LUCILLE JULIA STELZER

Lucille Julia Stelzer

December 13, 1925-October 24, 2023

Lucille Julia Stelzer, age 97, formerly of rural Gibbon, MN died peacefully on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at Hillcrest Nursing Home, under Hospice Care Services.

Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – SOUTH chapel with Father Gerald Meidl officiating. Burial will follow in the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home, prior to the service.

Lucille Julia Boehm was born December 13, 1925 in rural Fairfax, MN to Joseph and Ellnora (Rubischko) Boehm. She attended country school in rural Fairfax. In her younger years, Lucille worked at the Dakota House and was a nanny in the Gibbon/Fairfax/Franklin area, for her aunts, uncles, and friends. She enjoyed bowling and dancing, which led her to meet her future husband, Virgil at the Gibbon Ballroom.

Lucille was united in marriage to Virgil Stelzer on September 19, 1949 at St. Andrew’s Church in Fairfax. After a car accident left Lucille with a broken neck, her and Virgil were blessed with a daughter, in 1962. Her determination and zest for life carried her through recovery. She worked side by side with Virgil on their dairy farm. She enjoyed raising chickens and loved her cats and various dogs, from German Shepherds to Shelties, to her last two American Eskimos. Lucille was an excellent cook, baking fresh buns, donuts, cookies and many treats for all to enjoy. She loved to garden, canning or freezing what she grew. Her specialty was canning dill and sweet pickles. She was very loving, kind, caring, and a faith-filled person.

When Virgil was recovering from a lengthy health issue, Lucille wore many hats; nurse, mother, cook, and wonderful provider. By choice, Lucille remained on the farm into her 90’s after Virgil’s death. She finally retired and moved to be with her daughter and son-in-law in rural Lake Crystal, until two weeks before her death. Over the years she was able to travel to many places with her family. Lucille enjoyed a nice meal out and visiting with friends and family. She was blessed with good health except dementia in her later years, but always knew her family until the end. Many memories were made in her long life that will stay with all of those who loved her.

Lucille is survived by her daughter, Debra (Floyd) Davis; family caregiver, Billy Thweatt; nieces, Judy Farrell and Kathy Boehm; nephew, Robert Boehm; other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Virgil Stelzer who died in 1987; sister, Helen (John) Farrell; brothers, Andrew Boehm and Joseph (Eunice) Boehm; nephew, Randy Boehm.

Arrangements by Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, New Ulm, MN. To leave an online condolence for her family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org