Annetta Lydia (Sperry) Wegter was born on the family farm just three miles from Hull, Iowa. Her parents were William and Tille (Wissink) Beyer. A blizzard was raging, delaying the doctor for her delivery, and she became known as the miracle baby. Annetta grew up on the farm, attending a two-room country school for grades 1-8. She walked to Hull High School for grades 9-10 and later boarded in Sioux Center to complete her high school training.
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She was united in marriage to Harold Elmer Sperry on August 18, 1937. They first lived on a farm in Lake Park, Iowa and then moved to Boyden, Iowa. In 1951 they moved to Milan, MN, where they farmed until Harold’s death in 1961. After Harold’s death, Annetta, Louetta, Charles, and Timothy moved to Worthington, MN, where Annetta found employment at the Campbell Soup Company. She was employed there until her marriage to Charles (Charlie) Wegter in 1976.
Charlie and Annetta lived in Alexandria, MN and later in Detroit Lakes, MN where they enjoyed gardening and fishing. After Charlie’s death in 1983, she moved to Dassel MN where she lived in her own home until 2007. A stroke left her requiring 24/7 care at the St. Gertrude’s Health and Rehabilitation Center in Shakopee, MN.
Throughout her life Annetta enjoyed cooking, gardening, embroidering towels and pillow cases, canning fruits and vegetables, and freezing bags of sweet corn, all with her loved ones in mind. She also enjoyed playing the piano and singing hymns. Annetta loved “to go”! Her travels included family trips with her children throughout the United States, Canada and Israel. Every spring she spent a month helping her son Charles and family get their Montana resort ready for the season. She kept her Ford Taurus ready to go wherever she was needed the most and was called to help.
Annetta will be fondly remembered for her unconditional love, generous hospitality, and true and living faith. At the age of 91, Annetta passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family the morning of Monday, October 3, 2011 at St Gertrude’s.
Annetta will be deeply missed by many, including her children: Ellora (Keith) Kleven , Dassel, MN; Charlotte (Victor) Ellingson, Shakopee, MN; Louetta Sperry, Shakopee, MN; Charles (Nancy) Sperry, Tombstone, AZ; Timothy (Glenette) Sperry , Center City, MN; Grandchildren: Kristal (Elmer) Job; Karla (Ronald) Topinka; Karmin, (Sterling) Schraw; Kari (Kelly) Bergh; Blaine (Doncella) Ellingson; Lance (Gwendy)Ellingson; Natalie (Scott) Irvine; Vaughn Ellingson; Lori Winter (Todd) Schmidt; Cherie(Brian) Nelvin; Wade Winter; Teresa Sperry; Nellie (Mark) Acord; Nikki (Mario) Giovanini; Tzitel (Scott)Voss; Breanna (Sander) Ludeman; Cornelia (Ryan)Hagedorn; Tanika (Larry) Bender; Sheilina (Dylan) Nohner; 36 Great Grandchildren; 4 Great-Great Grandchildren; Step-children: Sharlene (Paul) Radbourne, Fort Francis, Ontario; Daryle Wegter, Puyallup, WA, Ruby (Leonard) Ringdahl of Fergus Falls, Henry (Barbara) Wegter, Fargo, ND.; Step-daughter-in-law, Karen Wegter, Hartley, IA; Step-grandchildren, Kevin (Carolyn) Radbourne; Chandra (Darin) King; Minda Ringdahl, Tyler Ringdahl, Brett Wegter; 16 Step-great-grandchildren. Brother, Lambert (Lucille) Beyer, Hull, IA; Sisters, Ellen Kain, Berkley, MI; Hilda Powers, Waterford, MI; and Edna Braaksma, Sheldon, IA;
Annetta is preceded in death by her husbands, Harold Sperry and Charles Wegter; Son, Curtis Wayne Sperry; Great-grandson, Nathan Bender; Sister, Marie(Elmer) Jansma; Brother, Willis (Grace) Beyer; Brothers-in-law, Eddie Kain, Raymond Powers, Gerard Braaksma; Step-son, Larry Wegter; Step-grandson, Kelly Wegter.
The visitation will be Sunday, Oct. 9 from 4-8 p.m. and also one hour prior to the service. The Celebration of Life Service will be Monday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m., all at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 833 S. Marschall Rd., Shakopee. Interment at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon, Iowa.
The Wegter family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Shakopee Chapel www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
