Anna Rothi

Anna Rothi, age 85, of Ortonville, died on November 19, 2018, at Ark on the river Hospice Facility in Anoka, MN, surrounded by her loving family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 24, 2018, at 2:00PM at the First United Methodist Church in Ortonville. All are welcome to greet the family and share in fellowship from 1 to 2PM at the church.  Pastor Melanie Reiners will officiate and interment will be in Mound Cemetery.

Anna Margaret (Gibson) Rothi was born on February 23, 1933, to Harold and Hazel (Herrmann) Gibson in a farm house near Rosholt, SD, where her family farmed. Their family moved to Minnesota the year Anna started first grade. After completing eighth grade, Anna went to high school at the West Central School of Agriculture (which is now the University of Minnesota, Morris, MN). After graduating from high school, Anna moved to Fargo, ND, where she worked at NDAC (North Dakota Agricultural College). Anna took the job in Graceville at Oliver Clinic and she got acquainted with other gals working in town: they invited her to go to a weekly dance at Sioux Historic in Ortonville where she met “John”. That was the beginning of their friendship and they ended up getting married on October 20, 1956.

Anna was a hard worker and did a lot of office work to earn a living. She worked as a receptionist, insurance clerk, and bookkeeper at State Seed Department in Fargo, ND; worked at Oliver Clinic in Graceville, MN; at the Big Stone Canning Company in Ortonville, MN; at Montgomery Ward Catalog Store in Ortonville; Northwest State Bank in Ortonville; for Dr. Robert Knip in Ortonville; for Dr. Fran Karn in Ortonville; and for Dr. Steven Winther’s Dentist Office in Ortonville.

John and Anna had five children: Curtis, Lori, Vicky, Patty, and Harold. When the kids were young, Anna used to sing songs to them that she had learned when she was a little girl. Among all of the songs, a favorite still shared is, “My Home is in Montana”. Anna adored every member of her family and she loved to spend time with them, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Anna participated with the “Meals on Wheels” program until the age of 83. She was active in the First United Methodist church: participating in Women’s Circles, singing in the choir, and serving as church treasurer. Anna loved the community of Ortonville and was very vigorous with her support. Anna and John liked scenic drives and enjoyed their deer run every night before sunset.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, “Big Bad John” Rothi of Ortonville, MN; her children: Curt (Linda) Rothi of Nowthen, MN, Lori (Steve) Coady of Zion, IL, Vicky (Dave) Sager of Dassel, MN, Patty (Scott) Anderson of Lakeville, MN, and Harold (Kimberle) Rothi of Elk River, MN; eight grandchildren: Nick (Bailey) Sager, Marshall (Jenny) Sager, Kayla (Parker) Dahlgren, Brooke Anderson, Jessica Rothi, Autumn Coady, Emily Coady, and Wesley Rothi; three great-grandchildren: Aubrianna Sager, Jocelyn Sager, and Charles Dahlgren; siblings: Doris (Jim) Boos of Anoka, MN, Betty (Arnold) Meyer of Rogers, MN, and Harold “Butch” Gibson of Beardsley, MN.

Preceding her in death are her parents.