Velma Diedrich, age 92, of Grafton, Iowa, died on Sunday, April 9, 2006, at the Lutheran Retirement Home, Northwood, Iowa. Funeral services were Wednesday, April 12, at 10:30 a.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Grafton, with the Rev. Wayne Ellingson and Aim Irmgard Ellingson officiating. Burial was in the Grafton Cemetery. Visitation was from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar.

Velma Helen Diedrich, the daughter of Carl and Ella (Wolff) Seeger, was born May 11, 1913, in Freeborn County. She was baptized on June 1, 1913, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church near Myrtle, by the Rev. J.O. Staehling. At the age of 2, she moved with her parents and sister and brother to Ottertail County near Perham, Minn., where she received her education in a country school. Velma talked frequently of her happy childhood days in northern Minnesota. She was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Perham on May 22, 1927, by the Rev. Carl Mundinger. After attending one year of high school, the family moved back to the Myrtle, Minn. area.

Velma was united in marriage to Harry Diedrich of Grafton, Iowa, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She and her husband farmed in the Grafton and Carpenter area with Velma also working at Carroll George in Northwood for 10 years. She especially enjoyed her employment at Carroll George but decided to quit to become a caregiver for her mother-in-law. Following their retirement in 1975, the couple then moved to Grafton.

Velma was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Grafton. She was a member in various circles, altar guild, maintained communion records for 27 years and enjoyed helping with quilting days. She served on the Northwood Retirement Home Auxiliary and was active in Senior Citizens. Velma was a hard worker and enjoyed many hobbies including quilting, needlework, sewing flower and vegetable gardening, visiting with relatives and friends, dancing, fishing trips to northern Minnesota and sightseeing trips to western states. She was a good cook and especially enjoyed baking and playing &8220500;&8221; with her Grafton friends.

In 2005, Velma became a resident of the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood where she renewed friendships with co-workers from Carroll George and made many new friends.

Velma is survived by her son, David Diedrich and wife, Darlene of Grafton; daughter Janice Morrison of Albert Lea; daughter Julie Braun and special friend David Ward, of Mason City; brother-in-law, John Diedrich of St. Ansgar, and several special cousins and friends.

Velma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harry of 65 years in 2004; sister Lillian and her husband Eric Buntrock; brother Herbert Seeger and his wife Nadine.

Velma will be dearly missed by all who have shared in her life.