Harriet Dressen Family and friends of Harriet Dressen, in a spirit of gratitude and celebration for her abundant life, bid her farewell and Godspeed. Harriet died from the effects of a stroke on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at the Dougherty Hospice in Sioux Falls. Though shaken by her sudden slide into death, her family also affectionately recognized "typical Harriet" in her last few days. By her own directive, life support was ceased; then, by her own fortitude, death was made to wait patiently for several days before she was ready to take her last breath. Born in Pipestone on December 11, 1922, she spent nearly her whole life in that city, baptized and confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church and graduating from Pipestone High School in 1940. After high school she attended Macalester College in St. Paul Minnesota for a year before transferring to the University of Minnesota. Her education was cut short when she traveled to Washington DC to work during World War II. After her time in the nation’s capital, Harriet returned to Pipestone and married Boyd (Bud) Dressen of Pipestone and began to raise her family. Tragedy struck in 1955 when Bud crashed and died during a flying lesson and Harriet was left to raise her family as a single parent. After a period of working for her father, Fred Walz, at his furniture store and then as secretary at First Presbyterian Church, Harriet returned to college to complete her undergraduate degree at South Dakota State University, earning an English Teaching degree in 1966. After two years of commuting and teaching in the Lake Wilson school district, she continued her career as an English teacher at Pipestone High School until she retired nearly twenty years later. She returned to South Dakota State a few years after the start of her teaching appointment at Pipestone High to complete a masters degree. From her parents she came to understand and appreciate the importance of education and instilled that belief strongly in her children as well as many she met. An indefatigable spirit, Harriet was known to accept nearly any request of her services for extra duties at the high school and is remembered particularly for her determined leadership of the speech team and the student editorial staff of the high school newspaper, as well as serving as the junior class advisor. In addition to her school duties, she faithfully performed her role as organist and choir director at First Presbyterian Church, a position she held for nearly fifty years. Moreover, her love of music was manifested in the piano lessons she taught to scores of Pipestone children and youth. Throughout her adult life and until she was nearly 80 years of age, she would on occasion lead the singing from the piano at Good Samaritan church services. She was driving herself to church on May 3 to sing in the choir when the first sign of her illness became apparent. Harriet loved to have a good time. In her courting days with Bud, they would arrive early at the Hollyhock Ballroom in Hatfield to provide dance lessons. In exchange, they received free admission to the evening’s dance. Bridge was a particular passion of hers, and many of her dearest friends were also her bridge partners and competitors. She had been a stalwart member of the Al Opland Singers for many years, an avid golfer, and she loved her Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Her mailbox was testament to a benevolent soul, with almost daily petitions for support from numerous causes. In particular she was generous with her church and the Pipestone Performing Arts Center. Above all, Harriet loved her four children, who were the compass in her life. She cared and sacrificed for them, instructed and supported them until the end of her days. They are daughters Dale Talley of Dallas Texas and Jayne Hegenbart and her husband, Jim of San Francisco California, and sons John Dressen of St. Cloud Minnesota and Dan Dressen and his wife, Elisabeth Comeaux of Northfield Minnesota. In addition to her children, Harriet is survived by her brother, Willis Walz and his wife, Ardes of Sun City West Arizona, nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. An interment service for family will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in the morning of June 8, followed by a memorial service at 1:00 pm for family and friends at the First Presbyterian Church of Pipestone. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be sent to the Albert Steinke Scholarship/First Farmers & Merchants Bank/attn: Vicki Quist/P.O. Box 729/Pipestone, MN 56164 Life on earth ends; God's love does not. Harriet’s family now commends to God one who loved, and was loved well. |