Irene Tufte, age 80, formerly of Cottage Grove, Minn., died on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at Regina Care Center in Hastings.

Irene was born July 30, 1923, in Albert Lea, the daughter of Conrad and Selma (Larson) Utabjaa. She was raised in rural Glenville. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1941, and Hamilton College in Mason City, Iowa, in 1943, On Feb. 19, 1944, she married Hartwick Tufte in Glenville. She worked at the Golden Steer Motel & restaurant in South St. Paul for 37 years.

She was preceded in death by husband, Hartwick; granddaughter, Jodie Jehlicka; and parents.

She was the beloved mother of Doug (Gail) of Kaukauna, Wis., Liz (Rodger) of Alamosa, Colo., Clark (Karen) of Hastings, Mary (Doug) Kleese of Kenyon, Todd (Theresa) of Cottage Grove, and John (Polly) of North Branch; 14 grandchildren: Conrad, Travis, Perry, Nicole, Patrick, Roger, Samantha, Benjamin, Trent, Traci, Trevor, Nick, Jenny and Austin; one great-granddaughter, Paige; sister, Shirley (Ray) Dakin; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral service is 2 p.m. Tuesday at All Saints Lutheran Church, 8100 Belden Blvd, Cottage Grove. Interment will be in the Newport Cemetery. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Kok Funeral Home-Cottage Grove Chapel, 7676 80th St. S.

Memorials may be directed to American Stroke Association.