Della Flemke

Della Mae (Krause) Flemke, age 98, passed away on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at Pine Haven Care Center surrounded by her family. She was born the second of two children to Harley and Emma (Wobig) Krause on November 16, 1926. Della Mae entered into God's grace through baptism on January 1, 1927 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Pine Island, Minnesota and was later confirmed there on July 7, 1940. A lifelong resident of Pine Island, Della Mae attended school through the 8th grade in a one room country school house on the corner of Pigtail Avenue and Buck Street. Della Mae met her one and only love, Leslie Flemke, in 1949, a year after he moved to Pine Island. Leslie and Della Mae were married at St. Paul's on September 28, 1950. Throughout their marriage they raised two sons, Joel and Ronald, and also worked the family dairy farm. In retirement Della Mae and Leslie enjoyed traveling and spending time with their friends, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Della Mae will be remembered as a kind and loving soul who found joy in caring for others. She had a passion for quilting, making thousands of quilt tops through her church quilting group and for her family over the years. Della Mae continued sewing quilt squares until the day before she entered the care center. Della Mae could always be counted on for a delicious home cooked meal or a bag full of cookies. For more than 50 years, she had an annual pastime baking and serving a variety of cookies at Joel's Greenhouse during their open house weekend. When she wasn't quilting or baking, Della Mae enjoyed spending time in prayer and devotion, reading, playing cards, admiring anything with chickens and soaking up the sun on her patio.

Family meant everything to Della Mae. No matter the time of day or how long the visit, Della Mae was always excited to have her family call or drop by the house to say hello. After moving off the farm, Della Mae cherished living next door to her cousin, Betty. The two neighbors looked after each other and always enjoyed getting together with their cousins for a meal.

Della Mae leaves behind a strong legacy of faith. She is survived by her two sons, Joel Flemke of Pine Island and Ronald (Sue) Flemke of Pine Island; five grandchildren, Emily (Eric) Applen of Rochester, Michael (Tracy) Flemke of Byron, Aaron (Alison) Flemke of Pine Island, Ryan (Karla) Flemke of Rochester, and Jason (Hailey) Flemke of Rochester. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Della Mae is preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband of 66 years, Leslie; her brother Donald and his wife Mildred Krause; and two daughters-in-law, Mary Ellen Flemke and Nancy Flemke.

Please join Della Mae's family in celebrating her extremely blessed life on Thursday, June 19, 2025 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Pine Island with Rev. Dustin Haider officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Larson Chapel in Zumbrota and one hour prior to the service at church. Burial will be at Pine Island Cemetery. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com