Rebecca Corbit Stetzler

Rebecca Stetzler was born June 22, 1916 in Atkinson, Nebraska to Rev. Erve W. and Maude Lumsden Corbit. Her father was a mission pastor for the Presbyterian Church, and as such he moved with his family to several small towns in North and South Dakota. Rebecca graduated from high school in Interior, South Dakota. Rebecca earned an associate degree from Bemidji State University and a B.A. from Winona State University. She married William Harold Stetzler, Sr. on January 6, 1938. Both were educators. Rebecca taught in country schools near Verndale, where her husband was superintendent of schools, then taught in Dakota, MN and at Blessed Sacrament elementary in LaCrosse, WI while her husband was superintendent in LaCrescent, MN. After her husband's death in 1971, Rebecca continued to teach until 1976, when she moved to Tucson, AZ to care for her mother. There she was active in the sanctuary movement to help refugees from El Salvador and Guatemala avoid being deported to face death squads and also began a novel about the life of an infant survivor of the battle of Wounded Knee, whose daughter was Rebecca's childhood friend in South Dakota. In 1985 she returned to Menahga, and built a home on her property on Stocking Lake. She and her family enjoyed many good years there. She finished her novel "Ben Black Fox, American" which was privately published by the Ben Black Fox family. She also took several trips to the Northwest, Carribean, Alaska , the British Isles and the East Coast. In 1990 Rebecca moved to a house in Menahga and from there to Woodside Manor. Rebecca was active in her church, the Wadena County Historical Society, the Menahga Garden Club, the Wadena County DFL and other civic affairs for many years. She was preceded in death by her husband and two sons, Dr. William Harold Stetzler, Jr. and Patrick Timothy Stetzler; daughter in law Gladdie Stetzler, her parents, two sisters and one brother. She is survived by her sons Michael of Menahga and St. Paul, Thomas (Rosemary) of Staples, grandchildren Scott and Dynee of Rochester, MN, Richard (Christina) of Valley Village, CA, Brian Whipple, great-grandson Evan Stetzler and nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at First English Lutheran Church in Menahga at 11:00 a.m. on June 27. Memorials may be given to the church, or to the Menahga Memorial Garden in care of Harry Samuelson.