Lois Stelter

Lois Elaine (Ottjes) Stelter, age 87, of Mankato, MN went home to her Savior in heaven on November 9, 2022 at Heritage Court Memory Care, Eau Claire, WI.

Funeral service will be 12:00 p.m., Saturday, November 19, 2022 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Pilgrims Rest Cemetery in Mankato. Northview-North Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family.

Lois was born on March 1, 1935 to Esther (Wolfe) and Henry Ottjes Jr. in Austin, MN.  She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Austin.  After graduating from Austin High School in 1953, she completed coursework at Austin Community College.  She then transferred to Mankato State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.  From 1956-1962, Lois taught first and second grades in Preston and St. Peter, MN, and in Mauston, WI.

Lois met her devoted husband, Gayle Albert Stelter, while attending Mankato State.  They were married at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Austin, MN on August 16, 1959.  In the coming years, Gayle’s teaching and post-graduate studies brought her to Faribault, Minnesota, Greeley, Colorado, Flagstaff, Arizona and Dekalb, Illinois.

In 1968, she and Gayle settled in Mankato, MN with their two children, Laurie and Craig.  Lois was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mankato and was active in choir and Ladies Auxiliary.  She was also a long time member of the MSU Faculty Wives Singing Group.  She was a 4-H leader for theater and encouraged her children to try many different types of activities.    In later years, Lois re-visited her love of playing the violin and joined the Mankato State University Orchestra.  She also enjoyed writing poetry, flower gardening and spending time with her family. 

Lois is survived by her two children, Laurie (Jim) Lau and Craig (Paula) Stelter; seven grandchildren, Marie Lau, Katie (Mark) Kelsey; Andrew, Philip, Hannah, Abigail and Ben Stelter; one great grandchild, Anastasia Kelsey; brother, Arnold Ottjes; sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Neil Erickson; sister-in-law, Jeaneen Nelson; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gayle in 2013; sister-in-law, Millie Ottjes; nephew, Mark Ottjes; sister and brother-in-law, Gretchen and Gordon Erickson; brother-in-law, Norman Stelter; niece, Karen Stelter; and nephew, Steve Stelter.