Muriel Helen Barfknecht

Muriel Helen (Rettmann) Barfknecht was born on November 22, 1934 to Walter and Helen (Stark) Rettmann. She attended country school, and graduated High School from Gibbon, Minnesota. She was united in marriage to Donald Barfknecht on September 30, 1953. They made their homes in Gaylord and Winthrop, MN before residing in Truman since 1959. Muriel enjoyed listening and dancing to old time music. She often reminisced about the good ole days of the Gibbon Ballroom and George's Ballroom in New Ulm. Muriel became a seamstress at a very young age, and became well known for her talent. Others often sought Muriel for her sewing knowledge. Her first Singer sewing machine was purchased in 1953 when Donald was in the service. The choice was to either visit her new husband or buy the sewing machine. The sewing machine won, which she still used until her death. A quote of hers on July 5, 2011 "Sewing has gone under-ground, overseas and up to Heaven.? She proudly bragged about sewing for 17 weddings in one year. Sewing has always been a passion of hers. Her door was always open with a fresh pot of coffee brewing, for family and friends. All guests were treated like they were at home, and had to get their own coffee mugs out of the cupboard. Before any business was conducted, it was a MUST to sit at the kitchen table to visit. She was known as "mom? by her own children, her 3 foreign student daughters, their friends and several children she babysat over the years. She loved card playing, jigsaw puzzles, crocheting, knitting, gardening, canning, baking, and traveling. The trips taken with her mother and sisters were most memorable. Muriel died Sunday, June 24, 2012 at Lakeview Methodist Health Care in Fairmont. Muriel is survived by, her husband Donald of Truman, MN, children Connie (Kevin) Hiller-Byro of Madelia, MN, Michael (Marci) Barfknecht of Truman, MN, Kari (Shane) Diekmann of Fairmont, MN, and Cathi Barfknecht of Eau Claire, WI, grandchildren Christopher Hiller, Shauna Hiller and special friend Craig Putzy, Calvin Barfknecht, Caci Barfknecht and her fiancé Chad Hoffman, Tyler Heine, Andrea Heine and her fiancé Eric Charlier, great-grandson Christian Hiller, 3 step grandchildren Stephanie (Byro) and John Bernstrom and family, Margaret (Byro) and Scott Jilek, and Cody Diekmann, 3 foreign daughters Charlotte (Nordberg) Jousson, Ina Frambach, and Nikki (Mellegaard) Douglass, sisters Janice Hazen of New London, MN, Donna (Charles) Bastian of Brooklyn Center, MN, brothers-in-law Demar (Deloris) Barfknecht of Gibbon, MN, Arlan (Sue) Barfknecht of Hutchinson, MN, sisters-in-law Jean (James) Stadtherr of Olivia, MN, Marlys Seil of Glencoe, MN, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, special friend and adopted "Daughter? Heidi Brooks of Fairmont, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter & Helen Rettmann, sisters, Carol Kempfert, Shirley Stiller, son-in-law Kenneth Hiller, and other loved ones