Carol Rettke

Carol Ila Wright Rettke, 89, passed peacefully in her sleep on Friday, January 20, 2012 at the Pleasant View Good Samaritan Home in St. James. Carol was born on August 29, 1922, to John Maren (Froslan) Wright at home on a farm on the shores of Bullhead Lake in Rosendale Township. Number eleven of their thirteen children, Carol was the last of John and Maren's children to join her Heavenly Father. She was baptized at First Lutheran Church in St. James on June 23, 1923, and confirmed there on October 31, 1937, by Rev. Herman I Muus. Carol's confirmation verse was Matthew 6:24, with her hymn being "Beautiful Savior." Carol went to grade school in District 51, rural St. James. She attended St. James High School, graduating in 1941. While there, Carol met her future husband, Merton Rettke. They were married on July 17, 1942, at the First Lutheran parsonage, in St. James, by Rev. H.S. Strand. They would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this July! Carol was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Like her sisters, Carol made delicious breads, cinnamon rolls, pies, and cakes. She loved to garden and would always have beautiful zinnias in the garden. Her meals with fresh produce will remain memorable to her family as well as her delicious dill and mustard pickles. Carol was involved in 4-H, Ladies Extension, and Ladies Aid in her younger years. She was a wonderful, lovely person and will be forever loved and missed by her family! Carol is survived by her loving husband, Merton, and their five children: Gary (Susan) of Blaine, MN; Dennis (Patricia) of Boyceville, WI; Diane (James) Stenson of St. Peter; Dale of St. James; Dawn (Mike) Johnson of Odin; 9 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Marie Wright of Phoenix, AZ, Pearl Haglund Stoesz of Mt. Lake, Wilma Rettke of Odin and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings; Ervin, Donald, Philip, Calvin, Lyle, Alice Fastenau, Hazel Nelson, May Gruis, Myrtle Nelson, Olive Babolian, Fern Nelson and Jessie Durheim. First Visitation 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Sturm Funeral Home, St. James 906 10th Ave. S. St. James, Minnesota, United States 56081