Lori Leuthardt

Lori Leuthardt, 63, of Benson, MN, passed away on Friday, August 22, 2025, at St. Cloud Hospital.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Ortonville, MN. Fr. Shawn Polman will celebrate the Mass. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday. A luncheon will follow in the church dining hall, and inurnment will be held at 1:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery near Chokio, MN.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Lori Ann Leuthardt was born on December 3, 1961, in Appleton, MN, to Francis and Harriet (Muehlbauer) Rakowski. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Catholic Church. Lori attended school in Appleton, where she graduated in 1980.

After finishing her education, she stayed in Appleton until 1983, working as a babysitter, at the Appleton Nursing Home, and with Pioneer Public TV. That year, she moved to Big Stone, where she lived until 2001. While there, she worked at the Big Stone Cheese Factory and earned her certification as a Dietary Manager from Alexandria Technical College, a position she went on to hold for 14 years. In 2001, Lori relocated to Rapid City, SD.

On March 1, 1996, she was united in marriage to Mark Leuthardt in Fort Worth, TX. In 2007, the couple settled in Benson, MN, where Lori has lived since. Mark passed away in 2021.

Lori found joy in gardening and caring for her many houseplants. She also loved crocheting, knitting, cooking, and advocating for animals. Above all, she cherished the time spent with her family and friends.

She is survived by her brothers: Joel Rakowski of Kerkhoven, MN; David Rakowski of Spindale, NC; sister, Andrea Crosby of Odessa, MN; many great nieces and nephews, all of which are loved and very special but just too numerous to mention. Mother and father-in-law: James and Audrey Weinmann of Ortonville, MN; brother- in-laws: Cary Leuthardt of Ortonville, MN; Jeff (Kim) Leuthardt of Wiconia, MN; Calvin (Diane) Leuthardt of Clinton, MN; and Mike (Amber) Leuthardt of Fergus Falls, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Francis and Harriet; her beloved husband, Mark; brothers: John, James, Ron, and Fritz; her maternal grandparents: Francis and Cecilia (Gallagher) Rakowski; Robert and Marie (Zormier) Muehlbauer; father-in-law, Ralph Leuthardt; and numerous aunts and uncles.