WILMONT–Marie Elizabeth Vortherms, age 97, of Wilmont, died Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at the Ecumen Meadows in Worthington. She was born December 14, 1926, on the family farm east of Wilmont, to Frank and Anna (Lenz) Balster. She graduated from Worthington High School in 1943 at the age of seventeen. After high school, Marie worked at Huisenga Grocery in Wilmont.

Marie met Joe Vortherms in 1946 at a dance. The couple were united in marriage on January 18, 1949 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Wilmont. After their marriage, they lived on a farm southwest of Wilmont. They were blessed with eight children. They moved into Wilmont in 1971. Marie began working at Tri-City Gas, in Wilmont, in 1972 before retiring in 2010.

She was a devout Catholic with God and church as a cornerstone of her life. Marie was a lifetime member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, in Wilmont; the Altar Society; the WCCW; and President of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary where she also served as Chaplain for thirty five years. She enjoyed playing Bingo & cards, puzzles, word search, Sequence, cross stitching, quilting and watching the Minnesota Twins & Vikings. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Marie is survived by her six children, Joann (Gene) Stolt, Sartell; Diane (Mark) Edwards, Lakeville; Larry (Kelly) Vortherms, Eden Prairie; Joe (Jeannie) Vortherms, Corcoran; Dave (Kari) Vortherms, Hastings; and Judy (Jim) Griebel, Searles; eighteen grandchildren; twenty seven great-grandchildren; and a brother, Richard (Carol) Balster, Wilmont.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joe on December 16, 1972; daughter, LaVonne in 2015; son, James in 2022; grandson, Christopher Edwards; two brothers, Franklin and Robert Balster; and two sisters, Sr. Francine Balster OSF; and Kathleen Jueneman.

Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 17 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, in Wilmont, officiated by Monsignor Richard Colletti and Deacon Vern Behrends. Visitation will be 2 hours prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Wilmont.

Dingmann Funeral Home, in Wilmont, is in charge of arrangements.

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