Teresa Agnes Sperling

With heavy hearts, we announce Teresa Agnes (Gartner) Sperling went to be with the Lord peacefully on Friday, September 5, 2025 at St. Mary's Essentia-Detroit Lakes, MN from complications from COPD and congestive heart failure. She passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends.

Teresa was born on October 3, 1958 to Walter John Gartner and Helen Irene (Brick) Gartner at St. Joseph Hospital in Park Rapids. She had a very full life.

Teresa, as a child, had a very vivid imagination. She attended Frank White elementary, where she started some of her life-long friendships. As she moved to secondary school and then high school in Park Rapids, she made even more life-long friends. She enjoyed playing the clarinet in high school along with her friends. She spoke many times about how band was able to get invited to perform at college football and march in parades in the surrounding area. It was an amazing show and she was proud to be a part of it.

While in high school, Teresa met the love of her life, Lowell Sperling. They were married at St. John's Catholic Church in Britton, SD on May 1, 1976. They lived in Forman, ND for 3 years. While in ND, they welcomed their only child, their pride and joy – James Lowell Sperling.

They moved back to MN to Lowell's family farm to help farm and raise their son. Teresa found joy in simple things like: raising her son, prairie life with her new friends, helping in-laws, attending her son's football games and track meets. She was a loving homemaker while her husband farmed and then went to over-the-road trucking.

She involved herself into many aspects. She was a part of the Ponsford Prairie Partners, Homemaker Club, Ladies Aid at Gethsemane Lutheran, participated in American Legion Auxiliary unit 212. She donated her time and efforts to many local church kitchens for funerals and events. She was an active member of Gethsemane Lutheran (previously Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church for over 40 years).

She was always a giving person by nature and at heart and helped numerous people and organizations over the years. Teresa would spend hours upon hours lending an unbiased no-judgmental ear to listen to anyone who needed it. She gave her heart and time this way. Even preceding her death, Teresa kept that heart of giving alive by way of organ donation and changed over 78 people's lives.

Teresa had many interests. She crocheted many dollies and Afghans for family and friends through the years. She was known by family, friends and people in the community for her amazing cooking/baking abilities; her "crazy chocolate cake", her "Best Peach Pie in the World" – stated by anyone who ever tasted it, as well as many other fantastic recipes. She also enjoyed movies, books and TV shows.

She was very proud of her 3 grandchildren, "Kimmy Rose", "CJ" and "Jimmy" and their many accomplishments.

Teresa will be dearly missed by her husband, Lowell Edward Sperling; her son, James Lowell Sperling "Jim", and 3 grandchildren, James Michael "Jimmy" Sperling, Kimberly Rose "Kimmy Rose" Sperling, and Christopher Jacob "CJ" Sperling.

She is survived by her siblings and their families, Joanne (Marvin) Shepersky, Ray (Carol) Gartner, Robert (Colleen) Gartner, Linda (Roger decd.) Pihlaja, Larry Gartner, Nick Gartner; and sister-in-law, Judy (Marvin) Gunderson; as well as many more nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Teresa is preceded in death by parents, Walter J. and Helen I. Gartner; father and mother-in-law, Wilbert C. and Lydia F. Sperling; brother, James Edward Gartner; brother-in-law, Roger Pihlaja; niece, Kayla Gunderson; and many other family and friends rejoicing with her in heaven.

Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Friday, September 19, 2025 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Snellman. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM Thursday, September 18 at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Park Rapids and also for 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Ponsford, MN.