Erna Stock

Erna Bertha Stock, age 100, of Mankato, died Monday, September 5, 2005 at Mankato House Health Care Center. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 9, 2005 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Mankato, with Rev. Daniel Basel officiating. Burial will be in St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery in Rapidan. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Mankato Mortuary, and continues one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Erna was born September 5, 1905 in Rapidan Township, Blue Earth County. She was the daughter of Ernst and Caroline (Hempe) Bartsch. Erna was a 1923 Rapidan High School graduate and attended Mankato Teachers College for two years. She also was a 1936 graduate of Deaconess School from Concordia in Ft. Wayne, IN. Erna continued her learning at other schools over the years. She taught for many years at several different schools throughout the U.S. Erna was united in marriage to Rev. Reuben L. Stock on August 2, 1953 in Rapidan. Erna and Reuben lived in Peridot, AZ and Wolf Point, MT. She was dedicated to helping others, and volunteered at the Welcome Inn in Mankato and also at several nursing homes. Erna was a member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church. She enjoyed her volunteer work, playing cards, and visiting with family and friends.

Erna is survived by a foster daughter, Rhonda Pitzer of Montana; eleven grandchildren; great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; three sisters-in-law, Adeline Bartsch and Esther Bartsch of Mankato, Grace (Arthur) Henkelman of Ortonville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Reuben in 1986; one daughter, Shirley; two foster daughters, Verna and Cheryl; two brothers and four sisters.