Valdean Delaine Frost

Valdean D. Frost, 78, of Mason City, passed away on Thursday, October 11, 2012, at the IOOF Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 13, 2012, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 302 5th Street S.E., with Rev. Rod Allers officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Friday (October 12, 2012), with a rosary service at 6:30 PM, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Interment will be 10:00 AM on Monday (October 15, 2012) at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Sisseton, South Dakota, with Rev. Tony Dummer, OMI officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be designated for Parkinson's research at Mayo Clinic. Memorials can be made online at www.mayoclinic.org/development or mailed to Department of Development, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905. Memorials may also be directed to Hospice of North Iowa, 232 2nd St. S.E., Mason City, IA 50401. Valdean Delaine Henke was born on December 8, 1933, near Hammer, SD, the daughter of Edwin and Alice (DeBoer) Henke. She attended country school in Hammer and assisted her father on the farm. On February 20, 1952, she married Zene Frost at the Ava Maria Church in Wheaton, MN. The couple lived in Wheaton for 22 years before moving to Alaska in 1975. In 1978, they moved to St. Cloud, MN – where they retired in 1994. Over the years, Valdean worked as a Nurse’s Aide at Wheaton Community Hospital and Nursing Home. She was extremely proud of her work and had a very strong work ethic that she passed on to her family. Valdean enjoyed spending time with her family – especially her grandchildren. It was important for her to teach them valuable life lessons. She enjoyed baking, dining out, camping, and traveling in their motorhome. Valdean was a caring and social person who loved to be around people. Valdean was known for having a “sweet tooth”, and enjoyed sharing her goodies with family and friends. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mason City, and the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary and the Eagles Club in St. Cloud. Valdean is survived by her husband of 60 years: Zene Frost of Mason City; 2 children: Dr. Sandra Birchem and husband Mike of Mason City, and Eugene Frost and wife Jill of Cloquet, MN; 5 grandchildren: Dr. Jessica Birchem-Isley and husband Phillip, Amanda Birchem, Travis Birchem and wife Christie, Max Frost and wife Liz, and Lacey Trude and husband Josh; and 2 great grandsons: Ayden and Easton Isley. She is also survived by 2 sisters: Darlene and Lois; and brother Donald. She was preceded in death by her parents; 1 sister: Marlys; one brother: Dale; and infant brother: Arlo.