersen on March 6, 1913 on a farm near Luverne, Minnesota. Her parents soon moved to a farm in nearby Jasper, Minnesota. She attended country school through the eighth grade. Her early life was spent helping her parents on their farm. In her early twenties she moved to New York City to live with a special aunt and her family for two years. She worked at Schrafts, a local deli.Upon returning to Minnesota, she met and married Herbert Kiebach. They moved to a farm near Hardwick, Minnesota where they lived for approximately 34 years. During these years, she and Herb attended St. John's Lutheran Church in Luverne, Minnesota, and Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, Minnesota. Gertrude taught Sunday school for five years and was a member of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League and a local circle. After her two daughters graduated from high school, she worked in a local nursing home for five years as a home health aid.In 1971 she and Herb retired and moved to Sauk Centre, Minnesota. After a prolonged illness, Herb died on May 28, 1973. Gertrude remained in Sauk Centre living both on the lake and in town. She was actively involved in Zion Lutheran Church of Sauk Centre.She was an accomplished seamstress and is fondly remembered by her grandchildren for the many sewing projects made for them; baby blankets, Halloween costumes, and a prom dress.After major surgery in November of 2004, she moved to West View Assisted Living Apartments in Osakis, Minnesota. Until her current illness, she participated in the Wellness Program and other provided activities at the facility.

She is survived by her daughters, Janice (Lowell) Kleven of Golden Valley, and Maxine (Bruce) Johnson of Spokane, Washington; grandchildren, Thomas (Kari) Kleven of Minneapolis, Sara Johnson (Chris) Wilder of Seattle, Washington, Andrew (Jennifer) Kleven of Minneapolis, and Matthew (Clementine) Johnson of Buffalo Grove, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Anna and Sam Kleven, Lindsey Wilder, Solveig and Lena Kleven, Caitlyn and Nathan Johnson; sisters, Gladys Dahl of Little Falls, Alice Womack of Miami, Oklahoma, and Shirley (Tim) Rice of Sauk Centre; brother, James (Susan) Petersen of Long Prairie; and many nieces and nephews.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert W. Kiebach; sister, Helen Gehrels; and brother, Harvey Petersen.

Memorials preferred to Zion Lutheran Church of Sauk Centre, Community Memorial Homes of Osakis, in support of their hospice work, or the charity of your choice.