Reinhold Lothert

Reinhold "Reinie" D. Lothert, age 72, of Willmar, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday afternoon, January 21, at Glen Oaks Care Center in New London, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, January 26, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Willmar. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, January 25, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church. www.petersonbrothers.com

Reinie was born on August 9, 1943, in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, the son of Harry and Geneva (Larson) Lothert. He grew up in the Morton, Minnesota area and graduated from DMLC High School in New Ulm in 1961. Reinie then began working as a machinist in Bloomington. On September 4, 1965, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Morton, Reinie married the love of his life, Betty Helen Bratsch. To this union they were blessed with three children, Lynn, Rodney and Ryan. In 1967, they started farming and then in the mid 1980's, Reinie began employment at the Willmar Post Office as a mail carrier, retiring in 2009. In his retirement, Reinie enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He also enjoyed spending time with his loving wife, Betty doing activities that they both enjoyed such as traveling to the southwestern United States, playing cards, gardening, going to the casino and watching the Minnesota Twins play. On September 4, 2015, Reinie and Betty celebrated 50 years of marriage. Reinie was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, the Rural Mail Carriers Association and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

He is survived by his wife, Betty of Willmar; three children, Lynn (and Steve) Vangsness of Plattsmouth, NE., Rodney (and Jennifer) Lothert of Willmar and Ryan (and Michelle) Lothert of Kandiyohi; six grandchildren, Ashley (and Jesse) DeBolt, Amanda (and Travis) Roberts, Brittany (and Alex) McDaniel, Nick Lothert, Alexa Lothert and Brandon Lothert; and six great grandchildren. Also surviving are siblings, The Reverend LeRoy Lothert of New Ulm, Floyd Lothert of Morton, Harry Jr. (and LaVonne) Lothert of Hector, Genevieve (and Ted) Nommensen of West Bend, WI., Gene (and Ardell) Lothert of Redwood Falls; sister-in-laws, Darlyne Lothert and Darlene Lothert, both of Olivia; father-in-law, Gilbert Bratsch of Olivia; brother-in-law, Harvey (and Charlotte) Bratsch of Olivia, besides other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law, Helen Bratsch; two brothers, Richard and Marlow Lothert and a sister-in-law, Della Lothert.

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