Obituary of Theresia Whittlef

Theresia Bertha Whittlef, 98, of Crown passed away on Monday, September 30, 2013 at Solbakken Assisted Living Care Center in Isanti. This very Special Lady, whose tender love touched everyone she met will be truly missed. She was born on May 1, 1915 in Stanford Township, MN, one of fourteen children to Bernard and Bertha (Nahring) Stoeckel. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church. Tressie grew up on the home farm, attended country school and went on to graduate from high school. After high school she worked for a time as a waitress at the Jackson Street Hotel in Anoka. She would go on to earn her teaching certificate and taught school at the Chapman School just north of Crown and District #8 School just south of her parents' home. Tressie also was a substitute teacher at the Crown Christian Day School. On June 29, 1940 she was united in marriage to Raymond Whittlef at Zion Lutheran Church. To this union five sons and one daughter were born. They owned and operated Frank & Ray's Store in Crown, along with Frank and Lorraine Daudt for many years. Tressie was a lifetime member of Zion Lutheran Church and was active in the Ladies Aide, the Choir and many other activities in the church. She kept very busy working at the store. She was treasurer at Stanford Township for many years. She enjoyed quilting and made many beautiful quilts along with many other fancy handmade items. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond in 1972, daughter Darla Bell in 1990, two infant brothers Albert and Ralph Stoeckel, sisters Dora Bahr, Louise Spier, Lillie Abraham, Frieda Krueger, Alice Grams, Margaret Roeder, brothers Fred, Arthur, Walter, Clarence and Lawrence Stoeckel. Tressie is survived by sons Delton (JoAnn) Whittlef of Crown, Dwight (Sharlyn) Whittlef of Buffalo, Dalyn (Terry) Whittlef of Crown, Denzil (Vicki) Whittlef of Crown, Dean (Susan) Whittlef of Crown, 14 grandchildren Tracy Whittlef, Tammy Milian, Trixianne (Brian) Burkstrand, Todd (Amy) Whittlef, Scott (Sue) Herrmann, Angie (Tom) Shay, Betsy (Brian) Mevissen, Leesa Whittlef, Stacy Whittlef, Nikolaus Whittlef, Missy Burns, Annie (Dan) Birkholz, Mike Whittlef, and Deanna Whittlef, nine great grandchildren Curtis Peterson, Casey Bogard, Austin and Kyle Erickson, Ella and Norah Mevissen, Abby and Blake Burns, and Lynnea Birkholz, as well as numerous nieces, nephews other relatives and friends. The family requests memorials instead of flowers. In honor of Tressie's great love for God and church, memorials will be donated to the Zion Lutheran Church and School in Crown. In lieu of thank you cards, the family will donate to the church and school. Thank you for the many thoughts, prayers and cards.