Vicky (Hartnell) Braaten, 59, of Austin, Minn. died Friday, June 1, 2012, at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nev. She was visiting Las Vegas to attend her sister’s wedding and sustained a life threatening ruptured brain aneurysm.

Vicky was born Sept. 1, 1952, in Osage, Iowa to Robert and Arlene (Simon) Hartnell. She graduated from Pacelli High School in the class of 1971. Later she graduated in 1973 receiving her secretarial diploma.

On Nov. 11, 1973, she married Mike Braaten and later divorced in 1994. They had two children, Scott and Stacy. Vicky was a very hard worker. She worked in the office at Quality Pork since 1994, as well as several other local businesses over the years. Vicky loved camping with her family on Cedar Lake, gardening, going to the casino, being with her friends, and most of all spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Vicky will be remembered for her kind heart and her contagious laugh.

Survivors include her children, Scott (Nici) Braaten, Austin, Stacy (David) Hastings, Williamsburg, Va.; mother, Arlene Hartnell, Austin; six grandchildren, Alana and Colton Braaten, Austin, Allyn, Lyric, Kian and Judah Hastings, Williamsburg; special friend, Bob Otterson, Austin; sisters, Shari (Anthony) Panzica, Sun Prairie, Wis., Mary Fitch, Williams Bay, Wis., Carol (Dan) Fredenberg, Glendale, Ariz.; niece, Cassandra Hibbard, Milwaukee, Wis.; nephews, Aric Bothun, S.D., Jason Bothun, Edgerton, Wis., Corey Fredenberg, Fort Collins, Colo.; many friends and family.

She is preceded in death by her father, Robert Hartnell.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2012, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church with Father Jim Steffes officiating. There will be a 6:30 p.m. wake service on Wednesday at Mayer Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the VFW in Austin.