Connie Dikkers

Connie (Skramstad-Barthol) Dikkers died at the age of 62 on June 6, 2010. Connie, with her husband Thain, resided in New Ulm.

Connie was born in Stillwater on August 17, 1947; parents were Art and Helen Skramstad. Her three children, Wendi (Barthol) Ringhofer, Brian and Andrew Barthol were born and raised there.





Connie had many close friends from attending elementary and high school in Stillwater that she stayed in contact with throughout her life. Connie was almost a permanent resident at the Stillwater High School for 20 years where she worked as a paraprofessional, student-driver teaching assistant and sold tickets for many student activities at the high school.





She loved to participate in the Lumber Jack Days parade/activities and when her children were young they were dressed up and marched in the Kiddie Parade.





She never missed a good sale where she could buy something for the grandchildren or an item to sell on eBay; she would have as many as 150-200 items for sale at any given time. She was a lifelong member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and was active with church activities and teaching Sunday school.





Connie was very loyal to her friends and maintained a close relationship with them. She met Thain 30 years ago and they were married at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa, on October 21, 2006. On that same day she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and has battled that with her faith in God and treatments from doctors at Mayo Clinic and the New Ulm Medical Center.





Connie is survived by her husband Thain and her children: Wendi Ringhofer her husband Matt and their children Josephine and Adeline, Brian Barthol and his children Hadden Barthol and Jair Penaloza, and Andrew Barthol his wife Randee and their children Brittany Hansen, Trevor Knish and Kalli. Thain's children: Christine LeClerc and Seann his wife Stephanie and children Grant and Katie. Connie's pet dogs were Tuffy, Nopie, Brutus, and Murphy.





Visitation and the Memorial service will be held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Stillwater, on June 9, 2010. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. and the memorial service will begin at 11 a.m.





Memorials in Connie's name will be given to "Brains for a Cure" and "Hope Lodge," both of Rochester.





Connie's favorite bible verses:





2 Timothy 4:8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.





Isaiah 40:32: They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.