Loretta Gardner

Loretta Gardner, 79, passed away November 22, 2014 at her home in Hawley, MN. Funeral services for Loretta will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Faith Lutheran Church in Staples, MN, with Pastor Steve Sveom officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Interment at Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples, MN.

Loretta (Kline) Gardner was born July 19, 1935 to Howard and Grace (Schmelzer) Kline in Pine River, MN. She was a 1953 graduate of Pine River High School. Loretta married Frank Gardner on July 30, 1955 in Pine River. They lived in Fargo, ND and Morris, MN, settling in Staples, MN where they owned and operated the Staples Rexall Drug Store for over 30 years. After Frank's passing in 2009, Loretta moved to Hawley where she spent her remaining years. Loretta was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Staples. She held a private pilot's license for many years, and enjoyed family activities including fishing, camping, gardening, jigsaw puzzles, and playing cards, especially cribbage. Above all else, Loretta was fiercely devoted to her family, and for them, she gave all.

Loretta is survived by her son, Steve (Kelly) Gardner of Willmar; daughter, Sharon (Rodney) Haug of Hawley; grandson's, Daniel Haug of Hawley, Christopher Haug of Fargo, and Evan Haug of Moorhead; granddaughter Misty (Tony) Nelson of Willmar; and two great-grandsons, Isaac and Kael Nelson; her brother, Alvin Kline of Pine River; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank; her son, Scott; brothers, Robert, Kenneth, and Orville Kline; one brother and one sister who died in infancy. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples, MN.