Iona Kreft

IONA M. (KRUEGER) KREFT

Iona M. Kreft, age 89, passed away on Saturday, March 25, 2017, at Bethany Home in Alexandria, Minnesota.

Iona May (Krueger) Kreft was born on January 17, 1928, in Leaf Valley Township to Robert Krueger, Sr. and Lydia (Zastrow) Krueger. She was baptized on February 5, 1928, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. She was confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Garfield, Minnesota, in 1942. She attended a number of different country schools as her parents rented farms in the Ida, LeGrand and Holmes City area before purchasing the Zastrow home in Leaf Valley. Iona graduated from Central High School in Alexandria, Minnesota, in 1946. While attending high school, she worked for a family taking care of their grandson. After graduation, Iona worked at a variety store. Then she and her sister Gloria moved to California where she was employed at insurance companies in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

On September 9, 1953, she was united in marriage to John P. Kreft at Riverside Air Base. Theresa Ann was born in 1955, in Burbank, California. The family then moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, where John David was born in 1957, and Thomas Wayne was born in 1958. Iona and her three children lived in Alexandria for a few years before moving to Minot and then Devils Lake, North Dakota. Mark Paul was born in Devils Lake in 1966. The family moved back to Alexandria, Minnesota, shortly after Mark's birth. John P. and Iona later divorced.

Iona then went to work at 3M where she was employed for almost 21 years. She retired from 3M in 1990. For the first few years of her retirement, she took advantage of her free time and traveled around the country on motor coach tours. When she was asked to fill a position at King Coin Laundry, she answered the call and went back to work for another 10 years. When she retired again, she spent her time making quilts, wall hangings, stuffed animals and rag rugs, and embroidering dish towels.

Throughout her life, Iona found strength in her faith. She found joy in music, particularly country music, and attended the We Fest in Detroit Lakes quite a few years in the 80s and 90s. She also found joy in planting and tending her flower gardens.

She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, and served on the Altar Guild for a number of years.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Robert and Lydia Krueger, sisters Gloria Jensen, Caroline Affeldt and Yvonne Krueger; brother Robert, Jr., niece Pamela Jensen; brothers-in-law Roger Affeldt, LeRoy Jensen, Wendell Huss; ex-husband, John P. Kreft, and his brothers Courtney, Gary, Phillip and Noel Kreft.

Surviving her are her children, Terry Kreft, John Kreft, Tom Kreft and Mark Kreft (Sheri Bredeson); her grandchildren Brady Kreft and Erik Herter; sister Genevieve Huss; brother Dennis Krueger and wife Marilyn; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at 11:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Minnesota. Interment followed at Kinkead Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria.
www.andersonfuneral.net

Memorials are preferred to Camp Courage.