Violet Mae Lemke, age 70, of Oak Grove passed away November 7, 2007 at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. A memorial service will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 15th at Cross of Hope Lutheran Church in Ramsey. (5730 179th Lane NW) Avisiting time will be held 1 hour prior.
Violet Mae Lemke, age 70, of Oak Grove, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on November 7, 2007. She was preceded in death by her parents, Kathryn and Ervin Bergemann, Sr.; stepfather, Harry Ludvigsen; and four brothers, Roger, Ervin Jr., Robert and Richard.
Growing up on a farm is where she began her lifelong love of animals. There wasn’t a period in her life where she didn’t have a pet of some sort. Included in her menagerie were horses, cows, goats, pigs, chickens, geese, pheasants, guinea pigs, fish, pigeons, and her latest love – Boston Terriers. She didn’t like to go many places without having her companion dog “Tinker” by her side.
Her hobbies included being an avid seamstress, gardening, and fishing, listing to Polka bands, square dancing, and traveling. She was a 20 year employee at the Anoka State Hospital, as well as being an E.M.T. and having a newspaper delivery route in the Anoka County area until her retirement.
Left to mourn for her are her sons, Dale (Sandra) of Dawson, GA, Scott, Terry, both of Bethel; daughters, Debra (Stewart) VanDusen of East Bethel, and Bonnie Lemke of St. Francis, she also leaves behind 8 grandchildren, Derek, Misty, Shawn, Cory, Justin, Jordan, Haylee, Wyatt; and 2 great-grandchildren, Samantha and Sarah. (with another on the way.) She is also survived by her friend and former husband, Richard Lemke; two brothers, Keith (Lorri) of Milwaukee, WI, Marvin (Carolyn) of Ft. Scott, KS; her sister, Barbara of Cornell, WI; and other nieces, nephews, family and friends.
The family would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Paul Youngquist and staff in the ICU department of Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids for taking such good care of our mom during her last hours with us, and for helping ease her passing. We would also like to sincerely thank Ali Anisi for going above and beyond in the help and care you gave our mom the last 5 years, and to John Bengtson for helping watch over mom also. Rest In Peace Mom. We love you!