June Genevieve Efta, 83

June Genevieve Efta was born on June 21, 1931 in Kratka Township, Pennington County, near Thief River Falls, MN to Ben and Mary (Oski) Szymanski. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and attended school at Kratka Township country school and later Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls. Following her graduation from high school June attended and completed Teacher’s Training school in Bemidji, MN and then moved to the Haug-Leo community where she taught for a number of years and then taught in Roosevelt for 1 year. June was united in marriage to Raymond Efta on June 30, 1953 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN and she and Ray made their home on their farm, which is now a Century Farm, north of Greenbush where the two farmed and raised their children together. Along with her life on the farm June was also a long term substitute teacher and a Paraprofessional for Greenbush Elementary school. June became a Postal Clerk in Greenbush in 1969 and also worked at numerous other Post Office locations in the area as an Officer in Charge before becoming the Postmaster in Strathcona in 1986 where she worked until her retirement in 2012, proudly serving the United States Postal Service for 43 years. Following her retirement June enjoyed spending her time relaxing with her family at their Red Lake River campsite on her childhood home in Kratka Township. June passed away, following a brief illness, in Roseau, MN on Friday, July 4, 2014 at the age of 83 years and 13 days.
June was a past member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Leo, and a current member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic church in Greenbush, where she served as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and taught Religious Education for many years. She was also a member of the Holy Rosary Society, Homemakers club, and volunteered many years at St. Aloysius for many functions at the church and community including a long time 4H leader.
June not only enjoyed, but excelled in bread baking, canning, gardening and was noted for her homemade German chocolate and poppy seed layer cakes, angel food cakes, homemade buns, dill pickles, and much more.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years Raymond Efta of Greenbush, 1 son Robert (Marsha) Efta of Badger, daughters Patricia (Hank) Efta Tiber of Minnetonka, MN, Julie (Andy) Efta Viner of Roseville, MN, Jacqueline (Paul) Demes of Western Springs, Il, Elizabeth (Eric) Klein of Roseau, Kathleen (Todd) Kohner of Edina, MN, and Laurie (Carl) Aust of Minnetonka, MN, 12 grandchildren: Rachel Efta of Grand Forks, ND, Nathan (Kacie) Efta of Moorhead, MN, Genevieve Viner of Taiwan (Republic of China), Russell Viner of Moorhead, MN, Bennett Klein of Thief River Falls, MN, Mitchell Klein of Karlstad, MN, Nicholas, Anastasia, Natalie, and Christina Demes all of Western Springs, Il, and Ellie and Grant Kohner both of Edina, MN; 1 great grandson Leo Efta, along with many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
June was preceded in death by her parents, 1 son Charles, 2 sisters: Helen Cywinski and Rose Szymanski, 2 brothers: Thaddeus and Stanley Szymanski.
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, June 8, 2014 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Greenbush with Father Luis Buitron presiding; Visitation held at 6:00 PM, Monday, at the church with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM and Rosary  follow. Visitation was held one hour prior to services at the church.
Interment services were held at St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery in Thief River Falls, MN following services.
Collins Funeral Home