HENRY BOLTJES, age 88, of Ellsworth, died Friday, September 9, 2016, at the Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth. He was born February 21, 1928, to John and Grace (Van Beest) Boltjes. He served his country in the United States Army.

Henry married Bernice Freob on February 21, 1949, at St. Adrian Catholic Church. After their marriage, the couple lived in rural Adrian before moving to rural Magnolia in 1955. They engaged in farming until 1962 when they moved to Ellsworth. Henry worked as a mechanic for Domeyer & Gisolf Implement for several years, Gisolf & Boltjes Implement for a few years. He then started his own business, Boltjes Repair, and did repair work until his retirement. Henry loved going to the farm and help his son do field work and driving red tractors. He will be missed deeply. He was a member of St. Adrian Catholic Church;

Henry is survived by his seven children, Jack (Jackie) Boltjes, Ellsworth; Ann (Gerald) Drenth, Lismore; Mary Kaye (Bill) Truesdell, Sherburn; Tom (Ranae) Boltjes, Baltic, SD; Dan (Lila) Boltjes, Ellsworth; Larry (Laura) Boltjes, Ellsworth; and Rose (Ken) Nolte, Pipestone; twenty grandchildren; ten step grandchildren; thirty eight great grandchildren; five step great grandchildren; brother, John Jr. (Essie) Boltjes, Worthington; and two sisters, Mary Buus, Luverne; and Frances (Jerome) Erpelding, Adrian.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bernice on August 27, 2008; infant granddaughter, Jessica Rose Nolte, in 1988; two great grandsons, Rayne & Ryder Truesdell; four brothers, William, Herman, Art and Harm Boltjes; an infant brother; and six sisters, Jeriena Bartholomaus, Hattie Haken, Grace Schroeder, Minnie Hinrichs; Georgia Tiesler; and Gertrude Berning.

Visitation will be from 5-8 pm Monday at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Adrian, with parish prayers at 7:30 pm. Visitation also one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am Tuesday at St. Adrian Catholic Church, in Adrian, officiated by Fr. Andrew Beerman & Fr. James Berning. Burial with full military honors provided by the Adrian American Legion will be in the St. Adrian Cemetery.