Mary Johanna (Lolkus) Groen, age 90, of Leota went home to heaven on September 7, 2011 at Sanford Hospital in Luverne.
She was born February 3, 1921 to Peter and Martha (Koedam) Lolkus at the place her parents farmed 2 miles northwest of Leota.  When she was 2 years old, her family moved 3 ½ miles north of Leota where she lived until she got married.  She attended school through 8th grade at District 57.  The school was located just west of the grove of their farm.
Mary was united in marriage to Henry J. Groen on May 29, 1941 at her sister, Grace's farm home which later became known to Mary and her family as the "home" place.  They began their life together farming with Henry's parent east of Leota.  They began farming on their own northeast of Leota for 2 years.  Then they moved to the "home" place in 1946 and farmed there until Henry's death in 1979.  In 1981 she moved to her home in Leota.
Mary loved farm life working with her husband and family.  She milked cows, fed calves, gathered eggs, and a number of other farm chores.  She also enjoyed gardening, preserving many jars of vegetables and fruits for the family and others who may be there for a meal such as hired help, sales people or anyone who may have shown up at meal time.
Her family remembers Mom checking the sunrise and sunset and giving her prediction of the weather for the next day.  Weather is always important for farm life.
When Mary moved to town, no one was ever turned down at Mary's "bed and breakfast".  She took in family, friends, missionaries, and others needing a place to stay.  She especially enjoyed having her grandchildren and great-grandchildren come to visit.
Mary was a member of Leota Bethel Reformed Church.  She taught Sunday School for 17 years, and was a faithful member of the Esther Circle.  She enjoyed translating the church consistory minutes from 1891 to 1946 from Dutch to English.
Those remaining to cherish Mary's memory are her children; John Groen of Chandler; Martha DeJong of Leota; Vernon (Diann) Groen of Lanesboro; Gordon (Brenda) Groen of Chandler; Brant (Sharon) Groen of Willmar; Priscilla (Rodney) Caldwell of Omaha, NE; Verla (Steve) Vlieger of Mitchell, SD; 22 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law John (Genevieve) Vis; a sister-in-law Willemina Doppenberg; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Henry, her parents, a son-in-law, Donald DeJong; a daughter-in-law, Joanne Groen; a granddaughter, Amy DeJong; her sisters, Grace Groen and Nelvina Vis; a foster brother, Peter Loenhorst; brother-in-laws, Gerrit Groen, John Groen, Cornelius Groen, Klaas Groen; sister-in-laws Alice Vis, Carrie Ruiter and Henrietta Schouwenberg.
Visitation will be from 6-8 pm Friday at the Bethel Reformed Church in Leota. Funeral will be 10:30 am on Saturday at the Bethel Reformed Church in Leota. Burial will be at 12:30 pm Saturday at the Chandler Memorial Cemetery in Chandler.
Dingmann Funeral Home, in Adrian, and the Leota Burial Association are assisting the family with arrangements.

---