Loretta Gelling

Loretta Gelling, 73 of Hoffman died Saturday, August 11, 2018, at Knute Nelson Care Center in Alexandria, Minnesota with her family by her side.

Loretta Jean Gelling was born on March 1, 1945, in Brainerd, Minnesota, to Harlen and Alvina (Palmer) Britton. She was baptized in Pelican Lake, at the Bengston Beach by Ashby, by Pastor Steve Quernemoen. Loretta attended Riverton, Franklin, and Washington Schools, all in Brainerd, MN. Loretta and John Gelling were married on June 1, 1968, in Brainerd, MN. They built their love while living in Granite Falls, Erdahl, Ashby and then started settling in Hoffman in 1993. She worked at A&W and the Golden Grill, both in Brainerd. While raising her family she worked at Farmers Produce in Ashby, Mendelson’s Hatchery in Elbow Lake, Haapco and then for REM, both in Hoffman. After retirement she worked at Hans House in Elbow Lake up until her diagnosis. She was a woman of talent. She enjoyed baking, cooking, gardening, horticulture, sewing, crafts, scrapbooking, music and dancing. She, as a child, always ran barefoot. She was so strong and never a quitter, right up to the end. Loretta was an active member of Grace Evangelical Free Church, with the Ladies Group, she sang in the choir and served with AWANA.

She is survived by her husband, John; four children, Kenneth (Patricia) Gelling of Alexandria, Angie Sedler of Elbow Lake, JoAnne (Brad Trosdahl) Gelling of Hoffman, and Karen (Heinz Strobel) Gelling of Hoffman; five grandchildren, Kalista, Katie, Hunter, Landon and Alexis; three sisters, Karen (Bob) Woods, Helen (Jim) Murray and Roxanne Bajula all of Brainerd; three brothers, Roy (Barb) Britton and Roger (Lorna) Britton both of Brainerd and Wayne Britton of Minneapolis; and by numerous relatives and friends. Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, Harlen and Alvina Britton; daughter, Laura Jean; son-in-law, Jerrod Sedler; and an infant brother, Harlen Jr.

Funeral Service: 11:00 AM, Friday, August 17, 2018, at Grace Evangelical Free Church in Elbow Lake. Visitation: Thursday from 4 to 7 PM, with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service, at Erickson-Smith Funeral Home in Elbow Lake and on Friday, one hour prior at the church.

Interment: 4:00 PM Friday at the Maple Grove Cemetery by Brainerd.

Funeral Home: Erickson-Smith of Elbow Lake.

Condolences:EricksonSmithFH.Com