Stella Dahm was the youngest of three children that were born to Bert and Marie(Van Genderen)Dahm. She was born on August 31, 1923, near Peoria, Iowa where she spent the beginning years of her life. Stella received her elementary education at the Peoria Christian Grade School in Peoria. On February 20, 1947, she was united in marriage with Harold Pothoven at the Peoria Christian Reformed Church in Peoria. Following their marriage Stella and Harold began farming west of Peoria and to this union two sons were born: Darl Wayne and Dennis J. Following the completion of their education Darl and Dennis pursued their respective careers in North Carolina and Washington. In 1960 Stella and Harold moved to her parents farm southwest of Peoria where they were engaged in the farming operation and resided the remainder of their married life.

Stella maintained a huge garden of flowers and a meticulous yard of two acres. She enjoyed the country side and seasons of the year and the family farm remained very dear to her heart. When not outdoors Stella did sewing and made many, many quilts which she shared with family and others. Stella's family was very important to her. She compensated for her partrial loss of hearing by writing her sons letters weekly and connecting with her grandchildren and their lives via email. On Tuesday morning, November 22, 2011, Stella passed away at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella, Iowa at the age of 88 years. Stella is survived by her husband of 64 years, Harold; her two sons and their wives, five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. They and their families are: Darl and Carrie Pothoven of Durham, North Carolina and their three children: Kate and Ralph Knowles of Caribou, Maine and their daughter, Avery, Jeff Pothoven of Spartanburg, South Caroline, Jennie and Michael Dougherty of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Dennis and Cheryl Pothoven and their two children: Chris Pothoven and Meredith Pothoven all of Mercer Island, Washington. Of her original family Stella leaves her sister-in-law, Arvena(J.B.)Dahm of Pella; and the following sisters-in-law and brother-in-law: Ruth(Pothoven)Ozinga of Pella and Martha faye(Pothoven)and William Vander Meyden of Oskaloosa, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bert and Marie Dahm; her parents-in-law, John and Golda(Tysseling)Pothoven; her brother, Jacob B. Dahm, her sister, Christine, and her husband Vernon A. Van Ee; and the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Freda Fern(Pothoven)and Arthur Bokhoven, Lester and Johanna Pothoven, and Arnold(Ruth Pothoven)Ozinga.

Stella was a lifelong, faithful member of the Peoria Christian Reformed Church in Peoria and witnessed her faith through her servants heart.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 10:30 am at Peoria Christian Reformed Church, Peoria, Iowa. Interment will follow in the Peoria Cemetery at Peoria, Iowa. Visitation will be Friday at the Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella, IA with the family present from 4-6 pm. For those desiring, a memroial will be established in her memory.