Mary A. Kraetsch, age 89, of Luverne, Minnesota, died Sunday, December 24, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne.
Memorial service will be Friday, December 29, at 11 a.m., with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m., all at the First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Burial will be held at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Arrangements are under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. To sign an online registry, please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com.
Mary was born on December 19, 1934, in Magnolia, Minnesota, to Earnest and Myrtle (Lehmann) Kleine. She was raised in Magnolia and attended school there. After graduating high school in 1952, she moved to St. Paul where she worked as secretary to the president of Farmer’s Union for three years.
Mary was united in marriage to Floyd Kraetsch on October 15, 1955, at the United Methodist Church in Luverne. They made their home on the Kraetsch family farm south of Kanaranzi and were blessed with three children. Mary was a dedicated homemaker, spending hours preparing hearty dinners and baked treats for the farm workers.
Following decades of farming, the couple moved to Luverne. Mary and Floyd enjoyed traveling with family and friends, lake vacations in northern Minnesota and summers in the Iowa Great Lakes area.
Mary was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Luverne and was active in Rebekah Circle and UPW, often sharing her creative talents by decorating for events and worship areas. She was a member of Luverne 92 Lions and often volunteered at the Minnesota Veterans Home and for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. Her hobbies included collecting and refinishing antiques, flower gardens, needlework and quilting.
Mary is survived by her husband of 68 years, Floyd, of Luverne; son Kevin (Sherri) of Magnolia; two daughters, Karla (Timothy) Kuisle of Northfield, Minnesota, and Kelly (Dave Konopacky) of Conover, Wisconsin; grandchildren Annette Sandager, Katherine Kraetsch, Eric Kraetsch, Ashley Kraetsch and Laura Hoebing; stepgrandchildren Nicole Cronquist, Casey Elbers and Yssi Entzie; 14 great-grandchildren; sister Mildred (John) Steece of Luverne; brothers Dallas of Bullhead City, Arizona, and Thomas of Summerville, South Carolina; and other family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; eight sisters, Margaret Pickard, Evelyn Nelson, Barbara Dye, Nyla Stearns, Helen Taillefer, Joyce Hawes, Patty Krier, Janis Glapa; and four brothers, Rodney Kleine, William Kleine, Donald Kleine and Louis Kleine.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to further support Mary’s passion for helping others through Presbyterian Women, c/o First Presbyterian Church, 302 Central Lane, Luverne, Minnesota, 56156.