June Helen Rients
June 19, 1933 ~ April 15, 2026
Born in:
Lawler, IA
Resided in:
Dundee, IL
June Helen (Anderson) Rients, 92, passed away on April 15, 2026, in her daughter’s home in Dundee, IL.
June was born on June 19, 1933, in Elma, IA, and was the youngest of 7 children born to Ole and Rachel Anderson. Growing up on a farm with this large Norwegian family gave her an appreciation for family, gardening, nature, and caring for and serving others. She also enjoyed life wherever she happened to be and was not afraid to be adventurous, and could be counted on to greet everyone with a smile. Her faith in Christ Jesus was evident in her unwavering kindness, patience, contentedness, perseverance, and love.
June’s education included time at a one-room schoolhouse, a small parochial school, Bethany Lutheran High School (Mankato, MN), and then completed courses to become a lab technician with most of her career at Charles City, Iowa’s Memorial Hospital.
June met her husband, Merle Rients, at Bethany High School. They were married at Saude Lutheran Church on May 31, 1953, and enjoyed 65 years of life together before Merle passed.
Those who will miss June most include her children, Steven (SAM Martin) Rients, Timothy (Teena Baucke) Rients, William (Barb Behling) Rients, Richard (Kate Tazelaar) Rients, and Deann (David) Nicholson, 16 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Merle Rients, her parents Ole and Rachel Anderson, and siblings Art Anderson, Theodora Smith, Nels Anderson, John Anderson, Oren Anderson, Ruth Mintz, and their spouses.
Honoring June’s wishes, the family has chosen cremation. Her remains will be buried at Saude Lutheran Church in Saude, Iowa, where she was baptized, confirmed, and married. Her husband Merle’s remains are being relocated to Saude Lutheran, so their remains will be together.
Services will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at Saude Lutheran Church, rural Lawler, IA, with Pastor Peter Faugstad officiating. The order of services will be as follows: 1:00 p.m. Family and Friends are invited for a time of greeting one another, 2:00 p.m. memorial service followed by the burial, and then a meal in the church basement.
Memorial donations may be given to Saude Lutheran Church, or you can elect to have the family distribute them to June’s other charities.
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To the Rients family, We are saddened to hear of June’s passing. Amazing memories of being your neighbor for many years in Charles City. Your mom was very enjoyable to be around,as was your dad. Our deepest sympathy. Tom and Jan Krall and Imelda Krall
So sorry to hear about your Mom. I had such wonderful memories of being your neighbor across the street. Your Mom was always was so kind.Rember your dog Heidi was at our house just as much as yours. Our folks played cards all the time.