Reuben Tretbar

Reuben Tretbar, age 90, of Ponsford, MN, passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at his daughter and son-in-law’s home in Osage, MN, with his loving family by his side.

Reuben was born on September 25, 1933, in Park Rapids, MN, to Albert and Mathilda (Bethke) Tretbar and was raised on the family farm in Ponsford, MN.   He graduated from Park Rapids High School on May 27, 1953.  He enlisted in the US Army from 1956 to 1958 and drove staff cars around Washington, DC, and was honorably discharged from the US Army Reserves on October 31, 1962.   After his time in Washington, DC, he returned home and met Hilma Torma on February 29, 1959, at a dance where his band was playing.  He informed her he was driving her home and the were married 6 months later on November 1, 1959, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ponsford, MN.  They made their home on the family farm in Ponsford and raised 3 children, Tina, Jeffrey, and Regina.  In 1973 he earned an automotive mechanics degree.  He was a lifetime farmer of grains and hay and in the winter months he plowed snow for area families.  

Reuben was a dedicated family man.  He never missed any family events or gatherings and went to every one of his grandchildren’s sporting events.    There were numerous road trips to visit family and friends throughout his life.   In his free time, he enjoyed tending to his very large garden and played drums in the band, The Rhythm Rascals, and others with his brothers, nephew, and friends for many Sunday dances, weddings, and nursing homes. He was also a proud member of the American Legion. And enjoyed going to old time dances and dancing with his wife.  As a longtime member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, he was a committee voting member and held many offices through the years.   Currently he was a member of the Church of the Lutheran Confession.  

Reuben is survived by his wife of 64 years, Hilma Tretbar; daughter, Tina (Boe) Brown; son, Jeffrey (Heidi) Tretbar; 8 grandchildren, Eric (Shannon Blomker) Brown, Caleb (Isabelle) Brown, Tyler (Mandie) Tretbar, Cole (Christina) Tretbar, Zachary (Chani) Tretbar, Phillip (Shelby) Hinseth, Preston (Solveig) Hinseth, and Isabella Hinseth; 6 great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Berkley Tretbar, Liam and Mila Tretbar, Rennick Tretbar, and Easton Brown, and 2 more on the way; and brother, Maurice Tretbar; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  He was preceded in death by his daughter, Regina Hinseth; great-grandson, Jude Zebedee Tretbar; and brothers, George (Margie) and Lloyd (June) Tretbar; sister, Grace (Chester) Schober; and sister-in-law, Mildred Tretbar.

Visitation for Rueben will be held on Sunday, June 9, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Jones- Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids, MN.

Funeral service for Reuben will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, June 10, 2024 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Snellman, MN, with a visitation one hour before.  Interment will take place after the luncheon at St Paul’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Ponsford, MN.