Yvonne Lupton

Yvonne Adele Duemler Lupton passed away quietly after a stroke in her Rochester MN apartment early Thursday morning, April 30, with her daughter, Cathy Roepke, (Rochester), her devoted primary caregiver, present. She was 92.

Our much-beloved mother will be greatly missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to know her. She never met a person she disliked, and all who met her were drawn to her gentle, open, gracious nature.

Born in St. Louis in 1934 to a family doctor and energetic mother, she and her six siblings grew up together in the country in a house designed by her father which featured terrazzo floors "for easy washing."

She attended Harris Teachers College in St. Louis, wearing fashionable clothing that she and her sisters had made themselves. There she met our dad, Frank Dehaven Lupton. She left college to marry him, beginning a 66-year-long journey together that included 37 moves - from the East coast to Texas to the Midwest - before settling in Rockford, Illinois, where Dad began his professional career in recreation with the Rockford Park District.

The next time Mom packed their things was for a move to the University of Illinois in Champaign for Dad to earn his Master's Degree. Eventually they again returned to Champaign, this time with 3 preteen (sometimes challenging) daughters - Chris, Cathy, and Cindy ("the 3 C's" as Mom loved to call us) - for Dad to complete his Ph.D. During those years, the girls recall reluctantly learning to drink affordably-priced powdered milk, and happily continued to wear made-by-Mom dresses.

Fortunately, Dad, Ph.D., quickly became employed and they spent many happy years living in and around Macomb, Illinois, where Dad was a tenured professor in the emerging field of recreation. At this time the girls still enjoyed wearing Mom-made dresses, but regretted the permanent place that powdered milk had taken on their table, thanks to Mom.

After Dad's retirement, Mom gamely embraced full time life in their Bounder motorhome, but had enough of the lifestyle after two years. They then settled in Lake City, Minnesota, to be near their daughters' families.

Cathy and Jeff Roepke (Rochester) have four adult children, John (Jun), James, Scott (Elizabeth) and Elizabeth (Alex), and seven grandchildren. Cindy and Doug Erdal (Eden Prairie MN) have two adult children, Samantha and Claire, also of Eden Prairie, and three grandchildren so far. Chris joined the family in Lake City in 2020 after her retirement, reuniting the 3 C's.

Mom loved her siblings, and gathered with them and their families whenever possible. For many years, the siblings exchanged homemade gifts with each other at the Christmas gatherings. This was a chance for Mom's many creative, artistic skills to shine.

The cousins were enjoyably reacquainted with each other at each gathering. A favorite cousins' memory is watching Yvonne and her older sister Jeanne playing jacks on the kitchen floor. She is fondly remembered by nieces, nephews and her daughters for her "creative" approach to card games affectionately known to us as "the Duemler Rules." This was later refined by the family to the more acceptable: "it is not cheating - it is adapting to circumstances."

The 3 C's were blessed to be able to spend one (or more) days a week with Mom during the past five years, sharing memories, reminiscing over family photos, and - of course - rewriting the rules for games of cards.

There will be a Celebration of Life gathering for Yvonne from 2:00-5:00 pm on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Ranfranz and Vine Remembrance and Reception Centre (5482 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901). A short service will begin at 3:00 pm. 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charities of your choice that focus on birds, habitat or arts for kids.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Lupton family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com