Agnes Katherine (Dowdle\Lillpop) Erschens
January 20, 1891 – April 2, 1973
Interment: St. Mary's Cemetery, Elkton, SD
Agnes Katherine Dowdle was born in Lanesville, Indiana to George (1862-1945) and Laura Alice (Birdwell) (1859-1946) on January 20, 1891. Agnes joined her brothers John (1884-1958), Andy (1887-1900) and George Francis (Frank) (1889-1962). Following Agnes were two more brothers, Charles (1892-1961) and James (1894-1963) and a sister, Lilli Elizabeth (1895-1974).
Agnes married Albert Leo Lillpop on August 20, 1913 with whom she had two daughters, Helen (1914) and Leona (1916). On a trip to visit Leo’s sister Lula (Sylvester) Kannapel in October of 1918, Leo and his two daughters became ill. While his daughters gradually regained their health, Leo’s condition grew critical and he passed away at the age of 29.
In 1925, Agnes began a correspondence with Frank Mathias Erschens of Drammen Township, Minnesota through the Catholic Correspondence Club which had the purpose of introducing ‘Catholic men and women to each other who felt the call marriage’. Their courtship led to their marriage on the morning of February 9, 1926 in Crookston, MN. Agnes and Frank had two children together, Miriam (1926) and Paul (1929). They lived on their farm near Elkton, SD where she spent the remainder of her life.
Agnes was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, the Drammen Farmers Club, the Busy Bee Club and an active member of the Senior Citizens Club of Elkton.
Survivors (at the time of passing) include: Paul (Lois) Erschens of Lake Benton, MN; a daughter, Mrs. Wayne (Miriam) Nielsen of Culver City, Calif.; two daughters by a previous marriage: Mrs. Virgil (Helen) Porter of Elkton, SD and Mrs. John (Leona) Young of Lake Benton, MN; eleven grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Lillian Shuler of Fairfield, Ken.
She was preceded in death by her first husband in 1918, her second husband in 1957, five brothers and one granddaughter.
