Lila Berniece Irene Wietzke

Lila Berniece Irene (Harder) Wietzke passed into glory on Saturday, November 13, at the age of 82 years 2 months 21 days at the Zumbrota Care Center, Zumbrota, Minnesota.
Lila was born September 23, 1928 at her parents' farm near Rush River, Minnesota, Kelso Township, Sibley County, the first child of August and Mildred (Ostermann) Harder. She was the older sister of Gladys and Eldred.
As a child she attended school through 8th grade at Rush River rural school. She completed her education at Le Sueur High School, Le Sueur, Minnesota in 1946, where she enjoyed being active playing girls' basketball. Growing up, Lila preferred working outside on the farm, so she had many farm animal friends, most memorable being Red, her pet pig until he grew too large. She enjoyed telling stories involving creek and river adventures from the years as a youth.
On April 16, 1948, Trinity Lutheran Church, Sibley Township, Gaylord, Minnesota was the site of her marriage to William Frederick Wietzke. She then became a farm wife and mother, and when her three girls left for college, she worked for Big Stone Canning Company. Later she assisted at the Sibley County DAC, Arlington, Minnesota, where her daughter, Evelyn, served as the lead teacher.
Until 1998, Lila was active at Trinity Lutheran Church in the WELCA, a Sunday School teacher, and part of the quilting group which provided quilts for Lutheran World Relief as well as fundraisers for Bible camp. She was part of the Kelso Home Extension Group, a 4-H Club Leader during and beyond her daughters' growing up, as well as a participant in her neighborhood Bible Study group. Lila cherished the members of her confirmation class at Trinity Lutheran Church, as well as her neighbors, with whom the family shared many nights playing cards, celebrating birthdays, and, most especially, 4th of July picnics. She never lost contact with those families.
Lila was known for her artistic eye and extensive flower gardens. She exhibited abundant floral items at the Sibley County Fair and became a regular vendor of fresh and dried arrangements at the fledgling Farmer's Markets in Le Sueur and Gaylord, Minnesota. Her eye for artistry exhibited itself in photography of natures�'¢?TM many wonders including fantastic snow formations on the prairie landscape or the many travel destinations with her husband, William. After she became more confined, Lila continued her artistic pursuits with watercolor painting.
One of life's biggest frustrations came when health limitations meant she needed to leave the Kelso Township farm she and William shared for 50 years to retire to Grandview Assisted Living in St. Peter, Minnesota in 2000. Spring of 2006, to be near her oldest daughter, Lorraine, she moved to the Bridges of Zumbrota, and later to Zumbrota Care Center.
Lila is survived by two daughters, Lorraine (Owen) Aaland, Zumbrota, and Pastor Evelyn Dahlke, Roseville, Minnesota. Grandchildren are Daniel Aaland, Rochester, Minnesota, Wade Aaland, Zumbrota, Minnesota, Bonnie Dahlke, Pella, Iowa, Krista (Lukas) Laakso, St. Anthony, Minnesota, Amy (Lars) Loberg, Ellsworth, Wisconsin, Ben (Angel) Eastmann, DeForest, Wisconsin, and Lara Eastmann, residing in Washington state. A great-grandchild survives, Jayden Aaland, Rochester, Minnesota, as well as her sister and brother, Gladys Eilrich, Ely, Minnesota, Eldred (MaryAnn) Harder, Le Sueur, Minnesota, and in-laws Vernon (Arlene) Wietzke, Le Sueur, Minnesota, and Marie Wietzke, Valentine, Nebraska. Also surviving is her remaining aunt, Bernadine Ostermann, New Ulm, Minnesota, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Special friends are Jeanette Seemann and Eunice Bremer, both of Arlington, Minnesota.
Lila is predeceased by her husband, William, November 1996, daughter LeAnn Eastmann, April 2006, great-grandson, Carter Newell, May 2009, and brothers-in-law, Paul Eilrich, 1999, and Eldon Wietzke, September 2010.
Services will be held Wednesday November 17th at 1:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Gaylord, Minnesota with Pastor Bill Nelsen officiating. Pallbearers are Daniel Aaland, Wade Aaland, Lukas Laasko, Lars Loberg, Mike Harder, and Delano Quast. Honorary pallbearers are grandchildren, Bonnie Dahlke, Krista Laasko, Amy Loberg, Ben Eastmann, and Lara Eastmann.
Visitation will be 1 ï¿1/2,1/2 hours prior to the service with burial following at the Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery. Arrangements are with Mahn Family Funeral Home, Larson Chapel, in Zumbrota.
If so desired, memorials may be directed to the Lands Lutheran Church Building Fund in Zumbrota, or to Lifesource.
The family offers thanks to the parishioners of Trinity Lutheran Church whose regular letters uplifted Lila's spirits. We are grateful to the caretakers at the Zumbrota Health facility who showed so much compassion making Lila's last years pleasant and comfortable.
Lila's favorite refrain went like this, "I come to the garden alone..., and He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am his own." Now she enjoys the heavenly beauty and everlasting presence of the Savior.