Jessie Isabelle (Schoonmaker) Latterell

Jessie Isabelle Latterell, 96, of McGregor, passed away Saturday, October 28, 2023 in Aitkin Health Services.  She was born by midwife delivery on January 13, 1927 in Waukenabo Township to William and Lucy (Ankney) Schoonmaker, youngest of 9 children.  Jessie attended Bain School and graduated from Aitkin High School in 1944.  Jessie was married to Bernard Ryan on July 3, 1946. They were married until June 25, 1993 when he passed away.  They raised 7 children together.  Jessie married her second husband, Bernard Latterell on June 25, 1994.  They were married until February 6, 2009 when he passed away.  Jessie worked as a Bookkeeper/Secretary for several places.  She was a clerk for Waukenabo Township for 14 years and later became Treasurer.  Jessie was also the first Secretary/Treasurer for Aitkin County Association of Township Officers.  She was Secretary of McGregor AARP for 14 years, Secretary for Holy Family CCWW for six years and first Secretary of Aitkin County Triad, all while helping on the farm.  Jessie also volunteered for Heartland Hospice- Brainerd Hospice.  She was also involved in Reach for Recovery for “Hand in Hand” Cancer.  Jessie trained with the Salvation Army and volunteered as a Grand Friend at McGregor High School.  She was also a volunteer driver with the Angels in McGregor.  Jessie was a photographer and writer for Lions Club in McGregor and The Aitkin Independent Age.  She also played as a Clown and dressed up in her “Ruby Belle” clown outfit to sell tickets for the Lions and pass out candy kisses.  Jessie also hosted several Foreign Exchange Students for three years and had students from Estonia, Brazil, Japan and Korea when she was in her eighties.

Jessie’s favorite past-time was teaching young people and adults how to waltz, fox trot, polka, schottische and square dance. She also enjoyed playing cards and going deer hunting. She even participated in the Senior Hunt at East Lake Refuge as recently as 2019. Jessie did a lot of cake decorating and loved to crochet dresses for dolls. She also did some scrapbooking and loved to entertain people with her jokes and her wit. Jessie was also quite the artist!

Jessie is preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Bernard Ryan and Bernard Latterell; daughter, Doris Ryan Nelson; son-in-law, Dale Christian.

Jessie is survived by her children, Jarrold (Judy) Ryan of Grand Rapids, Betty Christian of McGregor, Christella (John) Nelson of Aitkin, Richard (Patricia) Ryan of Brainerd, Marcella (David) Daun of Palisade, James (Jodi) Ryan of Phoenix, Arizona and step-son, Daniel Latterell of Cloquet; 18 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, November 3,  11 AM in Holy Family Catholic Church, McGregor.  Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be in Waukenabo Cemetery.  To sign the guestbook, go to:  www.srtfuneral.com.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Aitkin.

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