Patricia "Pat" Lou Manthei

Patricia “Pat” L. Manthei, age 94, of Miltona, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at St. William’s Living Center in Parkers Prairie.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, June 9, 2025, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Miltona with Deacon Sharon Bridges officiating. Interment will follow the service at 3 p.m. at Granite Falls City Cemetery.

A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Patricia Lou Manthei was born on January 9, 1931, to Leonard and Ruby (Highum) Hemmingson at home in Granite Falls, Minnesota. She was baptized on February 1, 1931, by Pastor Sy Ericksen and was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on May 13, 1945, by Reverend John M. Mason at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Montevideo. As a youngster, the family lived throughout Minnesota and Iowa due to her father’s work in road construction. Pat attended schools in Rock Rapids, IA; Edgerton; St. Peter; and Granite Falls, Minnesota. In 1945, the family moved to Montevideo, where Pat graduated from Central High School on June 1, 1949.

Pat was united in marriage to Merlin Manthei on September 3, 1949, and they made their home in Montevideo. They were 50-year members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo. Pat was active in many aspects of the church until moving to Miltona and joining Faith Lutheran Church, where she served as church secretary for seven years.

Pat began her working career in high school at Woolworth’s. Over the years, she held a variety of jobs, including positions at Swift Turkey Packing, a dental office, Henry’s Candy, a car dealership, and a local lumberyard. Her final employment was with Minnwest Bank and Insurance of Montevideo, where she worked until retiring at age 70. In addition to her daytime jobs, Pat also worked evenings as a waitress and bartender at the golf course, the VFW, and Deb’s Supper Club. Pat enjoyed all sports but especially looked forward to the NCAA Basketball Tournaments and the College World Series. She loved cheering on the Minnesota Gophers—following football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. A true Minnesota sports fan, Pat also kept up with the Twins, Wild, and Timberwolves, but her absolute favorite team was always the Vikings. She was a 71-year member of the Montevideo VFW Auxiliary and a past member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Montevideo.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Merlin; and four-legged companion, Scooter.

Pat is survived by her four children, Greg (Jeri) Manthei of Lampe, Missouri, Scott (Barb) Manthei of Alexandria, Beth (Roy) Fuller of St. Cloud, Florida, and Patrice (Tom) Blank of Miltona; 10 grandchildren, Michael (Leslie) Manthei, Michelle (Chris) Kankousky, Danielle (Blaine) Hartkopf, Douglas Manthei, Eric Laehle, Bryan Laehle, Johnathan Fuller, Josh Fuller, Kyle (Katie) Blank, Chad Blank; four great-grandchildren, Peyton Kankousky, Connor Kankousky, Katie Manthei, and Amelia Hartkopf; sister Karen Hemmingson; and two nieces, Michelle Hansen and Lisa (Richard) Weiss.

Urnbearers are her grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Lakes Area Humane Society in Alexandria.