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Obituaries from the week of Nov. 30, 2011

Esther Bottom, 88

Esther Yvonne Bottom age 88 of Sioux Falls, SD, formerly of Olympia, WA, passed away Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at Dow Rummel Nursing Home in Sioux Falls.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 26, 2011 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy.  Burial is in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Tracy.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisted the family with arrangements.

Esther Yvonne Bottom was born June 27, 1923 on the family farm near Garvin, Minnesota to Oscar and Mabel (Surprenant) Anderson.  She was the youngest child in a family of five children.  Esther was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy.  She attended grade school, junior and senior high in Tracy, graduating in 1940.  In January of 1941 Esther moved to Sioux Falls, SD to attend the Presentation School of Nursing at McKennan Hospital, and graduated in the spring of 1944 as a registered nurse.  She worked at the Adrian, MN Hospital from 1946-1948.  On February 18, 1950 Esther married Charles Bottom in Cheyenne, WY.  After their marriage, they moved to Los Alamos, NM, where Esther worked as a nurse at the Manhattan Project and Scientific Laboratory Hospital and Clinics.  Upon retirement she moved to Olympia, WA.  Charles “Chuck” Bottom passed away in October 1998.  Esther later moved to Sioux Falls to be closer to family. She was active with activities in her church, and enjoyed doing needlework, jewelry making, antique clock collecting, and hunting and fishing with Chuck.  Esther loved going out to eat and spending time with her family and friends. 

Esther is survived by nephews and nieces: Dennis (Carol) Dingman of Sioux Falls, SD, Robert (Kathy) Anderson of Tracy, Kathleen Anderson of Breckenridge, Kris (fiancé Paul Hamilton) Anderson of Philadelphia, Marlene Anderson of Algarrobo, Chili, South America, Renee (Steve Sund) Vallely of La Mesa CA, and Karen (Tom) Mooney of El Cajun, CA.  She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings Darlene (Henry) Dingman, Florence Vallely, Hector (Lucy) Anderson, and Lester (Bernadine) Anderson. 

 

Grace Deem, 92

Grace M. Deem age 92 of Tracy, MN died Monday, November 28, 2011 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy.  Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 1, 2011 at the Tracy Presbyterian Church.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.  Interment will be in the Tracy City Cemetery.  A luncheon will be served in the church social hall following the graveside service.  The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements. Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com

Grace Margaret Deem was born December 18, 1918 to Bertus and Annette (Maus) Draayom on the family farm between Tracy and Walnut Grove, MN.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended Tracy Public Schools.

In the summer of 1936, Grace married Wilbur G. Deem of Mather Ville, IL by a justice of the peace and they made their home on her parents’ farm for most of their married years.  After retiring they moved into Tracy.

Grace will be remembered as a faithful wife, loving mother and grandmother, as well as, a great care giver to Greg Hoffman, who she cared for many years.  She was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Tracy and active in the church women’s groups.  She was a warm, loving woman with many interests; she was an excellent gardener, caner, who loved to whistle and sang with a beautiful voice.  In her adult life she took piano lessens and made the rafters ring in the old farm house when she got playing.

In July of 2005 Grace became a resident of the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy, where she died Monday, November 28, 2011 at the age of 92.

Grace is survived by her two sons, Richard Deem of Tracy, MN and Douglas Deem of Marshall, MN; one daughter, Kathleen (Phillip) Markel of Hayward, WI; three granddaughters, Crystal and Sarah Deem of Tracy, MN and Heather Grace Wilbur of Fulton, IL; two grandsons, Terry Deem of Sioux Falls, SD and Phillip Markel Jr. of Stillwater, MN; five great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Bertha Mae Draayom of La Vern, CA; nieces, nephews and friends.

Her husband, Wilbur, one son, Kenneth, four brothers, Bert Jr., Garrett, Paul, and Phillip, and three sisters, Annette, Bertha and Lazetta preceded her in death.