Mildred A. Mathiowetz

Mildred A. Mathiowetz, age 100, of Morgan, MN, passed away on Sunday, March 5, 2023 at Gil-Mor Manor Nursing Home in Morgan, Minnesota. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 18, 2023 from St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Morgan, MN, with burial to follow in St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Morgan.

The Nelson-Hillestad Funeral and Cremation Service of Morgan and Redwood Fall are in charge of the arrangements. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelson-hillestad.com.

Mildred was born May 1st 1922 in Springfield Minnesota.  Her parents were William­­­­­­­­­­­ Roiger and Catherine (Kraus).  She grew up on a farm near Springfield, and went to grade school In Springfield.

On Nov 12, 1942 she married Benedict Mathiowetz and together they farmed near Morgan for nearly 80 years.

Mildred was a faithful member of St. Michaels Catholic church in Morgan.  She often worked with the “church basement ladies” for the celebrations of weddings, anniversaries, and funerals.

Responding to the financial challenges of farming and raising five children during these years she often worked at the Del Monte plant in Sleepy Eye during the harvest season.  An accomplished gardener, she fed her family well, canning jams, jellies, fruits and vegetables and pickles.  The kids remember well how she often made Sally Ann cookies for the grandchildren.  During the early years the entire family joined in butchering the chickens with Mildred at the hatchet and Ben with the children on an assembly line.

Noted for her mastery of crocheting, the children and relatives all have items of remembrance at the bedside, coffee tables and furniture.  She was a Crackerjack card player and skilled at checkers. In later years she enjoyed the challenge of Jackpot Junction, which will sadly miss her visits.   As the children began to leave home, she worked as an aide at the Franklin Nursing Home and then at the Gilmore Manor for some years, joined by her daughter Sandy during her senior year.

She had great pride in her children, Janet and Bonet were RN’s, Cindy a Social Worker, Sandy an Occupational Therapist, now working as a personal care attendant, and Allen who joined his parents as a farmer and now runs the family farm.

While not the captain of the ship, Mildred was the pilot and guided her family skillfully through the challenges of rural life through the depression, World War II and other hardships.

She is survived by her children Janet Baldus (Walter), Allen Mathiowetz (Karla), Bonet Olson (Robert), Cindy Hillesheim (Lauren) and Sandy Wolf (Tim).  Fifteen grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband Benedict in 2010.