Mary Ellen Otremba

Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, July 21, 2014 at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Long Prairie for State Rep. Mary Ellen Otremba, age 63, of Long Prairie who passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 surrounded by her loving family. Fr. Omar Guanchez officiated and burial took place in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Long Prairie.
Mary Ellen Dinkel was born September 26, 1950 in Bertha, Minnesota the daughter of Romaine and Veronica “Ronnie” (Raudzis) Dinkel. She grew up near Long Prairie and graduated from Long Prairie High School in 1967. She went on to graduate from the College of St. Benedict and eventually received a Master’s Degree at St. Cloud State University. Mary Ellen worked as a seamstress for the Dayton Company in Minneapolis. She married Kenneth Otremba on April 19, 1974 at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Long Prairie. They moved to a farm near Buckman and later to Long Prairie. She later worked for Todd County Public Health from 1984-89 and taught Home Economics at the Eagle Valley School. She became a Minnesota state representative in 1997 and served until 2010.
Mary Ellen was a member of St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Church. She enjoyed sewing, was a prolife advocate and had a passion for sharing her gifts with the people around her.
Mary Ellen is survived by her children, Andrew (Karen) Otremba, Long Prairie, MN; Timothy (Jennifer) Otremba, St. Paul; Kateri Torborg, Eagen, MN; and Elizabeth (Levi) Berg, Carlos, MN; mother, Veronica Dinkel, Long Prairie; siblings, Michael (Karen) Dinkel, Anchorage, AK; Charles (Linda) Dinkel, Long Prairie; Ann Marie (Brad) Peterson, Swanville; Joan (John) Keane, Faribault, MN; Jacqueline (Doug) Cobb, Soldotna, AK; James Dinkel, Soldotna, AK; Katerie (Steve) Broz, Rogers, MN; William “Billy” (Nancy) Dinkel, St. Paul; Joseph Dinkel, Long Prairie; Thomas (Amy) Dinkel, Long Prairie; five grandchildren, Isabelle, Isaac, Owen, Eleanor, and Abigail, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father Romaine in 2001, husband Kenneth in 1997, and sister Bernadette.