Rieka Vorthmann

Rieka Signa Vorthmann, one of six children of Ragnild Karolina "Carrie" (Hestekind) and Henry Ekke Rieken, was born near Cedar Rapids, Nebraska on March 26, 1910. Rieka attended country school through the 8th grade and then helped her parents on the farm. She later moved to Albion, Nebraska where she worked for a family caring for the home. Rieka later worked as a nurse's aid at the Boone County Hospital.
On August 30, 1930, Rieka and Walter Herman Vorthmann were married at the Zion Lutheran Church in Albion. They made their home on a farm near Treynor, Iowa and later to a farm near Macedonia, Iowa. Their marriage was blessed with five children; Alfred, Dorothy, Roger, Martin, and Rebecca.
In 1969, Walter semi-retired from farming and he and Rieka moved into Treynor. They had been married 58 years when Walter died on January 25, 1989. Rieka continued to live at home and remained active in the St. Paul Lutheran Church and the Mary Martha Circle. Among her enjoyments were quilting, decoupage, cooking, baking, canning, her flower garden, and playing cards. She also enjoyed her membership in the LDT Federated Club in Macedonia. Her greatest joy was her family, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
In 2002, Rieka moved from her Treynor home to the Oakland Heights Assisted Living Center in Oakland, Iowa. In 2003, Rieka suffered a hip fracture and later moved to the Woodland Rehabilitation Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Rieka died at Woodlands on November 16, 2005 at the age of 95 years, 7 months, and 20 days. She was preceded in death by her infant children Roger, Martin, and Rebecca; husband Walter Vorthmann; sisters Mary Voskamp, Minda Stortenbecker, and infant sister Carrie; brothers Henry Rieken and Thomas Rieken; daughter in-law Yvonne "Bonny" Vorthmann; and two granddaughters Robin Vorthmann and Diana Ivers.
Rieka is survived by her children Alfred Vorthmann and his wife Sandra of Treynor and Dorothy Ivers of the Woodland Rehabilitation Center and her husband Fred of rural Minden, IA; sister Anna Edwards of Milliken, CO; nine grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.