May Bottke - "Keep a song in your heart"

In memory of the much loved May Bottke

May Gretel Bottke, age 100, passed away on July 4, 2025.

May was born in Renville, MN on November 28, 1924. She grew up on a farm with her parents Willard and Nellie (Molenaar) DeRuyter, along with her older brothers Willard and John and her older sister Ruth. While working her farm chores, she went to country school and graduated from Danube High School. May then went on to attend the University of Minnesota, where she graduated in 1946 with a B.S. in Primary Education.

On July 28, 1951, May married William (Bill) Bottke, who grew up in Faribault. They had three children, Mary, Gretchen, and Bill Jr.  May taught Kindergarten for 41 years in Faribault at Garfield, Jefferson, and Lincoln Elementary Schools. She was a finalist for Minnesota’s “Teacher of the Year” in 1974. Class highlights were May’s annual Kindergarten Circus, which included music, art, and creative play. May’s former students often reminisced on which character they played in the circus - a seal, a tiger, a tightrope walker, or perhaps the ringmaster.

May was known for playing piano by ear, either solo or in small musical groups. She volunteered her time playing piano for nursing homes and many other community activities. May was known for her group, the MGB Trio, which played for local and regional events. She belonged to several organizations, including the American Association of University Women, Faribault Branch, American Legion Auxiliary Unit #43, Delta Kappa Gamma - a sorority for educators, Order of the Eastern Star - Athens Chapter #82, the Faribault Senior Center, and the Faribault Area Retired Educators.

In 2011, May was chosen to be the Grand Marshal for the Faribault Heritage Parade and in 2023, she was honored as a Faribault Hometown Hero.  May was a member of the Faribault Congregational Church for over 70 years. A butterfly garden south of the church was dedicated in her name in 2015.

May is survived by her daughters - Mary Osborne, Faribault, MN and Gretchen (Steve) Stenehjem, Watford City, ND, and son, Dr. William (Veronica) Bottke, Longmont, CO. She had ten grandchildren: Rebecca (Benjamin) Bernard, Jenna (Paul) Krumenauer, Patricia (Dave) Klecker, Peter (Stacey) Stenehjem, Erik (Jessica) Stenehjem, Kira (Greg) Stenehjem Noll, Dr. Kristen (Dr. Grant Edland) Stenehjem, Kristina (Frank) Cruz, Laura Bottke and Julie Bottke, 14 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and her longtime friend, Irene Eiler.

May is preceded in death by her husband, William Bottke, her parents, brothers and sister along with several nephews and niece.

May enriched the lives of every student she taught as well as many Faribault area community members. She had a passion for teaching and enjoyed positively contributing to others. She had a remarkable ability to remember the birthday of almost anyone she met. Her love, thoughtfulness, and dedication to service allowed her to touch lives across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Arizona.

As May would say, “Keep a song in your heart.”

A tribute in Memory of May Bottke