Memorial services for Myrtle B. Tjepkes will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at Racine United Methodist Church in Racine, with Pastor Bridget Sheely officiating. Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2018, at Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.
Myrtle Bell Tjepkes, age 102, of Spring Valley, died Saturday May 26, 2018. Myrtle was born August 20, 1915 in Vesta Township, Redwood County, Wis., to Charles and Mintia (Riggle) Kleist. She married Albert Tjepkes in Rochester, Minn., on October 16, 1930. They lived in the Stewartville and Rochester area, where Albert farmed until 1961. From 1961 to 1965 they lived in Denver, Colo., and then returned to rural Spring Valley.
Mom was a homemaker but worked out at Libby’s in Rochester, worked at the Green Parrot Restaurant, Tiffin Inn in Denver Colorado, The Skyway Restaurant at the airport in Rochester, then The Fish House in Stewartville, Minn. She enjoyed gardening and especially her flowers; she always had beautiful flowers everywhere she lived. She also helped Albert in the fields on their farms and took care of her calves and chickens. In her later years she enjoyed refinishing antique furniture and having her spring and fall annual yard sales.
Myrtle is survived by four sons: Charles Tjepkes of Wykoff, Jerry (Jan) Tjepkes of Racine, Donald (Joi) Tjepkes of Prescott, Ariz., and Joseph (Silvana) Tjepkes of Aurora, Colo., four daughters: Sharon Ellis of Rushford, Linda (David) Rollie of Tyler, Tex., Judy (Dean) Skifter of Grand Meadow, and Cathy (David) Bakken of Rochester; a sister, Lillian Krahn of Rochester; a daughter-in-law, Anita Tjepkes of Estherville, Iowa; a brother-in-law, Sterling Mestad of Rochester; 64 grandchildren, and 112 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Albert on October 29, 1984, her daughter, LaVone (Leonard) Buchholtz; her son, Maynard Tjepkes; two daughters-in-law, Helga and Louise; six brothers, three sisters, two grandsons, Scott and Steven; and one great-grandson, Joey.
Condolences may be left at www.hindtfuneralhomes.com.
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