Watch Altha's Funeral Mass

Altha Spaeth, age 85, of Detroit Lakes, MN, formerly Mahnomen, MN, died on Thursday, September 24, 2020, at Pelican Landing Assisted Living under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Altha Katherine Sirjord was born at home in Bear Park Township on February 16, 1935, the second child born to Harold and Thora (Svenby) Sirjord.  She attended country school, then Gary Public School where she graduated with the class of 1952.  During high school, Altha was involved in many school activities including band, choir, variety shows, school plays and cheerleading.  Following high school, she moved to Mahnomen and began working at Bergies Clothing Store and later at the Corner Café.  During this time, Altha reconnected with a man she had met while in high school, Sylvester "Sonny" Spaeth at the Flowing Well.  The two began dating and were united in marriage on November 21, 1953.  The young couple rented a farm southeast of Mahnomen, began farming and started their family.  In the fall of 1955, Sonny and Altha and the three oldest boys moved to the farm northeast of Mahnomen with a larger house and they were joined by seven additional siblings which made the house too small once again.  In 1974, they built a more spacious home just down the road from their old place to accommodate such a growing family.  Altha was always busy, whether she was helping Sonny on the farm with the daily chores, bookkeeping for the farm and Belgian Draft horse business or just keeping up with the kids' school activities and the weekly baking of 16 loaves of bread!  She was generous, hardworking and a true care giver, always putting others before herself.  Sonny passed away in 1996 and Altha remained in their home until May of 2018 when she moved to the Mahnomen Area Assisted Living. She has lived at Pelican Landing in Detroit Lakes since December of 2019.

Altha was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church, Ladies Aid, and the Catholic Daughters of the America Court St. Justin 2020.  She also held memberships with Mahnomen Rod and Gun Club, Homemaker's Club, the Happy Red Hatters, and the Mahnomen American Legion Auxiliary.  Altha was a kind and gentle woman, yet fun-loving and witty, with a great sense of humor.  Above all, family was her top priority and she loved spending time with all of them, especially her grandchildren.  Many good times were had, with some of the most memorable being at the yearly Spaeth Family get together at Pinehurst Resort.  Over the years, Sonny and Altha loved to go dancing and they traveled overseas and stateside whenever they could.   She also enjoyed baking, gardening, listening to music and in her later years, reading and doing crossword puzzles.  Altha will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her.

Altha is survived by two daughters, Julie (Mike) Hokanson of Detroit Lakes, MN, and Kathy (Kirk) Watt of Glyndon, MN; eight sons: Steve (Jane) of Detroit Lakes, Ken (Terri) of St. Michael, MN, Doug (Darlene), Bob (Diane), Dean (JoAnn) all of Mahnomen, Jim (Jodi) of Fargo, ND, Rick (Robyn) Paynesville, MN, and Jason (Susan) of Moorhead, MN; 36 grandchildren; 57 great-grandchildren; one sister, Vivian Johnson of Paynesville; and sister-in-law: Harriet Sirjord of Maple Grove, MN. She is also survived by many in-laws on Sonny's side including, sisters-in-law: Marlys (Curtis) Conlon of Wales, MI, Bobbie Spaeth of St. Michael, Sharon Spaeth of Mahnomen, and Sherrill Spaeth of Fridley, MN; and brothers-in-law, Jack (Cheryl) Spaeth of Las Vegas, NV, and Joe Spaeth of Detroit Lakes and numerous nieces and nephews.  Altha was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two sisters, Thelma Lindberg and Sonja Nelson; brother, Hiram Sirjord and many extended family on the Spaeth side.

Blessed be the memory of Altha Katherine Spaeth

Private Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, October 3, 2020 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Mahnomen. Public Visitation will be held Friday, October 2, 2020 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service beginning at 6:30 p.m. followed by a Rosary at the church. Burial will be in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery.

Following all Covid-19 safety protocols, social distancing will be practiced, and all must wear a mask to participate. The service will be recorded and available for viewing shortly after the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley, St. Michael's Catholic Church or St. Michael's Catholic School.