Dec. 4, 1928-Sept. 22, 2009

SLAYTON - Services for Merle L. DeGrote, 80, of Slayton, are at 2 p.m. Saturday at Faith Lutheran Church in Avoca. Burial is at Faith Lutheran Cemetery, Avoca. Visitation is from 5-7 p.m. today at the Avoca American Legion Hall and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. The Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials are preferred to Hospice of Murray County.

He died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, at the Our House Hospice Home Slayton.

He was born Dec. 4, 1928, near Rushmore to Reinder and Lydia Timmerman.

Survivors include his wife, Rosella of Slayton; sons, Doug of Eagan, and Dave of St. Joseph; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and siblings, Pearl Jacobson of Slayton, Wayne of Seal Beach, Calif., Henry of Russell, LeRoy of Woodstock, Lois Erickson of Hadley, and Lester of Grand Rapids, Mich.