Grace Cotter, 94, Austin

Published 8:55 am Thursday, January 31, 2013

Grace V. Cotter, 94, of Austin, went to her heavenly home on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. Grace Vernita Buehner was born Oct. 1, 1918, in Austin, to Frederick and Irene (Arett) Buehner. Grace grew up in Austin and after her marriage moved to a farm near Oakland where she resided until 1977.

Grace Cotter

She was united in marriage to Leonard J. Cotter on Nov. 2, 1935. She was active in 4-H with her family and was a leader. She was a devoted wife and mother, a good neighbor and worked hard on the family farm. Grace loved her family and loved the celebrations of her birthdays. During her 90s, those birthdays included being sung to on the airplane, riverboat and at a national storytelling event. She was able to travel to Tennessee and Florida in her 90s. A member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church she volunteered work for many years. She enjoyed her family, crosswords and puzzles, and traveling in her younger years.

Survivors include her children Judith Welch Kitchen of Bakersville, N.C., Frederick (Linda) Cotter of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Karen (Charles) Johnsrud of Clarks Grove; son-in-law Jon Nelson of Hayward; grandchildren, Laura Burke, Mark Welch, Jill Griffin, Troy Cotter, Craig Eddy, Michael Nelson, Patrick Nelson, Shawn Hedman, Dawn Leiro, Becky Pruden, Wendy Bunn and Amy Angello; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and several nieces. She was a loving, caring and giving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be sadly missed and warmly remembered by all.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents Frederick and Irene Buehner, husband, Leonard, in 1977, daughter Sandra (Jon) Nelson in 2007, son-in-law Billy C. Welch, two brothers, Wallace and Robert Buehner, two sisters, Esther Christofferson and infant Edna Elaine.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Edward’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Jim Steffes officiating. Friends may call at the church one hour before the service. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. The family prefers that memorials be made to donor’s favorite charity. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.