Minerva Schmitz

The Mass of Christian Burial for Minerva Schmitz, of Cokato and formerly of Wadena, will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 11:00 a.m. at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Wadena, with Father Jean-Claude Duncan as celebrant.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at St. Ann's Parish Hall in Wadena with a Rosary at 5:00 and Prayers at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at the church on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Wadena, MN.

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You are invited to watch the service via live-stream by going to Schuller Family Funeral Homes' Facebook Page or YouTube Page

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At the age of 82, Minerva passed away on February 5, 2026, at the Cokato Manor in Cokato, MN.

Minerva Ann Ritten was the youngest of four children born to Michael and Margaret (Thoennes) Ritten on April 5, 1943, in Alexandria, MN. She grew up on their farm near Carlos and attended a one room schoolhouse through the eighth grade. She graduated in 1960 from Alexandria High School and went to work at General Mills in Minneapolis.

On June 13, 1961, Minerva married Leo Francis Schmitz, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Belle River. They made their home on a dairy farm east of Wadena. Her days were filled with caring for their 12 children and helping with farming tasks. Her interests included sewing quilts for her family, embroidery, reading, gardening and working puzzles. She was an active member of St Ann's Catholic Church in Wadena and Catholic United Financial. In 2017, she moved off the farm into Fair Oaks Apartments and to The Meadows of Wadena in 2022, then to Cokato Manor in June.

Preceding Minerva in death were her husband, Leo (2002); parents, Michael and Margaret; grandson, Adam Denny; son-in-law, George Lipinski; brothers, Jerry and Roman (Phyllis) Barnack; and sister-in-law, Janice Ritten.

Memories will be treasured by her children: Deb (Clem) Crowley of Howard Lake, Donna (Jim) Hughes of Dassel, Bonnie (Pete) Gebhart of Detroit Lakes, Darlene (Scott) Fah, Marlene Lipinski both of Hewitt, JoAnn (Jerry) Oliver of Long Prairie, Mary (Tony) Traut of St. Joseph, John (Brandy) Schmitz of Hewitt, Tina (Louie) Wegscheid, Bob Schmitz both of Wadena, David (Christine) Schmitz of Perham, and Steve Schmitz of Detroit Lakes; 35 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; brother Michael Ritten of Parkers Prairie; along with sister-in-law, Karen Barnack.

Serving as pallbearers will be Dan Schmitz, Tom Schmitz, Jenny Johnson, Amanda Kimber, Keila Schmitz, and Ken Fah.

Honorary pallbearers will be all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.