Connie Bottolfsen Loftus

Connie Loftus

SALIX, Iowa — Connie Bottolfsen Loftus, 82, Salix, Iowa, died Sept. 12, 2024. A small service will be held at the Paragon Cemetery, Hartington, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m., followed by a light luncheon for fellowship at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Hartington.

Connie, born in 1942, was the second of five children born to Charles Kenneth and Esther G. (Klanderud) Bottolfsen on the family farm 10 miles east of Hartington. Connie attended St. Peters school, a one room grade school (grades first-eighth) located two miles from the family farm. She graduated from Hartington High in 1960. After graduation, she went to business school in Omaha followed by accepting a job in New York City. Connie returned to Hartington and Sioux City area in 1963, and had Gail (Reeves) Loftus. Connie married Ron Loftus in 1967, and Ron adopted Gail before serving in the Vietnam War. Then Connie and Ronnie had twin boys, Robert “Bob” and Charles “Chuck” in 1970.

Connie held various jobs in the Sioux Land area before retiring in 2008 from Gelita North America (Knox Gelatine).

After retirement, Connie devoted herself to her grandchildren, was very passionate about the genealogy of her Norwegian family and maintaining her beautiful flower gardens. Connie was very handy and could build or fix most anything. Connie also served as a member of the board for the Paragon Cemetery Association for more than a decade.

Connie is survived by her son, Robert, and his wife, Dena, McHenry, Ill.; bonus son, Brent (Flewelling family), Moville, Iowa; granddaughter, Anna (Hinkel), and her husband, Jacob Christensen, Palo, Iowa, daughter of Gail; granddaughters, Kaylee and Gracie Loftus, Oklahoma City, Okla., daughters of Charles and Jordan, McHenry, Ill., son of Robert; also great-grandkids, Quinn and Otto (Anna); sister, Arlis Burney, Virginia Beach, Va.; brother, Gary Bottolfsen, Hartington; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Connie was preceded in death by her father and mother, Charles Kenneth and Esther G. Bottolfsen, Hartington; brother, Gene Bottolfsen, Rockford, Ill.; brother-in-law, Travis Burney (Arlis), Virginia Beach, Va.; brother, Dennis Bottolfsen, Hartington; and children, David Williams Reeves (newborn), 1962; Gail (Loftus) Hinkel, Sioux City, Iowa, 1995; Charles Loftus, Oklahoma City, Okla., 2021.

In lieu of flowers or memorials, a small donation to the Paragon Cemetery Association endowment fund is preferred. Donations may be made payable to the Paragon Cemetery Association, which is tax deductible.