Mary A. Renchin

Mary A. Renchin, 86, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at the Thorne Crest Care Center in Albert Lea, MN. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Friday, March 27, 2026 at the St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. A visitation will be held from 5-7 pm on Thursday, March 26 2026 at the Bayview/Freeborn Home, along with an hour prior to the service at the church. A rosary prayer for Mary will be held at 4:45 pm on Thursday, March 26 at the funeral home prior to the visitation. Father Kurt Farrell will be officiating.

Mary was born on August 18, 1939 to Joseph and Mary Matejcek in Owatonna, MN. She graduated from Owatonna High School, and joined the convent. While she studied, God called her to a calling of family life. She left the convent, and soon worked at Josten’s, and later as a para with the Emmons and Glenville School systems. She was united in marriage to Donald Renchin on June 6, 1959, and through this union, they had seven children.

Mary was devoted in her faith. She prayed the rosary every day. Her love of the Lord was endless. She made sure she would be at all the church functions to lend a helping hand.

She loved to garden, and used her cucumbers to make delicious homemade pickles. In fact, her pickles would go for a pretty penny during local charity auctions. Mary loved to help others, whether it was with her baking, donating her famous jars of pickles, or a couple dozen of her kolaches. When she wasn’t gardening, she would be on the Albert Lea Party line getting new recipes to try out. After Sunday dinner, she would play card games such as Farkle, Golf, 500, and pinochle with her family. Mary also enjoyed going out to dance waltzes or to polka music at the Eagle’s Club or The Polka Club. Most of all, Mary cherished the time spent with her family and especially her grandchildren.

Mary is survived by her children Edward Renchin, Marie (Mark) Hayner, Thomas Renchin, Patrick Renchin, Susan (Alan) Amundson, Janice (Roy) Stensrude, and James (Kristie) Renchin. Grandchildren Derek (Katie) Jensen, Karina (Josh) Kunze, Alex Amundson, Aaron (Kirsten) Amundson, Taylor Stensrude, Trinity (Kenny) Olson, Rebecca (Chris) Ruter, Jacob (Rebekah) Saatmann, and Rachel Saatmann; 13 great-grandchildren; siblings Virginia (John) Hanson, Bernadette Jensen, Leonard (Mary Lou) Matejcek, and Raymond (Jean) Matejcek; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband Donald and parents Joseph and Mary Matejcek. Her siblings Joseph Matejcek, Cecilia Lauer, and Robert Matejcek. Mother and Father-in-law Anton and Agnes Renchin; and brother-in-law Curt Jensen.

The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at St. Croix Hospice for their tender care they provided to Mary.

The service will be live-streamed, and can be watched from the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home Facebook page at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C5ey2jTAd/