Bernadette Marie DeSutter Stassen

Mass of Christian Burial for Bernadette Stassen, 98, of Marshall, will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Visitation will be Wednesday, August 4, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a CCW Rosary at 5:00 p.m. and a Parish Prayer Service with sharing of memories at 7:30 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall. Visitation will continue on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at the Remembrance Center. Interment will take place at St. Eloi Catholic Cemetery in Ghent. A livestream and recording of the service will be available at www.holy-redeemer.com Bernadette Marie (DeSutter) Stassen was born on August 4, 1922, in rural Ghent, MN, to Charles and Bertha (VanHee) DeSutter. She grew up on the family farm and married Eloi Stassen on February 19, 1946, at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent. Together they farmed and raised Black Angus cattle for many years and continued into the next generation. The couple enjoyed 57 years together and had seven children, 19 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. Bernadette worked on the farm all of her life. She was very talented and enjoyed gardening, sewing, baking, crocheting, dancing, canning, playing cards and fishing. She was generous with her talents and made quilts for all of her children and grandchildren. Bernadette always brought angel food cake with White Mountain frosting to every funeral she attended! She was an active member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, CCW, Catholic Daughters of America and was a member of the Marshall Area Senior Center. Bernadette will be remembered for her positivity in life, her beautiful smile and her generous hospitality and kindness to others. Her friends called her the “energizer bunny!” Bernadette received her wings on July 29, 2021, under the exceptional care of Prairie Home Hospice at the McLaughlin House. She is survived by her three daughters: Becky (Bill) Deutz and Cindy (Ken) Winn of Marshall, and Lori (Tom) Richards of Valley Springs, SD; two sons: Dr. Michael (Deb) Stassen of Sioux Falls, SD, and Daniel (Renae) Stassen of Marshall, daughter-in-law Judith Stassen of Colorado Springs, CO; 19 grandchildren: David (Rachel) Stassen, Emily Hillen, Eric (Chrissy) Stassen, Craig (fiancée Lynn Zurn) Deutz, Shari (Andrew) Troje, John (Janine) Stassen, Leah (Lee) Crane, Thomas (Ana) Stassen, Kathleen (Benjamin) Barnes, Scott Behl, Matthew Stassen, Amy (fiancé Byron Hixon) Stassen, Benjamin (Amanda) Stassen, Melissa (Mitchell) Highman, Holly (Craig) Lamote, Josie (Doug) Malecha, Edward (Lauren) Winn, Nicholas Richards, and Michael Richards; 34 great-grandchildren; and sisters Prudence Boerboom, Angele Coudron, and Charlotte Polfliet. Bernadette was preceded in death by her husband Eloi, sons Patrick Stassen and Gilbert Stassen, brothers Lawrence, Henry, Brother Charles, and Father Gilbert DeSutter, and great-granddaughter Sophia Deutz. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Prairie Home Hospice, Holy Redeemer School, or Holy Redeemer Church. Bernadette loved God and lived a beautiful life of selflessness and she demonstrated Christ’s purpose driven life.