Willetta Fae Johannesen was born on September 22, 1943 to William and Frances (Gordon) Gade. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Whittemore. Willetta died on October 31, 2024 at the Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona at the age of 81. Funeral service will be 11:00 am Saturday November 9th at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Swea City. Visitation will be 9:30 am until service time on Saturday November 9th at the church. Burial will take place in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery of Whittemore.
She grew up on a farm just North of the Plantation Ballroom near Whittemore. She attended the Lutheran grade school in Whittemore and graduated from Cylinder High School. She attended Augustana College and worked for a short time at the Palo Alto County State Bank and the Whittemore Lumberyard.
Willetta was married to Charles Bierstedt on May 2, 1965 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Whittemore. Seven months later Charles was the victim of a truck crash and did not survive. Willetta was married to Duane Johannesen on January 30, 1972 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ringsted. They made their home on the Johannesen farm west of Bancroft, where they lived their whole married life.
Willetta was very active in the church and was a member of the Lutheran Church Women’s Group. She enjoyed crocheting and cross-stitch, making Christmas tree ornaments and attending Lutefisk dinners. She loved to bake Kringla, Lefse and Krumkake. Willetta loved to go square-dancing with Duane and they never missed the Okoboji Summer Theater performances. She adored her cats Callie, Tuxedo and KC. She also enjoyed watching birds and tending to her flowers and plants. She was very proud that she owned and took care of the family farm by Whittemore.
Willetta is survived by her husband, Duane; sister-in law Marilyn Larsen of Cottage Grove, MN, children Steve and Dan; sister-in-law Carol Goyena of Fountain Hills, AZ, children Joe and Kimberly; brother-in-law Rick (Judy) Johannesen of Urbandale, IA, children Andy, Jesse and Rachel; sister-in-law Debra (Wayne) Gerhart, Bancroft, IA, children Travis, Jessica, Shane and Kelsey, and numerous great nieces and nephews. Willetta is preceded in death by her parents William and Frances Gade, parents-in-law, Fred and Gladys (Bergeson) Johannesen, and her first husband, Charles Bierstedt.
Memorials may be made in Willetta’s name and directed to Ingham Lake Bible Camp, 2258 450th Ave., Wallingford, IA 51365. The Lentz Funeral Home is serving the family. Condolences may be left at www.lentzfuneralhome.com
