Lois Mitteness Obituary

Lois Elaine Mitteness, age 92, of Benson, Minnesota, died Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at Scandi Haven Cura Memory Care in Benson. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, October 27, 2024, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Benson. Visitation will continue from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 28, 2024, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Benson. Interment will be in the Benson City Cemetery.

Lois Elaine Mitteness was born February 2, 1932, in Horton Township, Stevens County, Minnesota, at the home of her grandpa and grandma, William and Elizabeth Thielke. She was the daughter of Edwin and Agnes (Thielke) Mumm. Lois was baptized into the Lutheran faith by Rev. C. W. Ristow of Zion Lutheran Church, Horton Township, Stevens County, Minnesota, on February 7, 1932, at William and Elizabeth Thielke’s home. Rosetta Wille and Helen Mumm were her sponsors. She was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hancock, Minnesota, by Rev. H. C. Duehlmeier on June 3, 1945.

Lois moved to Hancock, Minnesota, with her parents when she was four years old and lived there until she finished school. She went to grade school in Hancock and graduated from Hancock High School with the Class of 1950. After graduation, Lois worked as a bookkeeper at Swift County Bank in Benson, Minnesota, from December, 1950 to August, 1953.

February 8, 1953, Lois was united in marriage to Donald Lewis Mitteness at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hancock, Minnesota, by Rev. H. C. Duehlmeier. They were blessed with 62 years of marriage and six children: Faye, Cynthia, Joann, Scott, Pamela, and Daniel. They lived on a farm north of DeGraff, Minnesota, until 1957, when Lois and Don purchased a farm east of Benson and lived there until 1984. They then moved to Crystal, Minnesota, and managed rental properties for nine years. They managed properties in Crystal, Coon Rapids, Rockford, Chaska, and Spring Park on Lake Minnetonka. In 1993, they resigned as Property Managers and spent the summer working in Yellowstone National Park before returning to Crystal, where they resided for four years. During those years, Lois worked as a receptionist at Edina Realty in Plymouth, Minnesota and at Dalco Roofing and Sheet Metal, Inc. in Plymouth. She also worked at Dalco Roofing as a receptionist and secretary while she and Don were managing rental properties in Rockford, Minnesota.

In 1997, Lois moved with her husband Don back to Benson. She worked as the office secretary at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church from March 1997 to May 2009. She served as church organist at St. John Lutheran Church in Hancock and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Benson. She was also the choir director, taught Sunday School at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church for many years, was a member of LWML and Women’s Guild in the churches to which she belonged. Lois served as the Christian Growth Chairwoman and as President of the St. Mark’s Women’s Guild.

Lois gave piano lessons in her home east of Benson for many years. She continued to give piano lessons when she moved back to Benson in 1997 until retiring in 2010. Lois had also been a member of the Benson Mrs. Jaycees, the Coterie Study Club, and was an adult leader in the Busy Go Getters 4-H Club when her children were involved. She enjoyed playing piano and organ and making quilts for her grandchildren. She also loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s numerous activities.

Lois is survived by her children: Faye Witt (Larry Markley) of Duluth, MN, Cynthia (John) Carruth of Danvers, MN, Joann (Kenneth) Ellsworth of Stanchfield, MN, Scott (Jenell) Mitteness of Kerkhoven, MN, Pamela (Howard) Mansfield of Kerkhoven, MN, and Daniel (Annie) Mitteness of Benson, MN; 19 grandchildren: Tom Witt, Hailey (Jeff) Golds, Peter (Amanda) Carruth, Amy (Dan) Fremling, Paul (Ellen) Carruth, Christopher (Samatha) Carruth, Sam (Jessica) Carruth, Charles Ellsworth (Tessa Kennely), Andrew (Kelli) Ellsworth, Jim Mitteness, Justin (Kali) Mitteness, Kristy Nystrom, Kayla (Tyler) Blomme, Fred Mansfield, Lewis Mansfield, Elizabeth Mansfield, Landon Mitteness (Olivia Maciej), Abbie Mitteness, and Allie Mitteness; 30 great-grandchildren: Addi, Nora, and Lucas Mitteness; Jack, Emily, Max, Sam, and Janey Mitteness; Corbin, Shep, and Kolbie Nystrom; Olivia, Greta, Quinn, and Owen Carruth; Eli, Isaac, and Mason Carruth; Ava, Luke, Clara, and Nora Fremling; Brayden Isla, Aubree, and Brinlee Carruth; Douglas and Floyd Golds; and Britton and Remi Blomme; sisters-in-law: Donna (Mitteness) Preece, Marjori Mitteness, Audrey Mitteness, and Ann Mitteness; and many other relatives and friends.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband Donald Mitteness, her  parents Edwin and Agnes Mumm, a brother in infancy, granddaughter Katie Ellsworth, grandparents William and Elizabeth Thielke and Oscar and Mary Mumm, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Zniewski Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.   www.zniewskifuneralhome.com