Elaine Ruth Wentzel

Elaine Wentzel, of DeGraff, MN, passed away on Monday, December 1, 2025 at Copperleaf Living Center in Willmar, MN at the age of 84 after suffering from dementia for a period of time.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 10:30 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Murdock, MN. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with a Rosary Service beginning at 6:30 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. 

Elaine Ruth Wentzel (Koopman) was born on May 18, 1941, in Ivanhoe, MN to William and Olivia (Ertz) Koopman, and grew up with eleven siblings. She was baptized and confirmed in Ivanhoe and attended high school there graduating in 1959. Elaine met and married Melvin Wentzel on November 5, 1960 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Ivanhoe, MN. To this union, three children were born: Roxanne, Craig, and Todd.

After a few years working in Minneapolis, Melvin and Elaine bought a farm in 1964 in Murdock, MN and started farming. Elaine helped with the farming operation and raising chickens. Then, starting in 1970, Elaine was in charge of the poultry operation. It started as a growing barn of 25,000 chicks and then converted to a laying barn where Elaine picked 10,000 eggs a day for 25 years. In addition, Elaine was a homemaker: and took great pride in keeping up the house and farmyard. Elaine enjoyed tending to her vegetable and flower gardens. Elaine was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, including CCW, Catholic Aid, as well as teaching Catechism. She was also involved in her community in a variety of leadership positions, including PTA President, and an adult leader of Hayes-Kildare 4H Club. She and Melvin were avid Minnesota Vikings fans and were season ticket holders for 33 years. Melvin and Elaine enjoyed traveling and took many trips by RV covering 49 states and Canada. They traveled throughout four continents, North America, South America, Europe and Australia. She loved and adored her grandchildren, and in later years the great-grandchildren, and they always lit up her face.

Elaine is survived by her husband, Melvin; children: Roxanne Rasmussen of Pleasanton, CA, Craig (Bonnie) of DeGraff and Todd (Shari) of Murdock; siblings: Arlene Herring of Winchester, CA, Alan (MaryAnn) of Minnetonka, Neda Koopman of St. Paul, Gloria Sovell of Ivanhoe, Lucille Wambecke of Taunton, Eugene (Jeanne) of Maple Grove, Dareld (Lynn) of Fairmont, Florence Johnson of Marshall, Linda Brackee of Birmingham, MO, Lyle (Brenda) of Ivanhoe, and Barbara (Alan) Dupay of St. Paul; nine grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren, and many extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Arnold. Blessed be her memory.