Rafella Virginia DeGroot, age 66, died on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at her home in Worthington after a courageous battle with cancer.

Rafella was born on Feb 9, 1948 in Denver, Colorado to Emilo and Virginia (Garcia) Bonney.   When she was two, her family moved to San Pedro, California. She married Dennis DeGroot on February 9, 1974, in Anaheim, California,.  When their son, David, was a baby they moved to Nobles County, Minnesota. Initially, they lived in Bigelow and in 2000 they moved to Worthington.

In California, she supervised an assembly line that produced electronic circuit boards.  For the past 25 years she was a cherished housekeeper and "adopted" family member of Bruce, Darlene and Blaine Anderson.  Rafella enjoyed life by listening to music, especially music by Blake Shelton. She excelled at many crafts, including sewing, counted cross-stitch, and stamping. She was a member of the American Lutheran Church, Worthington.

Rafella is survived by her husband Dennis, beloved son David of Worthington,  sister Jeanette (Regino) Martinez, nephew Raymond Martinez, both of San Pedro, California and all of Dennis's loving family.  She was preceded in death by her parents and a niece, Lydia Deryiades.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 8 PM at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Worthington and continue on Friday from 10 to 11 AM at the American Lutheran Church in Worthington.
The Memorial Service will be Friday at 11 AM at American Lutheran Church in Worthington with Pastor Bailey Fossum officiating. Burial of the cremains will be at a later date at Worthington Cemetery.

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