Connie Gorter

Connie Laurine Gorter was born on July 4, 1944 to Gerald and Lucile (Fuller) Hoffman in Rock Rapids, Iowa. Connie grew up spending time in both Rock Rapids and Spencer, Iowa until graduating High School in Rock Rapids in 1962. After high school, Connie married the love of her life, Ardell Gorter on July 5, 1963 in Rock Rapids. Ardell and Connie were blessed with three daughters, Terri, Sherri, and Cindy.

Connie was a loving mother of three girls and always had open arms for her daughter's friends. If you made your way over to Connie's house, you never left hungry, she was known for always feeding "till you're full". Connie refereed her three daughters while Ardell drove cross-country for work weekly.  As the girls grew older, Connie managed the shipping department at 3M in Eagan, Minnesota for several years. Also while raising her three girls, Connie worked at Zenith Technologies in Sioux City, Iowa.

Connie enjoyed working with ceramics, but her passion was rabbits, she truly loved raising and breeding checkered giant rabbits and she frequently participated in rabbit show competitions.  Connie and Ardell worked tireless making picnic tables for family and friends. They would give of their time and materials to see a smiling child enjoying a meal outside in the sun. Connie enjoyed painting and she always painted Ardell's hand crafted churches to give to family and friends. She was a stained glass painting master. Amongst their time given to others, Connie greatly enjoyed when she and Ardell would attend "$9.99 Steak night" at Royal River Casino in Flandreau, South Dakota.

Connie is survived by her three daughters, Terri Ryan of Pipestone, Minnesota, Sherri (Bob) Hoffman of East Bethel, Minnesota, Cindy (Gorter) Hansen of Sioux City, Iowa; siblings, Marla (LaMont) Freese and Kathy Holthusen, both of Rock Rapids, Iowa; grandchildren, Rhiannon, Travis, Karli, Mitchell, Jamie, Jennifer, Hannah, Allison and Benjamin; great-grandchildren, Madalyn, Peter, Justin, Eva, Maxine, Carter, Dexter, Raelynn, Jade, Aria, Octavian, and Ryanne. Connie is preceded in death by her husband, Ardell Gorter; parents, Gerald L. Hoffman and Lucile M. Fuller Hoffman Holthusen; son-in-law, Daniel Ryan; brother, Alan Holthusen; and grandson, Justin Ryan.