Kristine Fries

Kristine Marie Nielsen Fries, 100, of Anita, Iowa passed away June 29, 2009 at Colonial Manor in Anita, Iowa.

Kristine Marie Nielsen was born on April 7, 1909, near Brovst, Denmark, to Thorger Christian and Marie (Andersen) Nielsen. She came to the United States in December of 1911 and lived in Ida County, in northwest Iowa. In 1922 the family moved to a farm near Elk Horn, Iowa. Kristine attended country school through the 8th grade and was confirmed at Oak Hill Lutheran Church in 1924. She helped her family with farm work and also did housework as a hired girl. In 1926, her family returned to Denmark for an extended visit. In 1927, they returned to the United States and started farming again, north of Atlantic.

On February 7, 1929, she married Elmer L. Fries at St. Paul's Lutheran Church Parsonage in Atlantic. Shortly after they were married they moved to a farm south of Wiota, Iowa. In 1943, she and Elmer moved south of Anita where they farmed until retirement in 1970. After retirement, they moved to West Main in Anita and lived there until 1998, when she moved to 800 Chestnut Street in Atlantic. In September of 2003 she moved to Colonial Manor in Anita.

Kristine was a "maker and a doer." She loved to make quilts, braided rugs, lap robes, place mats, etc. She was an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, WELCA, Anita Garden Club, Maple Grove Neighborhood Club, and the Sunset Club, a senior citizens' pot-luck club in Anita. She was a loyal member and a dependable worker in any group to which she belonged. She was a member of the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn, Iowa. She corresponded with her relatives in Denmark and enjoyed trips back to her homeland in 1983 and 1985.

Kristine is survived by her son, Clifford Fries and his wife, Barbara of Anita, Iowa; one daughter, Opal Pratt Wharton and her husband, Charles of Aurelia, IA; one daughter-in-law, Marlene Fries of Red Oak, Iowa; five grandchildren, Janet Pratt Eisenmenger and her husband, Patrick of Jackson, TN, Dr. Thomas G. Pratt and his wife, Laura of Sioux City, IA, Kim Fries Douthit and her husband, Don of Clarinda, IA, Kristen Fries Sample of St. Joseph, MO and Kelly Fries of Auburndale, FL; six great grandchildren; two great-great granddaughters; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Fries of Trenton, MO and Vera Nielsen of Exira, IA; plus many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Elmer in 1982; her son, Ronald in 2001; her son-in-law, Robert Pratt in 1997; a great grandson, Michael Sample in 1991; her parents; her sister, Elfreda Johnson; two brothers, Arnold and Raymond Nielsen; eight brothers-in-law; and seven sisters-in-law.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 2, 2009, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa, with burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, Iowa, at 2:00 p.m.

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 1, 2009, from 1:00 - 8:00 p.m. with family present to greet friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Hockenberry Family Care in Anita, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers memorials may directed to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Atlantic, Iowa.

Hockenberry Family Care in Anita, Iowa, is helping with arrangements.