Margaret Kuethe

MARGARET M. KUETHE

Sumner

Margaret M. Kuethe of Sumner died Thursday, March 24, 2016, at Hillcrest Home in Sumner, one day short of her 99th birthday.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 28, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sumner, with the Rev. James Brokman officiating. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery (Pinhook), rural Sumner. Visitation will be at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday and for one hour preceding service time at the church on Monday. A rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. and a Scripture service held at 7 p.m. at the church on Sunday.

Memorials may be made to the family to be designated to a charity of their choice at a later date.

Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner is assisting the family.

Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.

Margaret Mary Kuethe was born in Waverly, Iowa, the daughter of Anna (Kreger) and Emil Matthias. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church of Waverly. Margaret grew to womanhood in rural Denver, where she graduated from high school. In 1935, she was united in marriage to Raymond F. Kuethe, a bond that they honored until Ray's death in 2012. At that time, they were the longest-married couple in Iowa.

Margaret and Ray begot six children: Ronald (Terri) Kuethe of Sumner, Allan (Lourdes) Kuethe of Frisco, Texas, Kathy Baruth of Stewartville, Minn., Jan (Steve) Mullenix of Parker, Colo., Michael (Lynn) Kuethe of Fredericksburg and Debra (Charlie) Weber of Cedar Rapids; 24 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Anna and Emil; her husband, Raymond; and her son-in-law, Carroll Baruth.

Early in their marriage, Margaret and Ray moved to a farm at Pinhook (midway between Sumner, Tripoli, Frederika and Fredericksburg). Over the years, their farming interest evolved into a turkey business that flourished until they retired. They continued living in their farm home until death took Ray. Thereafter, Margaret eventually lived with her son, Michael, and his spouse, Lynn, before finally moving into the Hillcrest Home at Sumner.

Margaret was, above all, an accomplished, devoted homemaker and mother. She was a prominent member of the Pinhook community, a leader in the support organizations of St. Bridget's parish, including the Altar and Rosary Society, and she enjoyed encouraging her children's work in 4-H. She took pride supporting Ray as their farming enterprise grew. Throughout the years, she was well-known for the magnificent meals that she provided the work crews that visited the farm, whether they be threshers in an earlier time or the turkey loaders of later years.

Above all, her family will remember her as a devoted wife and loving mother/grandmother.

The family would like to thank Hillcrest Home in Sumner and Palmer Hospice for the loving care they provided for Margaret.