Denise (Dee) Sutter died May 24, 2016 at the age of 52 after a long, slow journey with metastatic gynecologic cancer. She died at her home in Hudson, WI with family at her side.
Denise Renae (Wolterstorff) Sutter was born on Nov. 17, 1963 in Sioux Falls, SD. She grew up on a farm in rural Flandreau, SD and moved to MN after graduating from high school. She attended college in the Twin Cities, obtaining both a BA and a MBA while working full time.
She was a long time employee of Gerdau Long Steel North America (formerly North Star Steel). Her work ethic and sense of humor will be missed by coworkers and friends there.
Dee’s greatest joy in life was spending time with her immediate and extended family and friends. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining. Her passing will leave a hole that can only be filled by happy memories. Dee’s motto was “The greatest joy in life is to see those you love happy”, and she spent her life working to make that happen.
Dee enjoyed music of all kinds, reading suspense novels, watching sappy movies, interior decorating and junk shopping. She also treasured time spent at the lake with friends-fishing, having a glass of wine, or just sitting by the fire.
Dee and Leah would like to thank all those who made the past few years bearable: family that stuck by us and friends that refused to move on.
Dee is survived by her children Leah Sutter, Kari (Elix) Sutter of Des Moines, IA, Pete (Amanda) Sutter of Minnetonka, MN, April (Michael) King of Fort Dodge, IA, and grandchildren: Kierra Parker, Michael and Mila King, and Olivia and Charlie Sutter, to whom she will always be ‘Nana Dee’.
Dee also leaves behind loving parents, Herb and Dorothy Wolterstorff of Flandreau, SD. Sisters, caregivers and friends: Deb Grohs (Brian) of Sioux Falls, SD and Linda (Tom) Biever of Forest Lake, MN, one brother- Steve (Lynn) Wolterstorff of Strandburg, SD as well as many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
Dee was preceded in death by Jim, her husband and soul mate. Dee’s spirit will live on in her daughter and light of her life, Leah Mary.
Dee was also preceded in death by brother-in-law Dale Grohs, great nephew Tayden Grohs, parents-in-law, and grandparents.
Funeral service will 5PM Friday, May 27th at Bethel Lutheran Highlands Campus, 504 Frontage Road in Hudson. Visitation will be two hours prior at Bethel Highlands. Burial will be in the Hillside Cemetery in Egan, SD. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a children’s cancer research organization. Funeral services entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson.
“Only a life lived for others is a life worth living”.