Loretta Stenger, 93

Loretta Stenger of Watkins died Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. She was 93.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held  at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Church of St. Anthony in Watkins. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at St. Anthony Cemetery in Watkins.
Loretta Tekla Tellers was born Feb. 24, 1928, in Kimball to Anton and Theresa (Adolph) Tellers. She received her education in Kimball along with her five sisters. Loretta was united in marriage to Eugene Stenger on April 14, 1948, in Kimball and they were blessed with two daughters, Dianne and Sharon. They raised their family on farms in Watkins. In addition to working on the farm while raising her family, Loretta worked at Green Giant and Fingerhut. For 40+ years, she worked at Playland Ballroom in Kimball, with many of those years as a cook making the famous chicken dinners served Wednesday nights, and for other events. She retired at age 80.
Growing up during the Great Depression, Loretta wasted nothing; she fixed things, and she didn’t take anything for granted. Her feisty, determined, and self-sufficient personality enabled her to survive the loss of her husband when she was only 57 years old. Loretta was full of energy, and she spoke her mind. Faith was very important to her, and she was a member of Church of St. Anthony in Watkins where she belonged to the Women’s Auxiliary and St. Anthony Church Circle. Having fun and being with people mattered to Loretta. Following the loss of Eugene, Loretta’s favorite pastime was dancing, ,and in her free time she could be found wherever there was polka music playing. She loved a good game of 500, Euchre, Farkle, and bingo. Loretta traveled to many places throughout the country.
Loretta was preceded in death by her husband Eugene; parents; siblings Theresa, Margaret, Viola, Marcella, and an infant brother; and son-in-law Tom.
She is survived by her children Dianne Gohman of Big Lake, and Sharon (and Joe) Schreiner of Delano; four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; twin sister Lorraine Miller of Annandale; brother-in-law Richard Stenger of Watkins; sister-in-law Rosemary Neseth of Perham; and several nieces, nephews, and friends.
Arrangements are with Ertl Funeral Home in Watkins. A special “thank you” to the staff at Garden View Apartments, Hilltop Health Care Center, and CentraCare Hospice for the compassionate care given to Loretta.