Gretchen Merth Fleck, 88, of Plainview, passed away on Monday, March 10, 2025, at Green Prairie Rehabilitation Center in Plainview with her family by her side. She was born on January 9, 1937, in New Ulm, MN to Leanord and Anna Merth. She was raised in Wabasso, MN going to Elementary and High School at St. Anne's Catholic School in Wabasso, graduating 2nd in her class. After high school Gretchen worked at Loretta Hospital and Polta Drugs in New Ulm.

On January 9, 1958, she married Gerald Fleck at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Wabasso. They farmed for two years before moving to Sleepy Eye, MN, then on to Markesan, WI. Over the next years Gretchen and Jerry adopted and raised four children. In 1978 the family moved to Plainview, MN. Gretchen rejoined the workforce in retail and continued her hobby of reading, sewing, cross-stitching, playing cards and being active in Plainview High School Trackbackers Club, and worked as the secretary at the Plainview Chamber of Commerce for many years. In 1986 Gretchen and Jerry moved to St. Paul, MN where she worked at Macalester College as Accounts Payable Clerk until retiring in 2000. In 2017 Gretchen and Jerry moved back to Plainview to be closer to family and spend time loving her grandchildren.

Any spare time she had was spent Gaming on her Nintendo and reading. She was a member of St. Joachim's Catholic Church in Plainview. Being a devout Catholic, she was always praying for someone and something. Since 1965 she was a dedicated Minnesota Viking fan, having met many of the coaches and players over the years.

Gretchen is survived by her husband of 67 years, Jerry; sons, Michael Fleck of Plainview, and Paul (Pam Skoglund) Fleck of Rosemont, daughters, Jennifer (Randy)Irish and Sandra (Chris) Burdick both of Plainview; grandchildren. Ashley, Andrew, Morgan, Megan, Mackenzie, Elizabeth, Austin, Emily, Sara, Amber, Joseph, Jacob, Crista, and Joshua; great-grandchildren, Mason, Margo, Eli, Allie, Lucas, Lenore, Matthew, Callum, and Annette; and brother Gregory (Jean) Merth of Crystal. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, uncles and aunts, Jesse and Ada Jett, Fred and Millie Sanford, Wally and Calverna Franta; brothers-in-law Bernard, Leo, and Joseph; sisters-in-law, Carolyn, Lois, and Collen; five nephews and two nieces.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 22, at St. Joachim's Catholic Church in Plainview with Father Tojy Jose officiating.

Gretchen's body was donated for Medical Science.

In lieu of flowers please donate to your favorite charity such as St. Jude's Children's Hospital.