Patricia Rietfort

Patricia G. "Pat" Rietfort, age 74 of Reeds Lake, rural Elysian, died on Saturday, August 3, 2013 at Mayo Clinic Health System-Waseca.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, August 8th at 10:00 A.M. at St. John Lutheran Church in Waseca, with Rev. John Omans, officiating. Interment will be in the Woodville Cemetery, Waseca.

The Rietfort Family will greet friends on Wednesday afternoon from 4 to 8 P.M. at McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Waseca, and will continue on Thursday morning for one hour prior to services at church. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or St. John Lutheran Church.

Patricia Gail was born on March 19, 1939 to James R. and Elizabeth M. (Fleahman) Fitzpatrick in Elk River, Minnesota. She graduated from Loyola High School in 1957, and went on to attend Johnson Academy of Beauty Culture in Mankato, graduating in 1958. She moved to Waseca and started her career as a licensed beautician and a short time later purchased the Country Girl Beauty Shop in Eagle Lake. On May 11, 1962 she was united in marriage to Gerald R. "Jerry" Rietfort in Waseca, Minnesota. Pat and Jerry raised their family in Waseca and in 1977 moved to Reeds Lake, rural Elysian. Over the years Pat was employed by Brown Printing Company of Waseca and later Birdseye Foods Inc. of Waseca, retiring in 1993 after 19 years of service. She was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church and the American Legion Auxiliary Post # 228 of Waseca. Patricia enjoyed quilting, reading, camping, ice fishing, spoiling her grandsons, and time spent with her family and friends.

She is survived by her husband Jerry of Reeds Lake; children, Korrine Rietfort, Kevin Rietfort, and Kerry (Matt) McGuire all of Waseca; her special grandsons, Kevin and Kyle McGuire both of Waseca; brother, James (Gigi) Fitzpatrick of White Bear Lake; sister, Nancy Yetter of Chipley, FL; sisters-in-law, Jannet Rietfort of Waseca, and Marlene Rietfort of Tomah, WI; by many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers-in-law, Dwayne Rietfort, Jack Rietfort, and Jerry Yetter.

Honorary bearers are: Dave Johnson, Dennis Wolff, Brian Fitzpatrick, Chad Fitzpatrick and Jay Yetter.