Funeral services were conducted Monday morning, July 28th, at the St. Kilian Church for Mrs. Dorothea Tennessen by her son Fr. Henry J. Tennessen. Assisting were Fr. A. M. Gmeinder as deacon; Fr. Alphonse Diekmann, sub-deacon; and master of ceremonies, Fr. Joseph Davey. The sermon was given by Fr. M. J. Hiltner and singing was rendered by the men's choir of St. Kilian, being directed by Mrs. George Hebig. Burial was made in St. Adrian's cemetery at Adrian, Minn., beside her husband and son, Mathias. Pallbearers were Leo Fuerstenberg, Al Diekmann, Frank Loosbrock, Henry Henning, J. P. Gengler and J. J. Schutz. Dorothea Mary Schneider was born January 16th, 1854, vicinity of Treves, Rhine District, Germany, daughter of Mathias and Anna Mary Biersdorf Schneider. When a young child, a group of relatives came to the United States to make their home, of which Mrs. Tennessen was the last. In April 1879 she was married to John B. Tennessen at Adrian, Minn. They were the first couple to be married in the first Catholic church at Adrian. She was a pioneer of Nobles county since 1878, suffering the hardships of the pioneer days. Mr. Tennessen preceded her in death March 1, 1922. She had been ill for eight weeks and passed away Friday, July 23 at the Adrian Hospital; death being caused from infirmities of old age. Surviving children are: Mrs. Adelheid Hartmann, Adrian; Mrs. Anna Meymann, Monticello, Mn; Miss Catherine Tennessen, Adrian; Mrs. Dorothy Laudet, Austin, Mn; John Tennessen, Madison, Mn.; Rev. Henry Tennessen, St. Kilian, Mn; Mrs. Frances Bohnenkamp, Dell Rapids, SD; Alphonse Tennessen, Kenneth, Mn; and Mrs. Walburga Schatz, Cresco, Iowa. Two children, Mrs. Marie Crain and Mathias passed away at maturity. In addition 24 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren survive.
From Wilmont Tribune July 29 1943 - reprinted Wilmontshopper.com April 2022