Muriel Estelle Bretz

Muriel Estelle (Callahan) Bretz, age 88, of Tonasket died on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 at the North Valley Hospital in Tonasket

She was born on July 3, 1921 in Royalton, Minn. the youngest of 12 children born to Thomas and Anna (Deurr) Callahan. Muriel grew up in Verndale, Minn. and graduated from high school there. On Dec. 29, 1941 she married Vincent Bretz in Verndale. While her husband, Vince, was serving in the military, Muriel moved to Hollywood, Calif. to live with an aunt and there she worked for Howard Hughes Aircraft. Following Vince’s honorable discharge from the service, they moved back to Minnesota and purchased the Verndale Food Market. In 1949, they sold the market and moved to Ellisforde, Wash. near Tonasket where they began in the apple business. In 1951, they moved into Tonasket to their current home. Muriel was a homemaker and enjoyed being with her family. She taught religious education and loved to supply vegetables from her garden with everybody. She was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church and Alter Society and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Muriel is survived by her husband, Vince of Tonasket; her children: Jodi Busse of Spokane, Tom (Kay) Bretz of Tonasket, Patti (George) Hill of Tonasket, John Bretz of Tonasket, Joe (Renée) of Tonasket and Jim (Janet) Bretz of Tonasket; 18 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

Muriel was preceded in death by five sisters: Alice, Teresa, Marian, Verna and Georgia in infancy; six brothers: John, Louis, Greg, Emmet, Jerome and Francis; one son, Rob; and one grandchild, Jenifer Lynn.

Rosary will be held on Monday, March 8, 2010 at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 11 a.m. Both services will be held at Holy Rosary Parish in Tonasket with Father Alex Zepeda and Father George Morbeck, officiating. Interment will follow the Mass at the Tonasket Cemetery. Funeral dinner to follow services approximately 1 p.m. at the Tonasket Eagles. Memorials may be made to the Holy Rosary Catholic Church or Alter Society, North Valley Community Health Foundation or North Valley Extended Care.

Bergh Funeral Service of Oroville/Tonasket in care of arrangements.