Raymond C. Rettig, 86, of Winthrop
Raymond Rettig, 86, of Winthrop, died Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Oct. 21, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop with the Rev. Paul Tessmer officiating.
Vicki Kiecker was the organist. Congregational hymns were “Abide With Me,” “Softly and Tenderly,” “Jesus Loves Me” and “Take My Life and Let It Be.”
Pallbearers were his grandchildren, Michelle Davila, Christopher Rettig, Jamie Lustfield, Beth Rettig, Trisha Rettig, Lindsey Rettig, Dusty Rettig and Anthony “AJ” Rettig.
Interment was in the Winthrop Cemetery.
Raymond Carl Rettig was born June 7, 1928, in Penn Township, Mcleod County. He was the son of Fredrick John Frank and Ida Wilhelmina (Freyholtz) Rettig. He was baptized July 1, 1928, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Penn Township, and was confirmed there on May 10, 1942. As an adult, he served on the church council for several years. He remained a member of St. Matthew’s until March 16, 1992, when he transferred to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop.
He attended school in the nearby Penn Township District 64 country school and he received his diploma on June 26, 1942. In January 1953, he purchased his parents’ farm in Penn Township near Brownton.
On April 29, 1953, Mr. Rettig was united in marriage to Elaine Irene Messner, also at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Terry, Perry, Ricky and Lanny. After marrying, the couple began farming the family farm Mr. Rettig had purchased a few months earlier. They later purchased the former Scharmer farm across the road. They worked side by side until they retired in the early 1990s. In September 2011, they moved to their current home in Winthrop. God blessed them with 61 years of marriage together.
Fishing, hunting and gardening were Mr. Rettig’s favorite hobbies all his life. He especially enjoyed the yearly gathering of children and grandchildren for a week or two of fishing at resorts near Blackduck. He participated in many duck, pheasant and deer hunting seasons over the years, a tradition his sons and grandchildren carry on today. Some of his favorite times were when the boys and their families or other relatives and friends came out to the farm for hunting, fishing, the holidays or for a fish fry when the fishing had been especially good.
Mr. Rettig’s many hours working his garden will leave family and friends fondly remembering the earth’s bounty he proudly shared with others. After retirement, he enjoyed playing cards and socializing with senior citizens in Winthrop.
Mr. Rettig is survived by his loving family: wife, Elaine Rettig of Winthrop; sons, Terry (Lynette) Rettig of Cologne, Perry (Betty) Rettig of Curtiss, Wis., Ricky (Cathy) Rettig of Cedar and Lanny (Linda) Rettig of Chaska; grandchildren, Michelle (Rod) Davila of Mayer, Christopher (Elinor) Rettig of Minnetonka, Jamie (Jason) Lustfield of Coon Rapids, Beth Rettig of Marshfield, Wis., Trisha Rettig (husband John Raway) of Manhatten, Kan., Lindsey Rettig of Tempe, Ariz., Dusty Rettig of Fargo, N.D., and Anthony “AJ” Rettig of Houghton, Mich.; great-grandchildren, Makenzie and Braydon Lustfield and McKayla Rettig; stepgreat-grandson, Dominic Davila; brother, Martin Rettig; and sister-in-law, Edna Rettig.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Ida Rettig; sister, Ruth (Erwin) Homan; brother, Otto Rettig; and sister-in-law, Lucille Rettig.
Arrangements were with the Dalin-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Winthrop. Online obituaries and guest book are available at www.hantge.com.
