Benson, Minnesota - Vera Mae (Chevalier) Krattenmaker, age 85, of Benson, formerly of DeGraff, died Sunday, December 1, 2013 at the Golden Living Center - Meadow Lane in Benson, Minnesota. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 5, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., at the St. Bridget's Catholic Church in DeGraff, with Father Steven Verhelst officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m., at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson, with a Rosary at 4:30 p.m. and a Parish Prayer Service at the end of visitation . Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the St. Bridget's Catholic Church in DeGraff on Thursday. Arrangements are with the Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson. www.zniewskifuneralhome.com Vera Mae (Chevalier) Krattenmaker was born on April 19, 1928 in Waverly, Minnesota, the daughter of Eugene and Elva (Bolinger) Chevalier. Around the age of two, her family moved to Clontarf, where she grew up and attended school through eighth grade. On January 7, 1947, Vera was united in marriage with Francis Krattenmaker by Father Richard King at St. Malachy's Catholic Church in Clontarf. This union was blessed with six children, sixteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and more than 49 years of marriage. They lived, farmed, and raised their children in DeGraff. In 1989, they moved to Benson and Vera worked in the kitchen at Benson High School for a few years. She moved to Parkview Manor in March of 2004 and to the Golden Living Center in November of 2008. Vera was a member of the St. Bridget's Altar and Rosary Society and the St. Bridget's Mission Group. She enjoyed baking (especially her homemade bread that was enjoyed by all), cooking, dancing, playing cards, embroidering, bingo, Rustad bus trips to Branson and Nashville, watching Twins baseball, spending time with her family and friends, and music by Charley Pride. Vera was called from this life on Sunday, December 1, 2013, at the Golden Living Center - Meadow Lane in Benson. She attained 85 years, 7 months, and 12 days of age. Vera is survived by her children: Linda (Terry) Smith of Benson, Bob (Vicky) Krattenmaker of New London, Barb (Reid) Foslien of Benson, Marci (John) Hutchinson of Detroit Lakes, Cindy (Steve) Wersinger of Danvers, Trish (Steve) Kruger of Clara City; grandchildren: Steve (Jana) Smith, Stacie (Phil) Lienemann, Darin (Bethany) Krattenmaker, Kristin Krattenmaker, Kari (Bryan) Sharp, Kelly (Blake) Piipke, Luke Foslien, Jacob (Missy) Foslien, Adam Foslien, Jennifer (Michael) Russell, Jill (Luke) Blair, Patrick (Lacey) Wersinger, Laura (Chris) Larson, Kevin Wersinger, Lance Kruger, and Shane Kruger; great-grandchildren: Annika Smith, Alexis and Aaron Lienemann, Caleb, Grant, and Keegan Krattenmaker, Rya Sharp, Owen Piipke, Halle, Mya, Josie, and Jace Foslien, Logan Russell, Reese Blair, and Blake Larson; sisters: Lula Fox of Benson, Gladys Mattheisen of Maple Plain, Doris DeYoung of Rochester, Alice Fox of Rochester, and Judy (Bill) Ashenbach of Excelsior; sisters-in-law: Donna Chevalier and Jean Dooley; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis, on April 7, 1996; her parents, Eugene and Elva Chevalier; two brothers, Donald and Roy Chevalier; two great-grandsons; and other family members.
