Halene Frerichs

SIOUX CITY -- Halene Mildred Lorena Frerichs, 85, of Sioux City passed away peacefully Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at Westwood Nursing and Rehab, surrounded by family. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Russell C. Senstad officiating. Burial will follow in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present at 6 p.m., and a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Halene was born on June 10, 1926 in Ute, Iowa, to William and Alma (Mohr) Bartels. She was raised on a farm in rural Ute, and graduated from Ute High School before moving to Sioux City to work in "The Battery" factory. She met her sweetheart, Marvin Frerichs at Shore Acres, a local dance hall, in 1946 and married him on April 19, 1947. To this union, four children were born, Raymond, Dale, Wanda and Janet. Halene found her greatest joy in her family and her church. She will be remembered by her hugs, kisses, positive attitude and encouragement and songs of love. She was a faithful member of Redeemer Lutheran Church, being active in numerous church activities. She prided herself in being "thrifty" and enjoyed finding treasures for her family at neighborhood rummages. In recent years she used her sewing talents to make hundreds of quilt tops for Lutheran World Relief. She also enjoyed the fellowship and many friendships that she made during her life. Halene is survived by her sons, Ray Frerichs and his wife Diana of Hinton, Iowa, and Dale Frerichs and his wife Marti of Sioux City; daughters, Wanda Jackson and her husband Jim of Sioux City, and Janet Tondreau and her husband Doug of South Sioux City; a brother, Lawrence Bartels of Schleswig, Iowa; a sister, Clara Amunson of Lawton, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Halene was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Esther; and her husband, Marvin. Memorials may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Halene's name. Halene has left her handprint of love on all the lives that she touched.