Inez Lorraine Kohls

Services for Inez Kohls, 100, of Belview, will be held on Tuesday, May, 30, 2023 at Grace Lutheran Church in Belview, with visitation from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and funeral at 11:00. A private family burial will follow that afternoon. Inez (Inie) Stensrud Kohls was born August 8, 1922 to John and Christine (Nelson) Stensrud at the Redwood Falls Hospital when her family lived in Delhi. She was baptized in Delhi then moved with her family to Dundas before the family settled in Echo in 1925. She was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Echo. She graduated from Echo High School in 1941, and from Mankato Teachers’ college in 1943, with a teaching degree. After graduating she taught in Chandler, MN. On July 24, 1945, Inie was united in marriage to S. Sgt. Keith Leroy Kohls, former WWII POW. They made their home in Belview where they remained all their married life. Following her marriage, she taught at District 10, Swedes Forest Township. In later years, her working career included: substitute teacher; bookkeeper for Anderson Lumber Company; aide and finally, bookkeeper at Parkview Home. In 1985, she retired from Parkview and was recognized by the staff for “twenty years of dedicated service and hearty laughter”. Inie was a member of the Congregational Church and Grace Lutheran Church; Circle; Civic Club; PTA; and Music Mothers. For many years she faithfully volunteered and read to the residents of Parkview and delivered Meals-on-Wheels. She was a member of the original committee to save the Odeon and a charter member of the Belview Preservation Commission and worked diligently with these committees to save and restore the Odeon, depot, log cabin and school. For this service, Inie was chosen as Co-Grand Marshal of the SOD Day parade, 2014. Inie enjoyed reading to Parkview residents, antiquing, garage sales, family pets, game shows, living close to and spending time laughing with her two sisters and her friends, dancing, the music of the 1940s, wearing hats, summers on Games Lake, gardening, small town life and decorating and making her house a loving home for her family. She found special joy in being a wife, mother and “Grandma Inie”. She was a fun, loving mother and grandmother deeply loved and admired by her family. She chose to be a happy person dedicated to her family and a loyal and supportive friend to many life-long friends. On March 9, 2023, Inie passed away at the age of 100 at Parkview Home where she had resided since August, 2018. The family extends their thanks to the staff for her care. She is Preceded in death by her parents; infant brother, Clifford; sisters, Herma, and Ruth; husband, Keith; Brothers-in-law, Sid Hagen, Herb Kohls, and Roland Kohls; sister-in-law Florence Kohls, and son-in-law, Robin Sterrett. Survivors include children: Roger (Willmar), Polly Sterrett (Colstrip, MT), and Cinda (Belview); grandchildren: Hilary Keprios (Eau Claire, WI); Heidi and Brian Kohls (Willmar); Casey Sterrett (WA); Carrie (Sterrett) Fielding (MT); and Matthew Sterrett (Sauk Rapids); great grandchildren: Chase Pickard (CO), Mikala, Blake, and Bella Kohls; Mason and Brynn Inez Keprios; Jack Sterrett; and River and Sutton Fielding; cousins; and nieces and nephews.