Mildred E. Kaehler, age 93, of Bricelyn, died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. Funeral services were held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Bricelyn Lutheran Church in Bricelyn. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the church. The Rev. Patricia Hinkie officiated and burial was in the Bricelyn Lutheran Cemetery, Seely Township, Faribault County.
Mildred was born April 11, 1916, the daughter of Mons Hans and Elvina Serena (Mikkelson) Monson. She was baptized at Bricelyn Lutheran Church and attended a one-room country school for first through eighth grade. She worked at Brush Creek Store and the Bricelyn Drug store. She attended Bricelyn High School, but missed 12th grade to stay home with her ill mother. Mildred attended the Minnesota School of Agriculture in St. Paul and graduated in 1936. She met Glenn Kaehler at the School of Agriculture. They were married March 25, 1938, by the Rev. J.R. Lawick. They farmed three different farms from 1934 to 1987, when they retired and moved to Bricelyn. She was a member of Bricelyn Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school, was a member of the Mission Circle, Ladies Aid and the Dorcus Society. She helped her children with 4-H projects and meetings. Mildred loved music. She played the piano and sang to her children and grandchildren. Her hobbies were listening to the radio, watching television programs, sewing and mending children’s clothes, photography, scrapbooking, writing letters and talking with friends and family on the phone. She especially enjoyed reading her Bible and praying for others.
Mildred is survived by two sons: Mons David (Janice) Kaehler of Rochester and Daniel Benjamin Kaehler of Fairmont; one daughter: Judith Serene (Allen) Menssen of Albert Lea; grandchildren: Kimberly (John) Schmidt, Mark (Connie) Kaehler, Kristin (Dr. Troy) Amdahl, Kathi Kaehler, Matthew Kaehler, Betsy Diekema and Dr. Andrew Nottleson, Troy (Tami) Menssen, Darin (Marissa) Menssen, Tom Menssen, Todd (Connie) Menssen and Jason Menssen; great-grandchildren: Michael and Derek Schmidt, Heather, Jacob and Jordon Kaehler, Maxwell, Joelle, Bennett and Alea Amdahl, Trystin and Tad Kaehler, Benjamin, Samuel and Anna Nottleson, Madeline and Olivia Menssen, Hans Menssen and Lucille and Clara Menssen; step-grandchildren: Angela, Amy and Alicia Jungbauer and Yelytza and Sayil Gomez Menssen; sister-in-law Maxine Kaehler; and brother-in-law Charles Gathje; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grandson Michael Kaehler; son-in-law Kenneth Diekema; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Rudy, Myrton, Arnold, Donald, Dorothy, Verilyn, Bernice, Pearl, Harriet and Ruby; and husband Glenn in April of 2007.
Mildred’s family extends deepest thanks to the nurses, nursing assistants and staff at St. John’s for her incredible care for the past 13 1/2 years.