Catherine Primus

Catherine M. Primus, age 94 of Melrose, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at the Cura Care Centre in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, February 19 at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be held in the parish cemetery. 

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 10:45 a.m Monday at the church. Parish prayers will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon at the funeral home. 

Catherine Mildred Olmscheid was born October 30, 1929 in St. Martin Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to John and Frances (Hemmesch)  Olmscheid.  She attended country school though the eighth grade.  On May 8, 1951 she married Joseph R. Primus at St. Martin Catholic Church.  Prior to marriage, Catherine worked at the Melrose Hospital. After marriage, the couple farmed together for 35 years and raised a family of boys. In 1986, they moved to town.  

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, the Christian Mothers, Catholic United Financial, and Crosier Apostolate. She enjoyed caring for the grandchildren and feeding them cookies and treats. They especially loved her caramel bars. Catherine loved playing cards with the grandchildren and taught them a valuable lesson,  "There are no friends in cards."  She enjoyed gardening, Sunday evening visits, car rides, day trips, parades, and church festivals. Daily Mass and praying the rosary were important to both her and Joe.

Survivors include her loving husband of 72 years, Joseph Primus of Melrose; sons, Rich (Carol) Primus of Albany, Virgil (Mary) Primus of Melrose, and Melvin (Brenda) Primus of Melrose; 15 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; daughters-in-law, Ann Marie Primus of Melrose and Nancy Primus of Sauk Centre; sister, Ann Backes of St. Cloud; sisters-in-law, Betty Moscho of St. Martin and Claire Primus of Long Prairie; and many loving relatives and friends.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents, John and Frances Olmscheid; sons,  Donald, Baby Boy, Jerry, and Dale Primus; grandsons, Joel Primus and Mitchell Primus; brothers and sisters, Nick (Emma) Olmscheid, Elizabeth (Alfred) Schlangen, Gilbert (Dorothy) Olmscheid, Theresa (Nick) Schaefer, Marie (Gilbert) Schoenberg, and Alverna (Alfred) Enneking; and brother-in-law, Herbert Backes.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Crosier Apostolate, CentraCare Hospice, or St. Mary's School. The family appreciates your support. No thank you cards will be sent.