Irene Kofoed

Irene Mary (Macha) Kofoed was born October 13, 1926 at home, on a small farm near Monona, Iowa. Irene loved learning. She started 1st grade when she was 4. She attended a country school and enjoyed helping the younger students. She graduated from high school in 1943 at age 16. That fall she attended Winona State Teacher's College. She graduated with a 2 year degree which qualified her to teach at the elementary level. That fall, in 1945, she started teaching 5th and 6th grades in Caledonia, Minnesota - annual salary $1250. 

In January of 1946 she and a friend went on a bus trip back to Winona. The bus driver was Cecil Kofoed. He had recently returned from serving during WWII. She took frequent bus trips that year. By July they were engaged and married in October, shortly after her 20th birthday. Cecil was 27. 

In 1953 the family moved to Pipestone. Cecil and Irene purchased Star Oil Company. Irene was the bookkeeper, working in the office 1½ days a week. The family of 9 lived there for many years until the children each graduated from high school, left for college, married and had children of their own. Children, grandchildren and great grandchildren often returned to Pipestone for visits and class reunions. Irene lived in the family home for 67 years.

In 1981, Irene and Cecil had time to travel. They took trips south during the winter and visited Denmark - meeting Cecil's relatives. Later, after Cecil died in 2001, Irene and her sister Carol took bus trips in the U.S and visited Europe to see the area where her Macha /Moses ancestors came from. The family attended the Methodist church. Irene was the church treasurer for many years. She participated in Circle and frequently read scripture during services. She helped with the Election Day turkey dinners and funerals, often in charge of the big coffeemaker. She volunteered at the Clothes Closet, food shelf, Meals on Wheels, library, museum and performing arts center. Irene attended activities at the Senior Center and was the treasurer. She enjoyed line dancing, card clubs, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, gardening and walking. She was an avid Twin's fan.

Irene moved to assisted living in Canton, SD in the fall of 2023 to be closer to her family. Irene enjoyed several special occasions in her last few weeks. She celebrated her 98th birthday by attending her church in Pipestone. Her sister Carol and niece Mary visited from Washington DC in early November. They celebrated Carol's birthday November 3rd with their cousin Ellis Macha from Iowa. 

Irene became ill shortly after that visit. She was in the hospital for a few days before moving to Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls where she died. 

Irene is survived by her seven children, Kathleen Sekhon, Curtis (Jennifer) Kofoed, Kenneth (Mary) Kofoed, Wendy Kofoed-Jacobs, James (Gloria) Kofoed, Bruce (Sharon) Kofoed and Brian (Lisa) Kofoed; 

13 grandchildren, Diana (Jeff) Sekhon, Alison (Mike) Harris, Steven (Rebecca) Kofoed, Emily (George) Brisse, Jaclyn (Gerrett) Pigors, Justin (Michaela) Kofoed, Alex (Meghan) Kofoed, Curtis (Val) Kofoed Jr., Chad (Julia) Kofoed, Benjamin (Sondra) Kofoed, Max Kofoed, Matthew Kofoed and Christian Aulbach, Madeline Kofoed and Dillon Ayers, and Anna Kofoed; 14 great grandchildren; Sister, Carol Quillian; many cousins; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.

 She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil; parents, Mary and Vlad Macha; Grandchildren, Jeffrey Sekhon, Rachael Sekhon and Joseph Kofoed; Brothers, Thomas and Edwin Macha; and Sister, Frances Veglahn.