Today, on a splashy October morning, the ashes of Jeanette Ritter Blethen, 94, were gently buried in a verdant Rochester, Minn., graveyard, joining little "Tinker," the five-year-old taken from her in a drowning 58 years ago.(click to enlarge photo above)
Jeanette died March 12, 2008. She was Kathleen Rolfsrud's mother-in-law for nine short years, but the two never lost touch. Kathleen was always fond of her and the extended family she nurtured over the years.
Jeanette died March 12, 2008. She was Kathleen Rolfsrud's mother-in-law for nine short years, but the two never lost touch. Kathleen was always fond of her and the extended family she nurtured over the years.
Missy, Marcy and Jennifer Blethen loved their sweet grandmother as well. Jeanette had five grandchildren including brothers, Bobby and David Hagen, pictured with Missy, above, who were at the graveside today, along with Laurel and Vicky, their significant others. They now live in Savage and New Market, not far from Kathleen's home in Shakopee.
Jeanette adored her great-granddaughter, Emily Kathleen Blethen, who was among the celebrants today. Maxwell Harrison Tong, Marcy's son, is her only other great-grandchild.
A retired Lutheran minister conducted the open air memoriam for this devout Catholic woman. Attendees added their thoughts on her energetic, engaged, compassionate life. After the service, the assembly enjoyed lunch at Michael's in Rochester and each retold favorite stories of this beloved woman.
(All photos by Kathleen Rolfsrud - which is why she isn't in any of them.)
