Obituary of Theresa Ellen Wachter

Theresa Ellen (Larson) Wachter, age 75, of Raymond, MN, passed away on March 12, 2025. Theresa, known as Teri, was born March 18, 1949, to Leonard John Larson and Ara Emma (Bitner) Larson in Minneapolis, MN. Teri graduated from Mounds View High School in New Brighton, MN in 1967 and from Concordia College in St. Paul, MN in 1971 with a BA in Elementary Education.

Teri moved to the Big Stone City, SD area and met Kenneth Duane Wachter in 1972. They were married May 15, 1976 in Ortonville, MN. Their son, Sean, was born in 1980, and their daughter, Leah, was born in 1982. They moved to the Willmar, MN area in 1980 and settled in Raymond, MN, in 1987.

Teri had a variety of jobs in her life. After college, she taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades combined in Wausau, WI. In the Big Stone City, SD area, she worked at a cheese factory and at Milbank Mutual Insurance. Her work in the Willmar area included at Somody Supply and Impact Plastics, in childcare, and as a substitute kitchen aide at the MACCRAY elementary school in Raymond. Lastly, Teri, an avid reader, worked as a librarian aide at the Raymond and Montevideo Public Libraries for 13 years, until retiring in 2017. She also volunteered with Webelos and Cub Scouts as a den mother, with Vacation Bible School, as a driver for the elderly, and as an election judge.

Teri enjoyed collecting cookbooks, craft magazines, Christmas nutcrackers, and hummingbird figurines. 

Theresa is survived by children Sean Wachter (Aundrea Curtis) and Leah Wachter (Andrew Netwal); sisters Adrienne Fertig (Norman), Lynne Moore, Kay Jensen (Kirk), and Wendy Goodman; brother Hollis Larson; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

Theresa was preceded in death by her parents; former husband Ken; and brothers Alan and Martin Larson.

A memorial will be held at the Cremation Society of Minnesota in Edina, MN, on March 30, 2025, with visitation from 1:00pm to 4:00pm and a service at 2:00pm.