Charlotte H. Korthals

CHARLOTTE H. KORTHALS was born December 12, 1921 to Abram and Marie (Lobbes) Smith in Steen, Minnesota. She attended country school through the eighth grade and later earned her graduate equivalency degree. On January 8, 1942 Charlotte was united in marriage to Dick Korthals at her parents’ home in Steen. The couple farmed south of Luverne until 1954, when they then moved to South Dakota for a few years. They returned to Luverne in 1962 and continued to farm. After her children were grown, Charlotte worked as a clerk at George’s Bakery and later Nelson Brother’s Grocery. Dick died in May 1993 and Charlotte continued to reside in their home. In 2003, she started working at the Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne and later worked as a home aid and housekeeper. In July 2007, Charlotte became a resident at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, Minnesota, where on Saturday, February 22, 2020 she died peacefully at the age of 98 years, two months and ten days.

Charlotte was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne and through her life was active on the Rebecca circle and was a member of the Friendship Club. She gave of herself to others and volunteered for a time at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne. She enjoyed crocheting and sewing.

Charlotte is survived by her four children, Richard (Velma) Korthals of Parker, South Dakota, Marlys Pietz of Sibley, Iowa, Janice Besta of Beresford, South Dakota, and Carla (Todd) Myers of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; a daughter-in-law, Jolene Korthals of Rock Rapids, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Edna Dirks of Luverne. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; two sons, Darwin and Eugene Korthals; two sons-in-law, Robert Pietz and Gary Besta; parents; two grandsons, Mark Besta and Jerome Korthals; a brother, Marvin Smith; and a brother-in-law, Ben Dirks.