Clara Braband

Clara Rutten Braband, age 90 formerly of Osakis passed away early Sunday, January 7, 2007 at her home at Arlington Place in St. Joseph, MN surrounded by her family.
Clara Elizabeth Stoetzel was born on August 12, 1916, the ninth of ten children born to Henry and Theresia (Hunhoff) Stoetzel in St. Rosa, MN. She first worked as a housekeeper for the local priest and then as a telephone operator in Carlos, MN. Clara married Harold Rutten on June 22, 1938. They farmed for many years, raising up to 1000 laying hens, milking cows and raising hogs. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception parish in Osakis and belonged to both the Christian Mothers and the Daughters of Isabella organizations and was past president of the mission circles. Clara also belonged to the Osakis VFW Auxiliary and the Osakis Senior Citizens Club.
Clara was a hard working farm wife and mother. She was a great cook who always grew a large garden each year. She did many hours of canning in addition to baking thousands of cookies, cakes and bars over the years. Clara loved her family and taking care of her grandchildren and sharing her garden produce and baked goods with others.
After her husband, Harold passed away, Clara married Elmer 'Butch' Braband in 1993. They lived in Osakis for a time until moving to Arlington Place in St. Joseph in 2004. Clara greatly enjoyed life. She loved music, dancing and socializing and was always ready with a smile for anyone she met. She was a kind and devoted mother and grandmother who truly lived out her faith. She will be dearly missed by her family and all who knew her.
Clara is survived by her children, Doug (Joanie) Rutten of Osakis, Dave (Eileen) Rutten of Kalamazoo, MI, Rose Mary (Mark) Hedner of Starbuck, Ray Rutten of Osakis, Diane (Russ) Oberg of Rockford and Mary Kay ( Steve Espelien) Hawkins of St. Joseph; 25 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Harold Rutten in 1990 and her husband, Butch Braband in 2006, her granddaughters, Sarah Rutten and Angeline Hawkins, her siblings, Joseph, Aloys and Lawrence Stoetzel, Agnes Forester, Rose Feda, Marie Bernet, Dorothy Steidl, Agatha Mechels and Walburga Roers.
A Mass of Resurrection was held on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 11:00 am at the Immaculate Conception Church in Osakis with Fr. Dick McGuire officiating. Her family participated in the various parts of the liturgy including the readings, the gifts, as servers, eucharistic ministers and with the music and eulogy. Interment was at the Calvary Cemetery in Osakis, MN with honorary pallbearers being her granddaughters. Active pallbearers were grandsons Ken, Mike, Greg and Ryan Rutten, Shawn Oberg, Rod Hedner and Ethan Hawkins-Espelien.
Arrangements are being handled by the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis.