Mass of Christian burial for Deserae Kathryn (Smith) Schletty, 39, of Maplewood, Minn., and formerly of Aberdeen, will be 1 p.m. Monday, April 1, 2013, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 409 Second Ave. N.E., Aberdeen, with Father J. Joseph Holzhauser officiating. Burial will take place at a later date.
Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 Fifth Ave. N.W., Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be 4-5 p.m. Sunday, March 31, 2013, at the mortuary with a liturgical wake service at 5 p.m. Visitation continues one hour before Mass at church on Monday. Friends may sign her online guestbook at schriversmemorial.com.
Deserae passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2013, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen.
On a blistering hot July 2, in 1973, a tiny little girl with big eyes and long feet was born. We named her Deserae Kathryn, as Deserae meant "desired in every way." Her mom's family drove from Minnesota to see her and commented on her pert little nose and pretty skin.
Deserae grew up in Aberdeen and Frederick, where she excelled and enjoyed sports, drill team, theatre and music. She was best known for her running skills and often anchored the relay teams. Deserae graduated as one of the top two of her class and following graduation, went on to attend Northern State University with an athletic scholarship. She later transferred and graduated from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, with honors. She worked at Health Partners for several years and then decided to return to school for her nursing degree. Deserae graduated from St. Catherine's and was thrilled she had obtained her desire to be a registered nurse.
In 1997, she married Corey Trepp and to that union a son, Ashton, was born. She was united in marriage to John Schletty in 2007.
For a number of years, she worked for Ramsey County as a Home Health nurse until ill health in 2011 put her career on hold. In January 2012, she became seriously ill with infected heart valves and underwent surgery to replace two of them, a surgical procedure that seemed to go brilliantly. Because the infection had spread, she spent several weeks recuperating with her son and tons of loving family by her side. God surely held her in his hand that day as she grew strong quickly and was hoping to resume her career. Sadly, all did not go as planned and she needed to deal with other health issues and spent time in Aberdeen working through these. She had decided the place to be was near home and moved to Aberdeen in June 2012.
In September of this past year, she and John learned they were expecting a baby and we were all looking forward to the birth of a little girl in May. The names chosen were Isabella or Gia with Grace assuredly the middle name. Unfortunately, ill health again interrupted her plans and she underwent gallbladder surgery in St. Paul, Minn. in March. She seemed to be rallying until her sudden death on March 26.
Deserae overcame a lot in life and always said her son, Ashton, was the brightest star in her world. The love between that boy and his mother was evident to all who knew them a rare bond. Sadly, we never got to meet her little girl, but treasure the ultrasound - pictures of a sweet little girl now forever with her mommy.
Deserae and her baby girl are survived by Ashton James, John Schletty and his family of Minneapolis, Minn.; her mother and stepfather, Dar and Al Burgard of Aberdeen; her father, Robert D. (Mary) Smith, of California and Rory Mikkonen of Frederick; grandparents, Beverly Lien of Veblen and Pat and Ray Mikkonen of Frederick; her stepsiblings: Anne (Mike) Bauder and their children, Grant and Brooke and Ross (Liz) Burgard and their baby, John; many aunts, uncles and cousins; special friends, Heather and Michelle; and Ashton's father, Corey Trepp.
Deserae loved the Lord and she knew he loved her. Two angels joined his heavenly army today. Two beautiful souls were surely greeted by those who passed on before her, grandparents, Gert and Bernard C. Fleischacker, Willis Lein, and David and Pat Smith.
Amazing grace how sweet the sound, who saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see.
Rest in the arms of the Lord beautiful babies, we love you so.