Zabella "Jean" Sletten

December 24, 2020

Zabella Jean Sletten (known in the community as “Jean”) passed away peacefully on December 24, 2020, at the age of 96. She is preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Hulda Larson, husband Robert Sletten, and her brother, Lloyd Larson. Jean was born June 8, 1924, at Montevideo Hospital to Lloyd and Hulda Larson. She was baptized on June 24, 1924 and confirmed on July 8, 1938, both at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo. She was a 1942 graduate of Montevideo High School. In 1946, Jean married Robert Oliver Sletten on August 4 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. They raised their three children Lorrie, Bill, and Jim in Montevideo. For many, many years, Jean was a member of the Elizabeth Circle at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She loved and cared for everyone she met in these groups. Jean loved cooking and baking. Jean especially enjoyed baking Christmas cookies, particularly spritz, fattigmann, krumkaker, rosettes, and sandbakkels. Let’s not forget about the lefse she made—it was so thin and the flatbread too. Oops, almost forgot about the family favorite—the Special K bar. Her husband Bob was the taste tester of the latest dish she wanted to “try out.” Some of those dishes were eventually made for guests and others didn’t make the cut. In the spring you would find Jean planting rose bushes in her yard; she especially loved the Peace rose. On a warm summer night, you may find her enjoying a blueberry malt from Arts after her nightly walk around the pool. Jean is survived by three children, Lorrie Lea, Bill Sletten, and Jim (Dodi) Sletten; grandchildren, Heidi (Mike) Traeger, Holly Lea, Kelly Jo (Kris) Raether, Cortney (Rico’t) Foster, Dr. Dillon (Maureen) Sletten, Mathew (Jennifer Maerz) Sletten, and Kyle (Jessi) Sletten; great grandchildren, Cole and Hannah Traeger, Patrick Valentine, Taylor and Kacie Raether, Renae and Caelyn Foster, Eska Sletten Maerz, Chase, Mason and Hudson Sletten, and Finn and Oliver Sletten; great-great grandson Gabriel Valentine, and extended family and friends. A private funeral will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Montevideo. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo, Minnesota. Casket Bearers: Dillon Sletten, Mathew Sletten, Kyle Sletten, Mike Traeger, Kris Raether, Rico’t Foster Memorials can be made out to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and will be used to remodel the kitchen and Bethany hall.