Elizabeth Michelich

Elizabeth Michelich

Elizabeth Michelich, age 96, formerly of Keewatin, MN died on Friday, May 23, 2014, at St. Therese’s Retirement Community in New Hope, MN where she had resided for the past 19 years.

Elizabeth was born on May 12, 1918, in Springfield, MN to Louis and Mary (Walk) Kreitinger.  She graduated from Springfield High School in 1936, and then attended the University of Minnesota.  She moved to Keewatin in 1937 to work for her uncle in his variety store.  While in Keewatin, she met her husband, Peter Michelich, who owned the Michelich Fairway Grocery Market.  They married in 1941.
While in Keewatin she was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, The Keewatin Senior Citizens, Catholic Cursillo Movement, and The Range Art Center.  Her love of painting and her participation in the Cursillo movement continued after her move to New Hope and well into her 90’s.  At St. Therese she was very active and participated in many facets of senior life. She was a loving, caring, giving wife and mother who lived her Catholic faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter (1989), her brother, John Kreitinger and sisters-in-law, Mary, Anne, Sophie and Veronica Michelich.

She is survived by her five children:  P. Louis (Rosalie) Michelich of Plymouth, MN, John (Joanna)  Michelich of Sierra Vista, AZ,  Robert (Virginia) Michelich of Atlanta, GA,  Anthony (Victoria) Michelich of Rochester, MN, and Elizabeth (Curtis)  Gjengdahl of North St. Paul, MN; her grandchildren: Lynette Phernetton, Julie (Jasyn) Rousselow,  Brian Michelich, Susan (Joseph) Peter, James (Catherine) Michelich, Charles (Suzanne) Michelich, Peter (Brynn) Michelich, Kristina Gjengdahl,  Fr. Nels Gjengdahl,  and Karin Gjengdahl; seven great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and her sister, Eleanor Wittrock, of North Mankato.

Funeral service for Elizabeth will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday May 27, 2014, at the Church of St Raphael, 7301 Bass Lake Road, Crystal MN.  The Reverend Father Nels Gjengdahl will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral Mass at the church on Tuesday.  Interment will be held on Wednesday, May 28, at 11 AM at Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the St. Therese Foundation, 8000 Bass Lake Road, New Hope, MN 55428-3199.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.  To leave an online message of condolence for Elizabeth, please visit us at www.doughertyofhibbing.com.

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