Tove Dierssen

Dierssen, Tove Benti, beloved wife of Gunther Dierssen and mother of four daughters, died peacefully in her sleep on August 18, 2017, in her White Bear Lake home. She was 81. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tove was a professional ballroom dancer and instructor in the 50s and 60s in Denmark and the U.S. She spread knowledge and love about the Danish culture through her sparkling personality and service to the community as instructor of the folk dancing group “the Danish Delights” for twenty years, Minnesota editor of the Danish Pioneer newspaper, board member of the Rebild Society, and prominent member of the Danish-American Center in the Twin Cities, the White Bear Women’s Club, Book Club, Pumpkin Club, Mahjong Club, and as a Weight Watcher’s Leader. Foremost to Tove, however, was her dedication to her family. She and Gunther quipped about their marriage: “We were immigrants. We needed some children so we could walk around the tree at Christmas.” She is survived by her husband, four daughters, Annette Jagger (Ted), Rikke Dierssen-Morice (Pierre), Christina Dierssen and Heidi Dierssen, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 23, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peder’s Lutheran Church, 4600 East 42nd Street, Minneapolis. Reception to follow.