1920
Reta
2016
Reta Trumbauer
July 27, 1920 — March 27, 2016
Reta Agnes Trumbauer was born in Wynot, Nebraska on July 27, 1920. She died on Easter Sunday morning, March 27, 2016, at the age of 95, at Lake Region Hospital after being a resident at Good Samaritan Home in Battle Lake, MN for 2 years and 3 months. She attended National Business Training School in Sioux City, Iowa and later in life, classes at Fergus Falls Junior College. As a young woman she worked as a bookkeeper at Nu-Way Specialties, as billing machine operator at General Electric and later at Cudahy Packing Plant all in Sioux City, Iowa.
She married Darrell Kellogg Trumbauer in November of 1942, and in 1946, they moved to rural Vining, MN and with the assistant of Reta's carpenter brother, Joe, they built cabins for Lake View Resort on Stuart Lake. After selling the resort Reta and Darrell started and managed Breezy Brook Bait, a wholesale minnow business first in rural Vining and later just north of Battle Lake where they built a retail bait and tackle business as well as a hatchery to raise sucker minnows and later hatched muskies for Muskies, Inc. at the site.
Reta began to work for Otter Tail County Social Services in 1961, first as a Clerk Typist and later as a Senior Case Aide and Supervisor in the financial unit. She retired from the county in 1988, after nearly 27 years of service.
Reta and Darrell had two children, Darrell Jr. and Jean. Reta was active in PTA, in 4-H, and directed students in 4-H plays. While working in Fergus Falls, she joined Toastmasters and further developed her talents in writing and speaking. She was active in Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Parish in Battle Lake, and served on various committees and the Parish Council as well as being a lector. For several years she also served as a volunteer doing statistical analysis for Catholic Charities of the Twin Cities and was active in Republican politics. Reta often served as an informal mentor for young women as well.
But family was Reta's greatest joy. She loved nothing more than having her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren around her. Reta loved to travel with friends and with her daughter, Jean. Spirituality, reading, and gardening were also important to her.
Reta was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Brigit Morris, her brother, Joe and sister Marian, and her husband Darrell, and great-grandchildren, baby Bares and Alex and Jayden Trumbauer. She is survived by her daughter, Jean Morris Trumbauer of Minneapolis, her son Darrell Jr. (Helen Marie) of Battle Lake, granddaughter Stephanie Bares (Mark) of West Fargo, and grandsons Stephen (Lorie) of Fargo and Jeffrey (Jodie) of Spearfish, South Dakota, as well as great-grandchildren Nicholas, Brayden, and Mekenna Bares; Katie, Leah, Joey and Andrew Trumbauer and newest great-grandchild Micah Trumbauer as well as a niece and nephews and many friends.
Memorials preferred to the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Society or Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Parish.
Funeral Mass: 11 AM, Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Battle Lake.
Visitation: Wednesday from 5 to 7 PM with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home and one hour prior at the church.
Clergy: Fr. LeRoy Schik
Interment: Lakewood Cemetery, Battle Lake
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Battle Lake
Reta's Memorial Folder
Reta's Video Tribute
She married Darrell Kellogg Trumbauer in November of 1942, and in 1946, they moved to rural Vining, MN and with the assistant of Reta's carpenter brother, Joe, they built cabins for Lake View Resort on Stuart Lake. After selling the resort Reta and Darrell started and managed Breezy Brook Bait, a wholesale minnow business first in rural Vining and later just north of Battle Lake where they built a retail bait and tackle business as well as a hatchery to raise sucker minnows and later hatched muskies for Muskies, Inc. at the site.
Reta began to work for Otter Tail County Social Services in 1961, first as a Clerk Typist and later as a Senior Case Aide and Supervisor in the financial unit. She retired from the county in 1988, after nearly 27 years of service.
Reta and Darrell had two children, Darrell Jr. and Jean. Reta was active in PTA, in 4-H, and directed students in 4-H plays. While working in Fergus Falls, she joined Toastmasters and further developed her talents in writing and speaking. She was active in Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Parish in Battle Lake, and served on various committees and the Parish Council as well as being a lector. For several years she also served as a volunteer doing statistical analysis for Catholic Charities of the Twin Cities and was active in Republican politics. Reta often served as an informal mentor for young women as well.
But family was Reta's greatest joy. She loved nothing more than having her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren around her. Reta loved to travel with friends and with her daughter, Jean. Spirituality, reading, and gardening were also important to her.
Reta was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Brigit Morris, her brother, Joe and sister Marian, and her husband Darrell, and great-grandchildren, baby Bares and Alex and Jayden Trumbauer. She is survived by her daughter, Jean Morris Trumbauer of Minneapolis, her son Darrell Jr. (Helen Marie) of Battle Lake, granddaughter Stephanie Bares (Mark) of West Fargo, and grandsons Stephen (Lorie) of Fargo and Jeffrey (Jodie) of Spearfish, South Dakota, as well as great-grandchildren Nicholas, Brayden, and Mekenna Bares; Katie, Leah, Joey and Andrew Trumbauer and newest great-grandchild Micah Trumbauer as well as a niece and nephews and many friends.
Memorials preferred to the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Society or Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Parish.
Funeral Mass: 11 AM, Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Battle Lake.
Visitation: Wednesday from 5 to 7 PM with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home and one hour prior at the church.
Clergy: Fr. LeRoy Schik
Interment: Lakewood Cemetery, Battle Lake
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Battle Lake
Reta's Memorial Folder
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