Merridy Mae (Espe) Kienitz, 87

Blue Earth — Merridy M. Kienitz, age 87, of Blue Earth, died Jan. 19, 2009, at United Hospital, Blue Earth. Funeral services were held Jan. 23, 2009, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Blue Earth. Rev. Dale Kohrs officiated. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery, Blue Earth. Patton Funeral Home and Cremation Service was in charge of arrangements.

Merridy was born in Hanlontown, Iowa on Dec. 11, 1921, to Stewart and Rose (Struck) Espe. She was baptized in the Hanlontown Lutheran Church before moving to Welcome where her father was manager of a grain elevator. Confirmation was in February of 1936.

After graduating from Welcome Public High School in 1939, she attended Mankato State College graduating with a two year degree in Elementary Education. She taught in Martin County Schools, and later in Blue Earth Public Schools for 15 years before retiring in 1986. She also taught Sunday School and Release Time in Blue Earth for several years.

On Feb. 29, 1952, Merridy and Francis ‘Frank’ Kienitz were married, and lived in rural Blue Earth, farming and raising purebred Brown Swiss cattle.

Survivors are her son, Kim (Annette) Kienitz of Detroit Lakes, her grandson, Travis Francis Kienitz, her step-grandchildren, Tony Rosell and Karlee Rosell, her step-great-grandchildren, Malikai, Anton, Isaiah, and Sabina, one niece, Ginger Halvorson and one nephew, Jerry Hartung.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Frank in 1967, sister, Phyllis Hartung, an infant sister, a step-grandson, Chad Rosell and an infant step-great-grandchild, William.

Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com