Hilda Pleggenkuhle Oelrich, 99, of Hawkeye, died Tuesday, September 22, 2015, at Maple Crest Manor Care Center in Fayette, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2015, at St. Peter Lutheran Church-Richfield with Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating. Interment will follow at the Church Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 25h at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Hawkeye and for one hour preceding services at the church on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be given to Maple Crest Manor in Fayette, St. Croix Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
Hilda Lulu Louise, daughter of William and Anna (Dietrich) Wenthe, was born December 26, 1915 in Sumner, Iowa. She became a child of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism on March 26, 1916, at Sumner by Rev. H. Bredow. She was confirmed in August of 1929 at St. Peter Lutheran Church by Rev. F.C. Ide. Her future husband, Ralph, was confirmed in the same class.
Hilda attended country school for six years, wrote her state exams, and then attended Sumner High School. She graduated in May of 1932 with a teaching certificate, but was unable to use it as she was only sixteen years old.
On September 26, 1934, she was united in marriage with Ralph Pleggenkuhle, at St. Peter Lutheran Church-Richfield, by Rev. F.C. Ide. The couple farmed southwest of Alpha, first as hired hands, then renters, and in December of 1939, they purchased the farm. They lived there until December of 1976, when they moved to their new home in Hawkeye. Ralph died on December 6, 1978. They were married for forty-four years.
Hilda was named an Iowa Master Farm Homemaker at Des Moines on December 13, 1965. She was a member of the National Master Farm Homemaker Guild, and a life member of Associated Country Women of the World. She was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church since March of 1928, faithful in attendance, active in Women’s organizations, and holding many offices. She taught Sunday School for twenty years, taught and was Superintendent of Vacation Bible School, served on Fayette County Family Living Committee for six years, and was very active in Fayette County Farm Bureau and the Farm Bureau Women’s Organizations. She was also a member of the Fayette County Cancer Society for forty years, holding many different offices, and was honored with the Harold Morgan State Cancer Award in Des Moines in October of 1986. As active Farm Bureau members, Hilda enjoyed travel tours to many states in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Europe, Puerto Rico, and the Holy Land, showing slide programs for many groups. Hilda loved gardening, cooking, baking, sewing (even without patterns), but most especially enjoyed attending events of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
On May 2, 1987, she was united in marriage with Donald Oelrich at St. Peter Lutheran Church-Richfield by Rev. John Wogsland. Together they worked with Gideons and made wood crafts for family and friends. Donald died on March 28, 2012. They were married for twenty-four years.
She is survived by two sons, Roger (Janice) Pleggenkuhle of Sumner, Doyle (Cindy) Pleggenkuhle of LaCrosse, Wisconsin; two daughters, Sally (Glen) Boie of Hawkeye, Linda (Dean) Fritz of Hawkeye; one sister, Alice Wendland, Nora Springs; three sisters-in-law, Arlene Wenthe of Ossian, Dolores Pleggenkuhle of Fredericksburg, Anna Mae Schlatter of West Union; one brother-in-law, Robert Pleggenkuhle of Fredericksburg; twelve grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; three step-children, Jerry Oelrich of Lamont, Judy (Gary) Hansen of Estherville, and James (Linda) Oelrich of Strawberry Point; one step-daughter-in-law, Loyce Oelrich of Fayette; twelve step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husbands, Ralph and Donald, she was preceded in death by one step-son, Kenneth Oelrich; three sisters, Anna Bock, Ruth Lange, and Lucile Sustacha; and three brothers, William, Edward, and infant brother Henry Wenthe.
