Loretta B. Muellenberg, 101, of Zell, SD, died Sunday, May 2, 2010 at her daughter's home in Council Bluffs, IA.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, May 8th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Redfield. Father William Osborn will celebrate the mass.

Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Zell.

Visitation will be Friday from 1-8:00 p.m. with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. with the family present from 6-8:00 p.m. to accept condolences at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials directed to St. Bernard's Catholic Church. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Loretta was born September 22, 1908 in Frankfort, SD to Paul and Sophia (Rueschenberg) Esser. She grew up with her family in the Redfield and Lisbon, ND areas. At the age of thirteen she became mother and big sister to six brothers and one sister when her mother died in 1922. She completed her education at St Liborius School in Lisbon, ND.

Loretta married George Muellenberg on April 6, 1932. They lived on a farm near Zell and became parents of five children and foster parent of one. Following retirement as a Resident Aide at the State Developmental Center, Redfield (after ten years of service), she enjoyed employment for several years as a Nurse's Aide at the Eastern Star Home.

Loretta was active in the church and a member of the Catholic Daughters and Altar Societies and a loyal member of a Ladies Prayer Group in Redfield. She was also an associate member of the VFW and American Legion. She especially enjoyed collecting recipes, attending country music shows and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren during the last several years. She was blessed with a wonderful memory and frequently shared stories of fun times as well as the "ups and downs of history" including droughts, dust bowl and grasshopper invasions while farming near Zell, South Dakota. We know she will still be watching and cheering the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins in the new baseball season. Loretta will be dearly missed for her joyful outlook on life and constant love and support of family and friends.

Survivors include: sister: Monica Richtik, Gardena, CA; children: Phyllis Muellenberg; Yvonne (Ken) Benning, Casa Grande, AZ; Rosanne Stone, Anaheim. CA; Patricia (Walter) Widmer, Sandy, UT; grandchildren: Michelle Mielke and Nicole Muellenberg, Mitchell, SD; Aaron Stone, Philip Thai, Quan Smith, Anaheim, CA; Erika Vincent and Darin J. Widmer, Portland, OR; Gina Widmer, Seattle, WA; Steve Benning, Flagstaff, AZ; Michael Benning, Phoenix, AZ and nine great grandchildren: Mariah and Zoe Benning, Tiadra Simmermon, Trever Muellenberg, Mikayla and Drake Vincent; Lucas Stone, Tori and Katie Smith as well as special friends and caregivers: Dawn Grason & her family, Council Bluffs, IA.

Loretta was preceded in death by: her husband, George Muellenberg (1990); her six brothers: Theodore, Lawrence, Zeno, Oscar, Mathew and Ed Esser; son: Mathew Merle (2001); foster son: Leo Jablinske; and infant grandson: Mathew Shane Muellenberg.