Etta Jahnke, 78

On Monday, March 12, 2012, Etta Jean Jahnke passed away at St. William’s Living Center in Parkers Prairie at the age of 78 years, 9 months and 18 days.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Edwin and Myrtle Hofferbert, a son and a sister in infancy; a brother, Clarence; and a grandson, Jacob Allen Jahnke.

Etta was born May 23, 1933 in Almora, the daughter of Edwin and Myrtle (Haines) Hofferbert. She attended elementary school at Nubben Ridge, District #212 in Henning and attended Hinckley High School for two years when she lived with her uncle and aunt, Cliff and Anne, who ran the Hinckley News. She graduated in 1952 from Henning High School.

On April 16, 1955 she married Ralph Gustav Jahnke in Henning. Etta worked at home as a farmer’s wife while raising four wonderful children, Charles, Curtis, Krista and Daniel. She also worked at Uptown Café in Wadena, Henning Bakery, Parkers Hospital, Lou and Al’s Café (later became The Nibbler’s Inn) as a waitress for many years, the Barrel O’ Fun Potato Chip company in Parkers Prairie and Perham, and as a school lunch lady for 19 years in the Parkers Prairie school.

Etta was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of North Effington and also served as secretary of Prairie Eagles Saddle Club and the West Central Minnesota Muzzle Loaders Club. Her hobbies included painting, needle work, raising wild animals, wild birds, fishing, traveling, especially to Alaska, reading and she loved to ride horseback. Etta enjoyed shooting guns and hunting big and small game out West as well as in Minnesota. She also loved music, mostly country and western.

Survivors include her husband, Ralph, of Parkers Prairie; four children, Charles (Val) of Parkers Prairie, Curtis (Jackie) of Alexandria, Krista Schwering of Parkers Prairie, Daniel (Ginger) of Anchorage, Alaska; 10 grandchildren, C.J., Theo, Tristan, Robert, Zakkary, Jonathan, Jacob, Jordan, Bryan and Terra; three brothers, George (Jean) Hofferbert of Washington, Don (Ravae) Hofferbert of St. Peter, twin brother, Edwin (Dorothy) Hofferbert of Pengilly, and a sister, Alice Ritter of Miltona; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Blessed be the memory of our beloved Etta.

Her motto: “If you can’t say anything good about a person, don’t say anything at all.”

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