Marie Rhodes, 84, of Lafayette died Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, at the Oak Hills Living Center in New Ulm.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at Bernadotte Lutheran Church in Bernadotte with Pastor Todd Nelsen officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and 7:30 to 8 a.m. Saturday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm and will continue for one hour prior to the time of service at church on Saturday. To leave an online condolence for her family or to sign the guest book go to mvfh.org.

Marie is survived by her sisters, Elvera Hoffman of Wabasso, Ardyce (Vernon) Anderson of Belview; a niece, Diane (Cleon) Lange of Sanborn; grand-nieces, Shari and Kristi Lange of Wabasso; stepsons, Jon (Carol) Rhodes of Harmony, Bob Rhodes of Henderson, Nev.; step-grandchildren, Reg Rhodes of Gramsby, Colorado, Ryan (Melissa) Rhodes of Rochester, Kim (Angelo) Minotis of Colleyville, Texas, Karla Rhodes of Mapleton; step-great-grandchildren, Samuel Rhodes, Lydia Rhodes, Aiden Rhodes, Zoey Rhodes, Lexi Minotis and Easton Zeidler; and by many neighbors and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Marvin Rhodes; sister, Lydia Kuehl; brother-in-law, Elmer Hoffman; step grandchildren, Paul and Sheryl Rhodes; and a step-great-grandson, Finn Rhodes.

Marie Ella Kuehl was born Feb. 25, 1927, in Willow Lake Township, Redwood County to Charley and Martha (Lehne) Kuehl. She was baptized in 1927 and confirmed in July, 1939 at Christ Lutheran Church in Wanda. Marie grew up in Willow Lake Township attending country school in District 94 and graduating from Wabasso High School in 1944. After graduation, Marie attended Lamberton Normal Teachers School for one year. She then taught country school in Redwood county, serving as secretary of the Teachers Organization of Redwood County. Marie then taught in Springfield, and Austin for a total of 39 years when she retired in 1984. During this time she received her bachelor’s degree in education.

Marie was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Wanda, teaching Sunday School as well as singing in the choir, and also the Bernadotte Lutheran Church in Bernadotte. Marie married Marvin Rhodes on June 16, 1973, at the Bernadotte Lutheran Church and lived her entire married life in Lafayette. She was a lifetime member of the National Education Association. Marie enjoyed singing, raising flowers, teaching, camping and people. She traveled in Mexico and Europe. Marvin and Marie enjoyed traveling and camping in several states.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Bernadotte Lutheran Church, New Ulm Hospice or the Alzheimer’s Association.