Minnie Emma Wright

St. Charles, Minnie Emma Wright, 87, of St. Charles died Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at Seasons Hospice in Rochester. Minnie was born September 30, 1923 at Stockton Ridge, Winona County the fourth child of nine to Bernhardt and Amanda (Richter) Block. In 1937 she was confirmed at St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in Lewiston. Minnie attended Stockton School, later attending St. John's Ev. Lutheran School in Lewiston and graduated from St. Charles High School in 1941. On October 6, 1941 Minnie married Purdy Wright and honeymooned in northern Minnesota. The couple farmed with Purdy's parents, Bill and Nettie Wright on the Wright dairy farm south of Utica. They later farmed on their own and raised Polled Holstein bulls at "Wright Acres". Minnie and Purdy were married for 66 years, until Purdy's death in 2007. Minnie was an active member of the Lewiston Church of the Brethren, where she served in many capacities such as deaconess, Sunday school teacher and delegate to the Church's annual conference. She belonged to the Utica Homemakers Club and Winona County Farm Bureau. Minnie was very artistic and enjoyed drawing & painting. She taught & demonstrated tatting, a special hobby of hers. She also enjoyed gardening, baking, canning, writing poetry and letters to her many friends and family, also fishing with her husband and family. Most of all Minnie enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She and Purdy developed a strong friendship with the Amish community, especially with her long time helper and friend, Martha Gingerich. In her later years she was a very devoted caretaker to her husband, parents and in-laws. Minnie was a very pleasant and delightful person. According to her special caregiver and niece, Charlotte Wiskow, "Aunt Minnie never spoke a negative word about anyone." She will be so missed by her family and friends. Survivors include her eight siblings; Martha Perry of Rochester, Albert (Beverly) Block of Winona, Elsie Heim of St. Charles, Millie (Charles) Richter of Rochester, Ernest "Ted" Block of Winona, Margaret (Al) Schumann of Eyota, Elmer (JoAnn) Block of Rochester, Robert (Arlene) Block of Eyota, 25 nieces and nephews, several great and great-great-nieces and nephews, a God daughter Carrie Wiskow Johnson, a God son Andrew Karvel and special friend of two years Clayton McDougall. She was preceded in death by her husband Purdy in 2007, her parents and parents-in-law, one great-niece Mary Webster, three brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law. Funeral Services will be 2PM Sunday at the Lewiston Church of the Brethren with the Reverends Susan Bollinger and Gordon Hoffert officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 5-8PM Saturday at Hoff Funeral Service in St. Charles. They may also call one hour before services at the church on Sunday. Please share a memory of Minnie at her on-line guestbook and view her Tribute Video when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/231298