Valda Krull

Val was born Valda Darlene Michael on July 21, 1930, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Asa Guy and Beulah (Anderson) Michael. She was 80 ½ years old when she passed from this world quietly in the night on February 5, 2011, while in her home at the Luther Park Retirement Home in Des Moines. She had fought a long hard battle with cancer.

Val grew up on the East side of Des Moines in her family home with her parents, a sister and 4 brothers. Life changed drastically for Val when her mother fell ill to pneumonia and died when Val was just 13 years old. At that time there were three younger siblings needing care. By the time Val turned 16, she quit school to stay home and look after the house and the younger children. Val took a position at the Kirkwood Hotel downtown Des Moines as an elevator operator.

As a young woman, Val had a brief marriage to a Mr. Lumley and had an infant daughter, Pamela, who died. Later while waitressing in a restaurant in Algona, Iowa, Val met Wayne Ridenour. They were married in 1951. The young couple moved to LaVerne, Iowa, and began farming. In 1954 they bought a farm near Dexter, Minnesota, and moved their family. Val was very involved in the farming operation; she also raised chickens and sold the eggs. She also had a huge vegetable garden and canned massive amounts of produce each year. Eventually Val took a cooking position at the Nickerson Farms at the Dexter exit on I-90. In 1969, Wayne died leaving Val with 4 teenagers.

Val eventually married Wilbur “Ding” Krull in 1971. She sold the farm and she and Ding moved to Springfield, Missouri. They owned and operated the K&K Chili Parlor. Later she worked as a banquet chef and banquet manager at the Howard Johnson’s hotel in Springfield… HoJo’s as Val used to refer to it. Ding died in 1979, once again leaving Val a widow.

In 1987 Val returned to Des Moines. She worked at a nearby 7-11 and volunteered her extra time as a foster grandparent in the elementary school district. When her health began to falter, she took early retirement at age 62. One of her greatest joys in her retirement was moving into her apartment at the Luther Park Retirement Home in 2009. Family members say that this move made Val so merry and content. She truly loved the people on the second floor where she lived. Val was very social and made friends very easily everywhere she lived.

Val was preceded in death by her parents, Asa and Beulah Michael; her infant daughter, Pamela Lumley; her husband and love of her life, Wayne Ridenour; husband Wilbur “Ding” Krull; her sister Kathleen Gatewood; brothers Dale Michael and Leo Michael; an infant great-grandson Charles Beauchamp; and a step-son John Krull.

Val is survived by her family who she spoke of often and loved dearly: daughter Linda Ridenour of Thomas, OK; daughter Barbara (Ridenour) Lent (Kevin) of Glenwood, MN; son Dennis “Denny” Ridenour (Colleen) of Thomas, OK; Allen Ridenour of Buford, GA. She is survived by her step-children: Wayne Krull (Marsha) of Thomas, OK; Karen Clapham (Bill) of Dubuque, IA; Lisa Goucher (Steve) of Rockwall, TX. She is survived by her grandchildren and their families: Roshelle (Ridenour) Wherritt (Rodney) and 3 children of Thomas, OK; Jason Ridenour of Owatonna, MN and his 3 children; Wayne Ridenour (Rita) and 3 children of Thomas, OK; Jason Lent (Mickie) and his son of Burnsville, MN; Nichole (Lent) Beauchamp and her sons of Brooten, MN; Eric Lent (Kelly) and 2 children of Breckenridge, MN. Val is also survived by two brothers: Charles “Chuck” Michael of Norwalk, CA and William “Bill” Michael of Des Moines. There is also a host of nieces and nephews who loved Val dearly.

Viewing hours are Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 6pm – 8pm at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Memorial services will be held in the same location Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at 11am with a luncheon hosted by nieces and nephews of Val to follow at Luther Park’s community room at 2824 E 16th Street, Des Moine

Print