Mary Rethlake

Mary Margaret Rethlake was born October 31, 1938 in Litchfield, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Catholic Church in Darwin. She attended country school in the Darwin area and graduated from Litchfield High School with the class of 1956. She continued her education by attending St. Cloud Beauty College. On November 30, 1956 Mary was united in marriage to Charles Gregory Rethlake at St. John's Catholic Church. To this union four children were born. Mary and Greg lived in Litchfield and Benson for a short time where they were active with the Jaycees. They later moved to Clara City and Mary began working at the drug store where she stayed until her retirement. Mary had a strong passion for music and enjoyed displaying that gift by singing in the church choir and performing solos for both weddings and funerals. She also participated in Community Theater, and was a very active volunteer during Clara City Soybean Days. She was a member of St. Clara Catholic Church where she served in many different capacities, and was an avid Vikings fan. The majority of her free time centered around her children and later on her grandchildren serving as their biggest fan and supporter. Mary is survived by her children: Randall Rethlake of Clara City; LaMont (Cherie) Rethlake of Clarksville, Tennessee; Gina (Roger) Hagen of Renville; Dayna Rethlake of Minneapolis; grandchildren: Jonathan (Renee) Stoltz, Hillary and Brandon Rethlake, Rhia (Joe) Corstentino, Jesse and Sean Rethlake, Christina Hagen, Gregory (Moulnyka) Hagen; great grandchildren: Andrew, Shelbea, Gabriel, Carter, Landry, and Lawson; sisters: Dorothy Bohm of Franklin, Indiana; Patsy Pederson of Hutchinson; Joyce (David) Knefelkamp of Stillwater; and other extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband Gregory in 1981; a daughter-in-law Brenda Rethlake, several brothers-in-law, a sister-in-law and her parents.