Elaine Rettig

Obituary

Elaine Irene (Messner) Rettig was born February 16, 1932, in Alfsborg Township, Sibley County, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Joseph and Marguerite (Clemans) Messner. On March 21, 1951, Elaine graduated from the School of Agriculture, which was then a high school associated with the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Elaine was united in marriage to Raymond Carl Rettig at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Penn Township, McLeod County, on April 29, 1953. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Matthew’s on November 18, 1962. Elaine was a member of St. Matthew’s Ladies Aid and also served as an officer for many years. She remained a member of St. Matthew's until March 16, 1992, when they transferred to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop. This marriage was blessed with four children, Terry, Perry, Ricky, and Lanny. After marrying, Elaine and Ray began farming on the family farm Ray had purchased a few months earlier and they later purchased the former Scharmer farm across the road. They worked side-by-side until they retired in the early 1990s. During harvest season, Elaine worked on the sanitation crew at Green Giant in Glencoe, Minnesota. In September 2011, they moved to Winthrop, Minnesota. Elaine and Ray shared 61 years of marriage together before Ray passed away on October 18, 2014.

Elaine’s favorite hobbies were sewing and quilting. Each of her children and grandchildren received quilts they will always cherish. She also donated many quilts to charity. Other favorite pastimes were gardening with Ray and fishing with her family. For over 20 years, she looked forward to the fishing vacations near Blackduck, Minnesota with her family which eventually included grandchildren too. Over the years, Elaine canned and froze many, many quarts of garden produce so that is was available for the meals she graciously prepared for family and friends; she made sure nobody left her house hungry. After retirement, she enjoyed playing cards and socializing with the Senior Citizens of Winthrop and her other friends.

Elaine Rettig, formerly of Brownton/Winthrop, presently residing at Auburn Home in Waconia, Minnesota; She passed away on August 8, 2018, at Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, Minnesota, at the age of 86 years. Blessed be her memory.

Elaine is survived by her loving family:
Sons,    Terry Rettig and his wife, Lynette of Cologne, MN,
            Perry Rettig and his wife, Betty of Curtiss, WI,
            Ricky Rettig and his wife, Cathy of Indianapolis, IN,
            Lanny Rettig and his wife, Linda of Chaska, MN;
Grandchildren, Michelle (Rod) Davila of Mayer, MN; Christopher (Elinor) Rettig of Minnetonka, MN; Jamie (Jason) Lustfield of Coon Rapids, MN; Beth (Dustin) Goulet of Marshfield , WI, Trisha Rettig (husband John Raway) of Manhattan, KS, Lindsey (Subhani) Syed of Chandler, AZ; Dusty Rettig of Fargo, ND , Anthony "AJ" Rettig of Houghton, MI;
Great-Grandchildren, Makenzie and Braydon Lustfield, McKayla Rettig;
Step Great-Grandson, Dominic Davila;
Brother, Marlyn (Lois) Messner;
Sister-in-law Edna Rettig;
Brother-in-law Martin Rettig;
Nieces, Nephews, other relatives and friends.

Elaine was preceded in death by her Husband, Ray Rettig, Parents, Joe and Marguerite Messner; Sisters, Delores (Cornelius) Messerli; Rose Alice (Roy) Howk; Avice (Willmer) Lehrke; Brothers, Amos Messner, Roland (Melva) Messner, and Leo Messner; Sisters-in-law, Ruth (Erwin) Homan, Lucille Rettig; Brother-in-law, Otto Rettig.