Gertrude M (Jones) Walters

Lake Crystal Mortuary
648 S. Main Street
Lake Crystal, MN 56055
(507) 388-2202

Gertrude Mary (Jones) Walters, age 94, of Lake Crystal, died Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at Mayo Clinic Health System " Mankato.

Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 30, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church, Lake Crystal, with Rev. Randal Lubbers, officiating. Interment service will be held at 9:00 a.m., Monday in Lake Crystal Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Sunday at Lake Crystal Mortuary and will continue one hour before service at the church on Monday.

Gertrude was born January 26, 1920 to Ivor and Alva (Bowen) Jones in Butternut Valley Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota. She attended Country School District 114 and graduated from Lake Crystal High School in 1938. She attended Mankato Teachers College and Mankato Commercial College.

She was an active 4-H Club member for 10 years and won many prizes for her baking and a trip to the State Fair on her sewing projects.

During World War II Gertrude worked at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, CA. She was an original Rosie the Riveter. She was united in marriage to Thomas E. Walters on July 24, 1943 in San Diego, CA, who was in the Navy. They moved to Bremerton, WA and then to Alameda, CA and worked in Navy offices until their son, Forrest was born. They returned to the Lake Crystal Area in October 1945 when Tom was discharged from the Navy and made Lake Crystal their permanent home in 1949. Their daughter Carolyn, born in 1952, completed their family.

When her two children were young and growing up she was active teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Presbyterian Women, Evening Circle, PTA, Band Mother's Club, Cub Scout Den Mother, 4-H Club Leader, and Extension Club. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and served as deacon several times.

Gertrude was employed for 17 years as a secretary and bookkeeper for the Blue Earth County Farm Bureau Federation. After that, she worked for the insurance office in the Lake Crystal Bank before officially retiring. She also had many different part time positions during her life.

Gertrude liked baking goodies at Christmas time to give as gifts to friends and shut-ins. She enjoyed good music " both vocal and instrumental and plays, some traveling, and her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Gertrude is survived by her son, Forrest "Woody" Walters and wife, Lois of Prior Lake; son-in-law, Ron Kietzer and wife, Jill of Vernon Center; five grandchildren, Heather (Steve) Schierenbeck, Terry ( Tina) Walters, Laura (Lee) Karow, Priscilla (Pastor Matt) Gurath, Sarah (Chad) Eastling; ten great-grandchildren, Brynn, Claire, Grace, Sophia, Sylvie, Austin, Jadyn, Jed, Claudia, and Madeline; brother, Edgar Jones of Minneapolis; sister-in-law, Ellen Walters of New Ulm; special friends, Jay Richardson and Rose Tinklenberg; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas on March 19, 1997 and daughter, Carolyn Walters on March 14, 2008.