Carol Marie Letch

Carol Sovde Letch was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She left her beloved family and friends on May 13, 2024 at the amazing age of 94 under the unwavering care of the staff at Amira Choice Forest Lake. She was born in Minneapolis, MN to Archie and Esther Sovde on June 24, 1929. After graduating from Roosevelt High School, class of 1947, where she met and stayed friends with an exceptional group of women until the day she passed, Carol ventured to the University of Minnesota, for the first time, to earn a degree in Journalism. It was there where she also embarked on one of the greatest adventures of her life, marriage. She met Craig Wyman Letch in Coffman Union and often remarked that he caught her eye, but she felt that he was out of her league. He, on the other hand, knew that she was the one for him and they were married on September 9, 1950. After graduation, Carol worked for The Emporium as a copywriter. She was also secretly proud of the fact that her hands showed up in many of the print ads for the department store. Ten years together, they began their family by proudly adopting the first of their three children, Carla, followed closely by Curtis and Clinton. They also adopted several four-legged fur-babies along the way, also named with "C"s. We never could figure out their fondness for that letter which continued through many years and many dogs. Carol loved hunting and fishing almost as much as Craig did, from the time they met, right up until the fall that he passed away after 47 years together. They would often travel to South Dakota to hunt for pheasant and to northern Minnesota to hunt for grouse. The only time that she did not accompany him on hunting outings were for ducks or geese. "Save the cold weather and water for the men. I'll go to craft shows with my girls!" she would say. Carol's passion was family. Devoting herself to her husband and children. She made a loving home and was known by family and friends for her cooking and baking. But don't you dare put peanut butter on her table or try to serve her cooked carrots. We think that came from growing up during the Depression and living with her dear brother, Roger, who loved peanut butter. Carol was known most specifically for her Christmas baking. In her heyday, she would bake upwards of 60 varieties of cookies, bars and coffee cakes during the holidays, but she had four specialties. The famous Christmas Tree coffee cakes that she generously passed out to neighbors and family to enjoy for Christmas breakfast. The Swedish Gem cut-out cookies that the neighborhood kids would offer to help bake, decorate... and of course, eat. Surprise Meringues were Craig's favorites that she could pop in the pre-warmed oven overnight and take out the next morning, only to discover that she had to make another batch the next night because Daddy had eaten... several. Then there was the Krumkake. After she and another neighborhood fixture, Grandma Oie, painstakingly recreated "their" family's recipe, Mom took out Gram's (that's great grandma's) Krumkake iron and began "baking" cookies over our electric stove. There was some choice language, but the tradition had begun. From then on, she met annually with her daughters (no in-laws in her world) and eventually granddaughters to carry on the tradition. But "No wine until the last batch was mixed and ready, girls!" Being a wife, mother and homemaker led her to being a 4-H leader and all three children developed skills at her side that they took to the county fair. She and Craig also judged at the County and State Fair level. In 1978, Carol graduated a second time, from University of Minnesota, with a degree in Textiles and Merchandising. The consummate professional, Carol took a job with Winona Research and worked her way up through the company to a position of coordinator for marketing. She traveled all around the country setting up market survey groups. In an age when women were just getting into the workforce, she was advancing into leadership roles. She was hard-working, dedicated, and brutally honest. She was also incredibly poised and loyal to a fault. Carol was a fierce and loyal Gophers and Vikings fan. Although her boys went to UND and tried to persuade her many times to "GO SIOUX!" she wouldn't hear of such nonsense and wore the maroon and gold proudly every Saturday and purple and gold every Sunday. In fact, she firmly believed that if she didn't have her turtleneck and earrings on, her team couldn't possibly win! Carol loved to travel and had hoped to someday visit all 50 states. She only missed five, but she did make it to Hawaii several times and to Alaska, on a cruise, with her son, daughter-in-law and grandson. She also traveled to Europe several times and noted that one of her favorite trips could have been one of the scariest as she was on The Danube on 9-11. She told us later how wonderful everyone was to the Americans on the ship and how the crew took extra care to make sure they were comfortable and had all of the news they could find. They also made special arrangements for everyone to call home as soon as phones were available and would put them up for as long as necessary, if necessary. As much as she loved to travel, home was where her heart was and home began in Minneapolis, moved to Overland Park, KS, spent many years in Burnsville, MN and landed in Forest Lake, MN. Craig and Carol had purchased three lots on a small lake, of ever-changing names, some thirty-plus years earlier and had a cabin there that the family used to go to every weekend during the summer. For years, we had no running water, but two outhouses! *wink* There was electricity, but no heat, except for the pot-bellied stove and red cone fireplace. In 1989 it was time to build the retirement home they'd always dreamed of. The only place that was perfect for that would be the land that they loved. The land that the cabin was on. Although they couldn't build that close to the water, they built up the hill and it was perfect. For seven wonderful years, Carol and Craig lived at the lake. They hosted dinner parties for friends, as it was also well known what amazing hosts they both were. They had family gatherings for birthday parties, Thanksgivings, Christmases, Easters, Summer reunions and any other various reasons they could dream up. The door was always open at the Letch's. Even after Craig passed, Carol would still open the door to family and friends. Her girlfriends from Roosevelt High School, the neighbors from Burnsville, and old hunting friends from long ago. Anyone and everyone was always welcome. Carol was stricken with polio when she was young and in January 2020 she realized that post-polio syndrome was becoming too dangerous. She decided, with her children, that it was necessary to move to an assisted living apartment. She chose Cherrywood Pointe Forest Lake, now called Amira Choice, and remained there until she passed. Carol is survived by her three children, Carla (Fred) Cooper, Curtis (Jennifer) Letch, and Clinton (Michelle) Letch; five grandchildren, Lacy (Nick) Clausen, Anne Cooper, Alex (Nicole) Letch, Cole Letch and Lexi (Paavo Downing) Letch; and four great-grandchildren, Kolten Kienholz, Caddie Cooper, Hunter Cooper and River Downing. Preceded in death by her husband, Craig W Letch; infant son, Christopher; parents, Archie and Esther Sovde; brother, Roger Sovde; and grandson-in-law, Shawn Kienholz. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Wednesday, June 26th at 11 AM, with visitation one hour prior, at Washburn-McReavy Bloomington Chapel, 2300 W Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431 Interment to follow at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Children's Home Society of MN, 1605 Eustis Street, Saint Paul, MN 55108 or donate online at https://www.givemn.org/organization/Chlss

Tributes

Carol Marie Letch

June 24, 1929 - May 13, 2024

Tributes

Carol Marie Letch

June 24, 1929 - May 13, 2024

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203