Date of Birth:
Saturday, September 3, 1927
Date of Death:
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Age:
87 years old

Annetta Mae Phelps

Annetta Mae Phelps passed peacefully into eternal rest on Thursday, January 29^th, 2015. Born in Rock Dell, Minnesota on September 3, 1927, to parents Olaf and Hannah Vicker, she was the second of four children.

After moving to Rochester, where she worked for several years, she met Tracy Phelps at a dance. Sharing mutual friends, a fondness for dancing and a growing love for each other, they were married on September, 21^st, 1946. Starting a family was the first order of business for Tracy and Annetta and daughter Barbara was born the following June followed by four additional children.

Annetta worked outside the home off and on over the years but she soon discovered that her calling in life was to be a homemaker. She had a very clear sense of this vocation which continuously expanded over time. In addition to rearing children and being a helpmate to her husband, she became an important part of the “glue” that bound the extended family together. She committed herself to staying in touch with relatives and being present at important events in other family members’ lives. Hospitality often meant opening her home to family and friends staying in Rochester, who sought treatment at the nearby Clinic. She was an excellent cook and an amazingly flexible hostess who could cheerfully put together lovely meals for numerous guests, often on only a moment’s notice.

Annetta’s calling to serve others also applied beyond the family. Looking at the world around her she sensed the plight of those who were less fortunate than she; the refugees, the immigrants, the travelers, and broken families. Whether through her church organizations, school groups or local charities, helping these people was central to her calling. She and her like-minded friends worked to be part of the sinews that bind communities together.

Maintaining connections was always important to Annetta. In her later years, her children and friends, when visiting, would often accompany her to the local drugstore so she could restock her supply of greeting cards to enable her to properly remember all of the birthdays, anniversaries, deaths and other events in the lives of those she held dear. Annetta is remembered with deep affection by her family and friends.

Annetta was preceded in death by her parents, Olaf and Hannah; her husband, Tracy, and sister, Alice Kurtz. She is survived by daughter Barbara (John) Tornes; son Gordon (Beth), son Mark (Diane), daughter Mary, son James (Beth), brother Gordon and sister Marlene. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00PM on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church with Pastor Karna Hagen officiating.  Visitation will be 5:00PM – 8:00PM Friday, February 6, 2015 at the River Park Chapel, Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.  Interment will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens at 10:30AM on Saturday.

The family requests that memorials be directed to The Salvation Army or Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

On-line condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.