Letty Louise (Cooper) Budahn, 89, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, March 22, 2019, in Sun City West, Arizona.

Letty was born on Saturday, May 11, 1929, in Dexter, Minnesota, to Clarence and Fern (Keller) Cooper. She attended Dexter schools and graduated from Elkton High School in Elkton, Minnesota. On June 15, 1949, Letty married Donald Budahn in Dexter. They began their marriage as a military family living in Fairbanks, Alaska. They were stationed at many military bases throughout the United States during Don’s career and were also stationed in England for three years. Letty helped raise a family of four children while Don served our country in the U.S. Air Force for more than 20 years. She also worked for Erdman’s grocery store and later as a laboratory technician at Mayo Clinic in Rochester for 21 years before retiring in 1989.  Letty enjoyed traveling, camping, bird watching, needlework and spending time with her family and friends.

Letty is survived by her children, Bruce (LuAnn) Budahn of Austin, Minnesota, Richard (Karen) Budahn of Chatfield, Minnesota, Clayton Budahn of Rochester and Susan (Lyle) Klaassen of Oronoco, Minnesota; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brothers, Dale (Beverly) Cooper of Rochester, Terry (Twilly) Cooper of Michigan and Daryl (Mary Ann) Cooper of Dover, New Hampshire; and numerous nieces and nephews. Letty was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; sisters, Evelyn Robinson, Venita Ballinger and Bernice Rabine; and brothers, Lyall and Wayne Cooper.

A memorial service celebrating Letty’s life will be held at noon on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester. Visitation will be held for two hours prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home. Interment will be at 3 p.m. on Monday, May 6, 2019, in the Preston State Veterans Cemetery in Preston, Minnesota. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or to Historic Lenora Church in Lenora, Minnesota. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Budahn family. To leave a condolence or special memory, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.