Mary Lou Sletten, 83, of Norwalk died Monday, Oct. 21, 2013, at her home.
She was born Feb. 26, 1930, to Arthur and Emma (Kortbein) Garske on the family farm in Norwalk. She was united in marriage to Virgil Sletten on July 9, 1949. They were blessed with the first daughter on Feb. 26, the same birthday as Mary Lou and Virgil.
Together they farmed in the town of Ridgeville until retiring in 2000. They built a home on Mary Lou’s parents’ home farm.
She was one of the first members of the Altar Guild, organized in 1975 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran. She served as the Town of Ridgeville deputy clerk for eight years and as Town of Ridgeville clerk for eight years. She also assisted her husband, Virgil, with his Town of Ridgeville treasurer and clerk jobs for more than 41 years. Mary Lou was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother. She treasured all the time spent with her family. Her joy was sewing, cooking and baking for everyone. Serving Christmas dinner to her family was the highlight of every year.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Virgil; four children, Rose (Dale) Degner of Sparta, Vicki Sletten of Norwalk, Randy (Dawn) Sletten of Wilton and Deb Luxton (Ryan Green) of Norwalk; 20 grandchildren, Candy Arnold and Brian Abbott, Denver Bills, Cody and Shanda Sletten, Trevor Sletten, Adam and Katrina Sletten, Isaiah Sletten, Toni and Tim Ross, Shane and Jessica Luxton, Briehn Luxton, Dominic Luxton, Gabrielle Luxton, Krista and Phill Hamilton, John, and Cindy Degner; 14 great-grandchildren, Kaleb, Macey and Aiden Bills, Shelby and Jonah Arnold, Justin Abbot, Shayna and Cylus Sletten, Emerson Luxton and Nadia Sletten, Natalie and Caitlyn Hamilton, and Brady, Anaka and Bethany Degner; a great-great-grandchild, Carter Burke; a sister, FernNell Betcher of Norwalk; two brothers-in-law, Duane (Violet) Sletten of Sparta and Vernon Sletten of Moline, Ill.; a sister-in-law, Beverly Brandau of Sparta; and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son-in-law, Chuck Luxton; a sister, Ardella Wallerman; four brothers-in-law, Eddie Betcher, Les Wallerman, Orland Sletten and Byron Brandau; and a sister-in-law, Ardith Sletten.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ridgeville. Pastor Matthew Minzlaff will officiate. Burial will be in St. John Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Ridgeville. Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4-8 p.m. Saturday at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home in Tomah and from 1 p.m. until the time of the service Sunday at the church. Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
