1906
Merle
2004
Merle Kilvington
November 14, 1906 — May 13, 2004
Merle Madolyn (Barclay) Kilvington was born on November 14, 1906 in Winona, MN to parents Thomas Barclay and Effie (Evans) Barclay. Merle had two sisters, Maggie and Gladys and a brother, Harold. She attended school in Stockton, MN and eventually moved to Minneapolis where she ran a boarding house for several years in the 1930's. She then moved to the Marshall, MN area and worked as a waitress for several years. While living in Marshall she met Earl Kilvington and they were married in 1947 and finally settled in Ortonville, MN making their home on Big Stone Lake. In 1987, following Earl's death she moved to Lakeside Apartments in Ortonville. She lived there until April 1, 2004 when she moved to Northridge Residence where she lived until her death on May 13, 2004.
Merle worked for many years as a waitress at the Theater of Seasons CafA�A�. She enjoyed baseball, taking trips in her car, reading, playing cards, gardening and crocheting and spending time with friends and family. She was an excellent seamstress and sewed many beautiful outfits for her granddaughters. Merle was an active member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program until the age of 96 when she decided it was time to "retire". She spent many hours at the Senior Center volunteering and playing cards with her friends. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and of the Methodist Women's group. She was also a member of the Lakeside Extension Club for many years. She was always ready to go shopping or out to eat and was interested in current events, sports and music. She was a great cook and always brought the pies for Thanksgiving dinner.
Merle led a full and active life and was an inspiration to her family and others on how to age with dignity and maintain independence with spirit and determination.
Merle was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, and brother, her stepson and his wife, Gordon and Ruth Kilvington and her stepdaughter and husband Lucille and John Semrau.
She is survived by her grandchildren, Gale Mittelstaedt, Ortonville, MN, Lynn (David) Corcoran, Milwaukee WI, Joy (Robert) Larson, Ortonville, MN, Sandra Semrau, Watertown, SD, John Semrau, Ortonville, MN, great grandchildren, Angel (Greg) Zollner, Prior Lake, MN, Tonya (Rod) Barnhardt, Big Stone City, SD, Michele (Matt) Bernhardt, Milwaukee, WI, Melissa Corcoran, Milwaukee, WI, and great, great, grandchildren Zachary and Taylor Barnhardt and Naomi Zollner and a niece, Helen (Robert) Casum of Huntington Beach California and nephew, Charles Farrell of the Los Angeles, CA area.
Merle worked for many years as a waitress at the Theater of Seasons CafA�A�. She enjoyed baseball, taking trips in her car, reading, playing cards, gardening and crocheting and spending time with friends and family. She was an excellent seamstress and sewed many beautiful outfits for her granddaughters. Merle was an active member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program until the age of 96 when she decided it was time to "retire". She spent many hours at the Senior Center volunteering and playing cards with her friends. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and of the Methodist Women's group. She was also a member of the Lakeside Extension Club for many years. She was always ready to go shopping or out to eat and was interested in current events, sports and music. She was a great cook and always brought the pies for Thanksgiving dinner.
Merle led a full and active life and was an inspiration to her family and others on how to age with dignity and maintain independence with spirit and determination.
Merle was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, and brother, her stepson and his wife, Gordon and Ruth Kilvington and her stepdaughter and husband Lucille and John Semrau.
She is survived by her grandchildren, Gale Mittelstaedt, Ortonville, MN, Lynn (David) Corcoran, Milwaukee WI, Joy (Robert) Larson, Ortonville, MN, Sandra Semrau, Watertown, SD, John Semrau, Ortonville, MN, great grandchildren, Angel (Greg) Zollner, Prior Lake, MN, Tonya (Rod) Barnhardt, Big Stone City, SD, Michele (Matt) Bernhardt, Milwaukee, WI, Melissa Corcoran, Milwaukee, WI, and great, great, grandchildren Zachary and Taylor Barnhardt and Naomi Zollner and a niece, Helen (Robert) Casum of Huntington Beach California and nephew, Charles Farrell of the Los Angeles, CA area.