Helen Fritzlar

Helen M. Fritzlar, age 70 of Elrosa, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, November 21, 2013 after a long journey battling with a brain tumor and its side effects at the CentraCare Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, November 25 at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa with Rev. Dick McGuire officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery following the lunch.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. The Christian Mothers will pray at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Helen Marie Nathe was born January 19, 1943 near Little Sauk, Minnesota to Leo and Dorothy (Younkin) Nathe. She was baptized on January 24, 1943 and received Sacrament of Holy Communion on December 8, 1950 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. On October 1, 1956 Helen was confirmed at St. Paul's Catholic Church. She graduated from Sauk Centre High School on June 1, 1961. On June 1, 1963 she married Harold Fritzlar at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Harold and Helen farmed with his sister and brother-in-law, Marion and LeRoy Frisell on the family farm from 1969 until 1973. Helen and Harold then took over the family farm until the farm auction on April 1, 2003. Helen enjoyed babysitting her grandchildren and for several other families in the Elrosa area. In January of 2009, Helen moved into the CentraCare nursing home in Sauk Centre.

She was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa, Elrosa Senior Citizens, and the Christian Mothers. Helen enjoyed playing cards, sewing and quilting, gardening, canning, and baking her homemade buns. She also loved watching Wheel of Fortune and I Love Lucy, along with listening to KASM and the Minnesota Twins.

Survivors include her children, Linda (Steve) Hieserich of Elrosa, Barb (Tom) Frieler of Melrose, Roger (Jess) Fritzlar of Silver Lake, Rita (John) Nething of Belgrade, Sandy (Cory) Buckman of Lakeville, Julie (Scott) Jensen of Belgrade, and Vicky (Tim) Janssen of St. Michael; grandchildren, Tracy and Katie Hieserich; Kurt and Jacob Frieler; Andrew Potter, Melissa and Matthew Fritzlar; Jonathan, Jesse, Jenna, and Joshua Schaeffer, Abraham, Benjamin, Cynthia, Malinda, John II, and David Nething; Kennedy and Addison Buckman; Tyler, Ryan, and Noah Jensen; and Parker, Hunter, and Wyatt Janssen; brothers and sisters, Ruth (Robert) Rieland of Sauk Centre, Donna (Eugene) Illies of Elrosa, Jim (Ann) Nathe of West Union, Frank Nathe of Buford, Georgia, Al (Clara) Nathe of Melrose, and Willie (Georgine) Nathe of Freeport; and sister-in-law, Barb Nathe of New Munich.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Fritzlar on August 4, 2010; daughter, Cynthia Fritzlar who was born October 16, 1963 and died November 9, 1963; parents, Leo and Dorothy Nathe; and brother, Charles Nathe.

Serving as casket bearers will be Mark Fritzlar, David Fritzlar, Wayne Frisell, Glenn Frisell, Brent Frisell, and Darin Adolphsen. Cross bearer will be Kurt Frieler and scripture bearer will be Tracy Hieserich. Gift bearers will be Marilyn Marthaler, Nancy Lingle, and Nicole Reuter.