Theresa Viola Stransky

Theresa Viola Stransky passed away October 19, 2015 at the Lakeside Medical Center at the age 92. She was born on April 8, 1923 in Navajo, Montana to Anton and Mary Jane (Griffith) Witte. When Theresa was two years old her family moved to Minnesota, first to St. Paul and then to Beroun. Theresa attended a one room school house until the family moved to Pine City. She graduated from Pine City High School. She loved to tell the story about she and her dog Rover skiing two miles to meet the mailman in a blizzard. The mailman was delivering mail and some groceries. Preparing for the return trip she tied two bags of flour around her neck and she and Rover got back on the skis. All went well until Rover saw a rabbit...he jumped causing her to lose her balance and fall head first into the snow. Theresa did make it home with the mail and groceries. Rover showed up later. After high school, Theresa, her sister Hattie and some friends moved to the metro area and worked for Montgomery Ward for a number of years. Theresa moved back to Beroun to help her parents on the farm and work at Spies Super Valu. It was at Spies she met Edward Stransky, a confirmed bachelor. Even though Theresa said she did not want to marry a farmer, she and Edward were married November 9, 1947. Theresa worked early in the morning helping with chores and then making breakfast for their six children. Theresa was an excellent cook, baker and loved to garden. She was also a wonderful seamstress, taking old clothing and making clothes for her children. Once staying up all night making a coat, hat and mittens for one of her children from old clothing she had taken apart. She was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church, VFW Auxiliary (for years she called bingo at the fair for the VFW) and the Legion Auxiliary. Theresa enjoyed life, her family and friends and will be deeply missed by all. She is survived by her children: Janet (James) Tidgwell of Pine City, John Stransky of Fort Walton Beach, FL, Gary (Dori) Stransky of Brook Park, Carol Juhl of Pine City, Gordon Stransky of Pine City, 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and sister Hattie Larson of Pine City. She is preceded in death by her husband Edward Stransky, infant son Frankie Stransky, son Robert Stransky, brothers William Witte, Louis Witte and sister Mary Antoinette Witte. Pastor Rob Spahr will officiate at a funeral service for Theresa Stransky; Friday, October 23, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Pine City. A time of visitation and reviewal is scheduled for one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service ~ Swanson Chapel, Pine City, Minnesota. www.funeralandcremationservice.com