Peter W Menten

North Mankato Mortuary - NORTHVIEW
388-2288

Peter W. Menten, age 99 of Le Center, formerly of North Mankato passed away Friday, December 2, 2011 at the Central Health Care Center in Le Center, MN.

Funeral services will be Friday, December 9 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Mankato. Visitation will be 4-7:30 on Thursday, December 8 at North Mankato Mortuary " NORTHVIEW 2060 Commerce Drive and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial with Military Honors will be at Pilgrim's Rest Cemetery in Mankato. Memorials preferred to St. Paul's Church or donor's choice.

Peter William Menten was born August 31, 1912 to Peter and Hulda (Hansen) Menten in Eagle Lake, MN. On July 18, 1942 Peter married Marcella A. Zastrow at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato. The marriage was blessed with four children.

On September 10, 1942 Peter joined the United States Army and served until he was honorably discharged on October 26, 1945. After his discharge from the army Peter and Marcella settled down in the Mankato/North Mankato area to raise their family.

Peter worked many jobs until finally finding his niche at the Mankato Post Office working as a window clerk. It was the perfect job for him because he loved to talk to people to get to know them and of course he never forgot them either!. He had an amazing memory! He retired from the post office in 1974.

Peter enjoyed many hobbies during his lifetime and was most content when he was busy doing something. Among his many hobbies were horseshoes, dartball, fishing (especially at his lake home on Four Point Lake in Hackensack) playing cards, bowling, feeding the birds, crossword & jigsaw puzzles and he loved watching the Twins on TV. Perhaps Peter's biggest legacy to his family was his love and talent for music! He played the drums in many bands through the years and even had his own band, "The Melodians."

Peter was a very proud man and was always quick to tell people his age especially as he approached the age of 99. He was still driving up until three months ago when his family celebrated his 99th birthday with him. Since then his health continued to decline and his body finally caught up to his age even though his mind stayed sharp! Peter had the ability to talk to anyone, often times embarrassing his famliy because he would just talk on and on and on! But by the time he was done he usually managed to find some common link between him and that person. Peter was a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Mankato were he was an active member singing in the choir, serving on the church council, playing in the dartball league and serving in any other capacity as needed. Peter also was a member of American Legion Post # 11 in Mankato the Last Man's Club, and National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

His family considers him to be a most amazing man and a great blessing in their life.

Peter is survived by his children Dale (Julie) Menten of Excelsior, Donna (Tom) James of New Prague, and Dean Menten of Plymouth. Grandchildren Eric Menten, Heather (Bob) Lyons, Tammy (Brian) Anderson, Tony James, and Deb (Mark) Kasner, 13 great grandchildren, a sister Hulda Williams, special friend Virginia Gish and her family and many nieces and nephews.
Peter was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Marcella, a daughter Dianne, daughter-in-law Ruth Menten, a brother Pershing, sisters Clara Near and Bonita Abbe and several other brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews.