Loretta Rand (VanBeek), age 82, died on Saturday, December 7, at Marshfield Hospital, Marshfield, Wisconsin, surrounded by people who loved her.  Loretta had been fighting numerous injuries and health issues for some time.

Loretta was born June 10, 1937, to Garrit and Sophie (Stoik) VanBeek in Barron County.  Loretta grew up on a farm in the town of Madge.  She attended Madge Grade School and Spooner High School.  Later in life she attended WITC and received a degree in nursing, which she put into practice at Rice Lake Hospital for many years.  Loretta married Cecil Snider in 1955.  They had 5 children:  Loretta Francis Poulter (Roger), Edward, Bruce, Kevin and Richard.  She married Robert Rand in 1995.

Loretta enjoyed many activities.  She was an excellent baker; her pies were the greatest.  She liked to fish, especially with her brother, Robert.  She took up archery later in life and downed several bucks, which she was so proud of, and rightly so.  The bear mount on our wall was hers.  She liked to spend time at our log cabin in the Town of Bashaw.  Camping was high on her list of “want to” activities, particularly trips to the West, Southwest, and Alaska.  Loretta was all smiles when she was a back-seat passenger in our airplane.  She enjoyed sewing, the Badgers, and the Packers.  Loretta had a green thumb.  Her greenhouse was filled with pretty flowers in the springtime, that in the summer made our yard a much prettier area.  Loretta enjoyed line dancing, especially the friends she made.  She was fond of horses; all of her children had opportunities to ride.  She enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren.  Loretta was an active member of the Spooner-Trego Lions Club and the Spooner High School Class of 1955 “lunch bunch.”

Loretta is survived by her above-named children; husband Robert; sisters Virginia Hanson (Wendall), Coreen Kruensensterna (Kenneth), Ruth Foss (Harold), Carolyn Topdahl (John); brothers Eugene (Gloria), Robert (Debbie), and Tom (Trisha); and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her son Bruce, sister Dorothy Schultz (Thomas), brother Kenneth (Darlene), and her mother and father.

One always knew where Loretta stood on an issue.  She had a big, kind heart and was a promoter of education and helping those less fortunate.  A great woman indeed.  She will be missed.

A gathering of friends and family will be held on Saturday, December 14, 2019, at the Spooner Funeral Home from 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon.  A private interment will be held at a later date. 

Last Update: Dec 09, 2019 4:47 pm CST