Doris C. Krafthefer, 83, of Minneapolis
Funeral services for Doris Clara Krafthefer (nee Lhotka), 83, of Minneapolis, will be held at noon, Friday, Feb. 20, from Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, 3600 Hennepin Ave., S., Minneapolis.
Mrs. Krafthefer died on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, at Martin Luther Manor long-term facility, where she has lived since 2004.
Visitation will be a half-hour prior to the service at the chapel.
She was born Jan. 20, 1926, on a farm near Glencoe to Leonard and Clara (Barto) Lhotka.
Following graduation from Glencoe High School, she attended Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, and St. Cloud State Teacher's College. After graduating with her teacher's certificate, she taught fourth and fifth elementary grades at Stewart Public School in McLeod County.
She moved to Minneapolis, living at Mabeth Paige Hall, where she was a member of the Women's Club of Minneapolis. Also active in the Minneapolis Hiking Club, she pursued her interests in the outdoors, travel and meeting people.
On Aug. 28, 1954, she was united in marriage to Burl C. Krafthefer at Congregational Church in Glencoe. They lived on the 5400 block of 44th Avenue.
Mrs. Krafthefer worked for the Bureau of Environmental Hygiene of the Minneapolis Health Department and also enjoyed a small business applying her artistic talents to baking and decorating cakes.
She went on to become a long-time employee of the Veterans Administration. During her years with the federal government and following her retirement from public service, she also worked as a cashier at the Holiday Foods store in Bloomington.
She held a special talent for appreciating the small things in life. She was generous in sharing her love for people, especially her family and friends as well as those she met in her work.
She cherished music and the arts, enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking, travel and spending time whenever she could along the Minnesota North Shore.
Survivors include her brother, Donald L. (Joanne) Lhotka of Big Lake; sister, Jean (Jim) Weber of Le Center; her children, Jay (Carol) Krafthefer of Stillwater, Joan Erickson of Bloomington; Diane (Thom) Erickson of Longmont, Colo.; and Lisa Krafthefer of Minneapolis; stepsons, Brian and Linda Krafthefer and their children, Andrew and Paul; and Paul Krafthefer; grandchildren, Katie Krafthefer, Laura Krafthefer, Joseph Erickson, Jacob Erickson, Cole Erickson, Ross Erickson and Elsa Erickson; and many other loving relatives and friends.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Burl; and grandson, Joseph J. Erickson.
Morris Nilsen Chapel handled funeral arrangements.
