Kay (Enger) Franklin

   KATHERINE “KAY” (ENGER) FRANKLIN, age 102, of Luverne, died Friday, June 8, 2018, at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Home in Luverne. She was born January 9, 1916, in Hardwick, to Martin and Karoline Enger, the youngest of five children. Kay attended elementary and junior high school in Hardwick, and then transferred to Luverne and graduated Valedictorian from Luverne High School 1932. After graduation, she entered St. Olaf College in Northfield, majoring in English and minoring in German. She then applied for a teaching position and was offered a place on the faculty of Elvorado School District in Elvorado, MN, teaching English and German to high school students there. Kay’s tenure at Elvorado lasted a year and a half, when she sought and received a similar position at Elmore, MN, teaching the same two subject areas. It was evident after working several years at this small southern Minnesota town that she was building a very good career, so she applied for a position teaching business education (typing and shorthand) in New Ulm. Kay lived and taught there from the fall of 1943 through the spring of 1967, building a tremendous record of credibility and trust with her students and the faculty and staff who worked with her. Since she was head of the Business Education Department in New Ulm for the last couple years, she learned in 1967 of an opening within the Owatonna School District, and so kay applied for the position of Business Education Instructor in its Business Education Department there and got the job. She taught courses in typing and shorthand there from the fall of 1967 until early June of 1979,when she was contemplating at least one more year of teaching in that school district. But she also knew that her oldest sister, Dorothy Remme, was having some serious health issues, and so she decided to retire from teaching and moved back to Rock County, where she lived ever since that pivotal decisive day. Kay lived with Dorothy through the remaining years of her life. Kay and Dorothy kept busy with their church, Grace Lutheran, serving in various capacities within the GLCW. Following Dorothy’s death in June, 1987, Kay continued to spend her time teaching some evening community education classes, along with continuing to participate as president, secretary, and treasurer of the GLCW. Besides these formal areas of service in which she shared her talents and time, she also enjoyed being a part of the sorority group, playing bridge, tourist club, and bowling. In addition to here live activities, Kay has done much traveling, visiting all fifty states, Canada, and several countries in Europe—including five visits to Norway to explore her heritage and visit relatives.

   Many of her activities—including bridge, bowling, church choir and bell choir, and GLCW—she participated in until just before her 90th birthday, when some health issues necessitated her curtailing them. However, Kay continued to carry out her GLCW responsibilities until she became ill in January, 2009.

   Kay loved her family, and spent summers and Christmas vacations with her nephews and nieces. In whatever Kay did to nurture her family, she dedicated the time spent with them toward giving each one the love and care that would build quality character, love and trust in other people, and a strong example of footing with which to succeed in life—no matter the direction life would take them.

   Kay is survived by her nieces and nephews, John (Candi) Enger of Hollywood, FL; Bill (Linda) Enger of Athens, TX; David (Ellen) Walle of Rochester; Karoline Enger of Millbrae, CA; Laurilynn Enger of Edina; Margaret Enger of Chicago, IL; and Joycelyn (John) Lindgren of Edina.

   She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Grace and Dorothy; and two brothers, Kermit and Walter.

   Visitation will be from 4-6 pm Monday at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne; and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Funeral will be Tuesday at 10:30 am at Grace Lutheran Church, in Luverne, officiated by Pastor Ron Nichols. Burial will be in the Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.

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