Helen M. (Margie) Tretbar

March 10, 1923 - Jan. 27, 2017PARK RAPIDS, Minn. -Helen M "Margie" Tretbar, 93, a long time Ponsford, MN area resident, died Friday, Jan.27, at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids HELEN M. “Margie” TRETBAR March 10, 1923 – January 27, 2017                   Helen M. “Margie” Tretbar, age 93, a long time Ponsford, MN area resident, peacefully slipped into eternal life on Friday morning, January 27, 2017 at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids.                 Margie was born to Fred and Emma (Pritchard) Lehrke on March 10, 1923 at her parent’s farm in Green Valley Township of Becker County, MN.  She attended the District #110 country school near her home.  As a young woman she helped on her parent’s farm and worked as a waitress at Wimpy’s Café in Park Rapids.  On June 12, 1946, Margie was united in marriage to George Tretbar.  The young couple made their home on a farm near Ponsford that George had already purchased for them.  Margie lived in that farm home continuously for over 70 years.  In the early years of their marriage, she boarded teachers who taught at the Andrews Country School near their farm.  Their marriage was blessed with six children:  Lois, Terry, Phyllis, Paul, Don and Christy.  Margie devoted her life making a loving home for her family.  She was a wonderful cook who will be long remembered for her delicious fried chicken and her hamburger gravy.  Each spring she would look forward to planting a large vegetable garden which she would nurture into fruitful abundance to can for the needs of her growing family.  Her evenings would often be filled with doing beautiful embroidery work which she made as gifts to family and friends.  During their retirement years, Margie and George enjoyed traveling across the U.S. on numerous bus tours.  She always enjoyed a quiet evening of listening to George play his accordion or his piano.  Her life was forever changed by the death of her beloved husband in July of 2000.  Margie was a woman of faith who enjoyed worshipping at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church near Ponsford for over 70 years.  For over 10 years, she and George delivered meals on wheels for the Osage Senior Nutrition Center.  Above all, Margie loved having her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, who she loved with all her heart, together for the holidays and other special occasions.                 Margie will be lovingly remembered by her six children: Lois Sather of Bottineau, ND,  Terry Tretbar of Osage, Phyllis (Gary) Pritchard of Osage, Paul Tretbar of Ponsford, Donnie Tretbar of Osage and Christy (Rick) Schmitz of Cincinnati, OH; four grandchildren: Janet (Cory) Wolf of Lincoln, ND,  Christy Jo (Kevin) Byer of Osage, Josh Schmitz and Zac (Amy) Schmitz all of Cincinnati, OH; two step-grandchildren: Lisa (Chad) McLearen of Buffalo, MN and Brian (Sarah) Harvala of Otsego, MN; five great grandchildren: Brady (Melissa) Wolf, Samantha and Logan Wolf and Connor and Kortne Byer; three step-great grandchildren: Brielle McLearen, Grant and Avery Harvala; two great great grandchildren: Jack and Leah Wolf; sister-in-law, Bonnie Lehrke and brothers-in-law: Maurice (Carol) Tretbar and Reuben (Hilma) Tretbar as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.                 She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband George; her siblings: Isabelle Stevens, Dorothy Thorpe, Esther Luckason, Alberta Davis, Charles Lehrke and James Lehrke; her daughter-in-law, Joyce Tretbar and son-in-law, Wester Harvala.