Eden Valley
July 12, 1931 – October 15, 2024
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, October 21st at Assumption Catholic Church in Eden Valley for Jaletta Gertrude Stommes, age 93.
Jaletta Stommes was born on July 12, 1931, near rural St. Nicholas, Minnesota to Dan & Margaret (Holthaus) Theis. She grew up on their family farm with her two younger sisters and brother. Being eldest and her parent’s primary helper, it was obligatory for Jaletta to forgo her passion of a formal education shortly after the 8th grade to stay home & help with the increasing demands of the growing farmstead. She was a Godsend to her folks as an ambitious, strong & steady farm hand, along with an ever-enthusiastic love of life and people.
On April 10, 1951, Jaletta married Elmer Stommes at the Assumption Church in Eden Valley. Over time the ambitious couple purchased her parents’ family farm and were soon conquering the challenges of dairy farming, where along with the many livestock and crops, they went on to raise their family of 15 children. Few will ever truly comprehend all the cooking, cleaning, canning, laundry, trips to school & doctor, the joys & tears the years brought. Jaletta was a loving wife and nurturing mother, balanced with a matter of fact, no-nonsense attitude, alongside her strong religious convictions. She loved being with people, always took the time to chat no matter how busy, and never tired of being a guest as well as hostess, whether to large or small groups for both family & friends, old or new.
Jaletta was a member of the Assumption Catholic Church in Eden Valley, Assumption Christian Women, Eucharistic Adoration Adorer as well as the family’s beloved matriarch for many, many years.
Survivors include her children, Jim (Ann), Lila (Mike) Schmidt, Bernice (Steve) Finne, Elmer Jr. (Mary), Linda (Jim) Thielen, Reuben (Janice), Michael (Delores), Margaret (John) Albrecht, Paula (Gregg) Schleppenbach, Daniel (Darice), Charles (Natalie), Vicki (Ted) Faber and Trude (Chad) Schlangen; daughters-in-law Janice Stommes and Lynn Burg; 52 grandchildren; 78 great-grandchildren; sister and brother, Etta Spohn, and Charles (Mary) Theis.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Elmer and sons, Alvin & Vernon; parents Margaret Holthaus and Daniel Theis; sister Evelyn Stommes.
