Caroline Degrote

Caroline Laura DeGrote was born to John and Lena (Van Roekel) Schelhaas on February 26, 1929 on a farm near Edgerton, Minnesota. She was raised on several farms in Pipestone and Murray Counties in Minnesota. She attended school in Chandler, Hatfield, and Edgerton. Upon completion of her education, she helped area families with their housework. On June 14, 1951, Caroline was united in marriage to Henry DeGrote in Edgerton. Following their marriage they lived on a farm near Ruthton, Minnesota. A year later, they moved to Edgerton. When their youngest child started school, Caroline began working part-time at Fey Industries in Edgerton. In September 1979, they moved to Russell, Minnesota where she worked for Speedway Moving and Storage. After their retirement in March 1983, they spent their winters in Texas until 2006. On Thursday, November 3, 2016 she entered the care of Avera Sunrise Manor Nursing Home in Tyler where she died Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at the age of 87.

Caroline was a member of Grace First Parish in Russell. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, tatting, and embroidery. She especially enjoyed camping, square dancing, biking, walking, and feeding and watching the birds.

Caroline is lovingly remembered by her four children, Gerald DeGrote and his wife Kitty of Hastings, Minnesota, Sharon DeGrote of Orlando, Florida, Darla Winkelhorst and her husband Loren of West Bend, Iowa, and Beth DeGrote (Rob Hurd) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Jacob Schelhaas and his wife Gladys of Jasper, Minnesota, and Nelvin Schelhaas of Luverne, Minnesota; one sister, Laura Posthuma of Florida; and brother-in-law, Gary Posthuma of Lake Wilson, Minnesota; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; her parents; a sister, Janice Posthuma; and sister-in-law, Geneva Schelhaas;.

Blessed be her memory.