Iona M. Voje, age 77, of Ada, Minnesota, died Friday, June 12, 2009 at Bridges Medical Services, Ada.

Iona Mae (Hinrichs) Voje was born on June 1, 1932 to Henry and Nettie (Nelson) Hinrichs in Ada. She was an only child. She was raised and continued to live on the family farm 9 miles northwest of Ada. Iona attended Washington School Dist. # 54 thru the 8th grade and then attended Ada Public School, graduating in 1950. She began working for Dr. Boynton and Dr. Kinkade as a bookkeeper at the Ada Clinic following graduation.

Iona was united in marriage to Daniel S. Voje on November 27, 1952 at her parent's home. In 1964 they began farming the family farm her grandfather homesteaded in 1890. In 1973 they took over the dairy operation from her father. Iona took care of the farm records and the breeding program of their dairy herd. She served on the Norman County American Dairy Association board for 20 years. During the summer she gardened, home canning many pints and quarts of fruits and vegetables. She also exhibited her canning at the Norman, Mahnomen and Polk County Fairs for many years. Before she began struggling with rheumatoid arthritis, sewing was one of her passions.

Iona was very active in her church. She taught Sunday School at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pleasant View Township for many years and later at St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Ada. She was active in Ladies Aide. For many years she was a columnist for the Norman County Index writing the Pleasant View News on a weekly basis. Iona and Dan were also foster parents for several teenagers from Norman County. In later years, Iona worked at the Halstad Nursing Home in the Activity Department. She retired due to health reasons.

Iona entered Bridges Care Community on June 11, 2007 and resided there until her death.

Iona is survived by her husband, Daniel; three daughters, Danette (Wayne) Gwin, Ada, MN, Brenda Wagner, Ada, MN and Laurel (Mark) Voje-DuVall, Montevideo, MN; one son, Steven (Tammy) Voje, Beltrami, MN; eight grandchildren, Aaron (Sheyna) Strommen, Jeremy Strommen, Ashley and Andy Wagner, Kayla, Alisha and Brandon Voje and Nettie DuVall; two step-grandchildren, Greg Strommen and Kyla (Jesse) Peterson; and two great-grandchildren, Cassidy and Cooper Strommen.

She was preceded in death by her parents and son-in-law, James L. Wagner, Jr.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, June 17th at 10:30 am at St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Ada. Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 16th from 5-7 pm with a Prayer Service at 7 pm at the Anderson Funeral Home in Twin Valley, MN. Visitation will also be one hour before services at the church on Wednesday. Officiating will be Pastor Arvid Salvhus with Kris Wilkins serving as organist and Cassidy Strommen and George Aalgaard serving as vocalists. Pallbearers will be Aaron Strommen, Jeremy Strommen, Andy Wanger, Brandon Voje, Greg Strommen, Danny Grieve, William Wilkins and Hans Helm. Honorary pallbearers will be Ashley Wagner, Kayla Voje, Alisha Voje, Nettie DuVall, Kyla Peterson, Cassidy Strommen, Cooper Strommen, Dillon Strommen and Katie Strommen.
Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery, rural Ada.