May Gretel Bottke
May Gretel Bottke, age 100, passed away on July 4, 2025.
May was born in Renville, Minn., on Nov. 28, 1924. She grew up on a farm with her parents Williard and Nellie (Molenaar) DeRuyter, along with her older brothers, Willard and John and her older sister, Ruth. While working her farm chores, she went to country school and graduated from Danube High School. May then went on to attend the University of Minnesota, where she graduated in 1946 with a B.S. in Primary Education.
On July 28, 1951, May married William (Bill) Bottke, who grew up in Faribault. They had three children, Mary, Gretchen, and Bill Jr.
May taught Kindergarten for 41 years in Faribault at Garfield, Jefferson, and Lincoln Elementary schools. She was a finalist for Minnesota’s “Teacher of the Year” in 1974.
Class highlights were May’s annual Kindergarten Circus, which included music, art, and creative play. May’s former students often reminisced on which character they played in the circus - a seal, a tiger, a tightrope walker, or perhaps the ringmaster.
May was known for playing piano by ear, either solo or in small musical groups. She volunteered her time playing piano for nursing homes and many other community activities. May was known for her group, the MGB Trio, which played for local and regional events.
She belonged to several organizations, including the American Association of University Women, Faribault Branch, American Legion Auxiliary Unit #43, Delta Kappa Gamma - a sorority for educators, Order of the Eastern Star - Athens Chapter #82, the Faribault Senior Center, and the Faribault Area Retired Educators.
In 2011, May was chosen to be the Grand Marshal for the Faribault Heritage Parade and in 2023, she was honored as a Faribault Hometown Hero.
May was a member of the Faribault Congregational Church for over 70 years. A butterfly garden south of the church was dedicated in her name in 2015.
May is survived by her daughters, Mary Osborne, Faribault, Minn. and Gretchen (Steve) Stenehjem, Watford City, N.D.; son, Dr. William (Veronica) Bottke, Longmont, Colo. She had 10 grandchildren; Rebecca (Benjamin) Bernard, Jenna (Paul) Krumenauer, Patricia (Dave) Klecker, Peter (Stacey) Stenehjem, Erik (Jessica) Stenehjem, Kira, (Greg) Stenehjem Noll, Dr. Kristen (Dr. Grant Edland) Stenehjem, Kristina (Frank) Cruz, Laura Bottke and Julie Bottke; 14 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and her longtime friend, Irene Eiler.
May is preceded in death by her husband, William Bottke; her parents; brothers; sister; along with several nephews and nieces.
May enriched the lives of every student she taught as well as many Faribault area community members. She had a passion for teaching and enjoyed positively contributing to others. She had a remarkable ability to remember the birthday of almost anyone she met. Her love, thoughtfulness, and dedication to service allowed her to touch lives across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Arizona.
Funeral services were held at the Congregational Church of Faribault UCC on Monday, July 14, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. Interment was at Maple Lawn Cemetery, Faribault.
Visitation was held at the Boldt Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Faribault on Sunday, July 13, 2025, from 1 to 4 p.m. and at the church for one hour prior to the service on July 14.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial in May’s name to: River Bend Nature Center in Faribault, Senior Citizens Piano Fund in Faribault, Ruth’s House in Faribault, or a charity of choice.
As May would say, “Keep a song in your heart.”
Visit boldtfuneralhome.com for information and guestbook.