Laurel Venhuizen

Laurel Grace Venhuizen was born on December 14, 1928 to Charles and Hilda Fluetsch in Wimbledon, ND. She joined her older brother, Ellis ‘Ole’. She married Ralph Venhuizen of Hannaford, ND on Oct. 29, 1946. They raised their family of 5 children and farmed outside of Wimbledon, ND until Ralph’s death in 1981.

After Ralph’s passing, she was a school bus driver for several years. She would always laugh when it was foggy, as the little kids told her to put on her ‘frog lights’! She hated sunflower seeds on the bus and confiscated many bags. She also worked in the local cafe. At St. John’s United Methodist, Laurel was active in the Methodist Women, working many fall church suppers, always in the kitchen. Laurel and her two friends, Mrs. Bultema and Mrs. Shockley (VBS) organized Vacation Bible school for more than a decade. She always taught the kindergarteners and had very creative attendance charts.

Laurel was a beautiful seamstress, sewing all of our dresses. Every first day of school, Christmas, and Easter saw us in beautiful new dresses. Holly never had a boughten dress until age 11! Mom sewed all the girls’ wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses and her mother of the bride dresses.

Laurel moved to Valley City, she bought her home and worked at Cheyenne Care Center as a ward secretary. She also worked as an outreach specialist, helping elderly county residents get services.

After son, Randy’s death, she then moved to South St. Paul, MN in 1994. Laurel worked at Northwest fabrics and crafts in West St. Paul. She worked part time at the Golden Oaks care center in South St. Paul. She was a grandparent volunteer in the south Saint Paul’s school near her, reading to the kindergarten children. She dearly loved reading to the children every week. When she came to MN, that first year, she travelled by bus to the State Fairgrounds, working in ticket sales for the shows.

Laurel was very active at Faith United Methodist church in West St Paul. Active in the United Methodist women, or the ladies aid, she was always working behind the scenes in the kitchen. She and her friend Colleen were famous for their caramel rolls on special occasions at church. Laurel and Colleen set up and served funeral lunches for many many years at Faith United Methodist.

Laurel was always busy and very creative. She had the ceramic shop in Wimbledon, North Dakota, for many years. She was an avid crocheter. Every child had an afghan of their favorite colors and every grandchild had a blanket crocheted by grandma. Laurel’s favorite quilt pattern was Lover’s Knot. Many grandchildren received quilts over the years. Each quilt lovingly made with special touches for each child… like the flower appliquéd on the back of Matthew’s quilt. He said to his gram anything but flowers. Laurel quilted over 400 child size quilts for Mary’s House in Minneapolis. It was such a gratifying experience for her to drop off those many quilts.

Laurel travelled between families every year to visit and go on vacation. Once, she spent time in California when Jennifer had surgery. She played games on the computer and gave herself Nintendo thumbs…her arthritis acted up from playing the game. She flew to as many special occasions as she could, graduations and weddings found her there. At one time, her kids were in different time zones.

Her compromised vision due to macular edema brought a halt to so many activities she loved. She missed playing Rummicube, but never wanted to miss bingo

Mom was one of the most tech savvy seniors. She did her banking on line, She used Zoom to attend church each Sunday, and ordered her groceries by Shipt from her I-pad. She was fiercely independent and fought strongly to remain so.

Mom believed in the power of prayer and

I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

All of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were in her prayers constantly.

Laurel is preceded in death by her husband Ralph Venhuizen, son, Randy Venhuizen, grandson Marcus Triantafellu, and son-in-law Patrick Fiedler. She is survived by her children Holly (Harvey) Cain of Inver Grove Heights, MN, Joanne (Patrick) Fiedler of Fresno, CA, Carol (Stanley) Triantafellu of New Smyrna Beach, FL, and Scott (Kim) Venhuizen of Spring Grove, PA, 7 living grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

We will have a celebration of life at Westwood Ridge Senior Living Facility at 1 Thompson Ave W, W St. Paul, MN on May 29, 2026 at 1:30 pm. She will be laid to rest near her husband and son in Prairieview Cemetery, Wimbledon, ND.

Family is in charge of all arrangements.