Minnie Schwartz was born on December 29, 1935, in Sanborn, Iowa, to Peter Sr. and Minnie Kros Vogel. She grew up in Sanborn until 1947 when the family moved to a farm near Iona, MN. Minnie graduated from Fulda High School in 1954. Following high school Minnie worked at Buckles Variety in Slayton and later at Slayton Federal Savings and Loan.
On August 20, 1957, she and Roger Schwartz were married at the First Reformed Church in Slayton. Following their marriage, they lived on several farms in Murray County until 1966 when they moved to a farm in Lake Sarah Township, Murray County, MN. Together she and Roger farmed there for over 30 years and raised their five children there. Minnie was a proud farmer’s wife, mother, and grandmother. In 1988 they began spending their winters in Arizona. In 2013 they moved to Tracy, MN. Roger passed away on January 8, 2016. Minnie passed away at the Sanford Tracy Hospital in Tracy, MN on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the age of 89. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton.
Minnie enjoyed planting a large garden every spring and sharing the harvest with family and friends and having flowers around her home. She loved to brag about her 23 great grandchildren and was fondly called Candy Grandma Schwartz for her candy dish was always ready.
Survivors include her five children and their spouses, Shari and Jeff Blegen of Tracy, MN, Sue and Lee Berlin of Tracy, MN, Shirley and Mike Taylor of Lake Park, IA, Scott and Shelley Schwartz of Garvin, MN, and Steve and Beth Schwartz of Volga, SD, 14 grandchildren, 23 greatgrandchildren, five in-laws, Helen Vogel of Slayton, MN, Evelyn Vogel of Currie, MN, Arnie Guild of Slayton, MN, Dave and Kathy Schwartz of Slayton, MN, and Irene and Jerry Moline of Slayton, MN. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Roger Schwartz, granddaughter, Tamera Blegen, three brothers, John and Emma Vogel, Peter Vogel, and William Vogel, three sisters, Pearl and Ray Vandernaald, Mina and Gerrit Kleinwolterink, and Margaret and Gerrit Hielkema and one sister-in-law, Marie Guild.
Funeral services are at Christ Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Chad Duffy officiating. The organist is Nancy Lee Pierson with special music by Heidi Winter. The pallbearers are Alex Blegen, Ryan Rowe, Skylar Schwartz, Spencer Schwartz, Sterling Schwartz, Sawyer Schwartz, Tyler Schwartz, and John Moline. Interment is at Slayton Memorial Gardens, in Slayton. Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, at Christ Lutheran Church. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements. To send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com
