Lowell D. Wolters

Lowell Duane Wolters, age 94, of Faribault, MN, passed away April 15, 2026, at Three Links Care Center in Northfield, surrounded by his loving family.

Lowell was born November 22, 1931, in St. Peter, Minnesota, to Harvey Wolters and Amelia (Knish) Wolters. He spent his early childhood in Elysian, where he fondly recalled many memories and said, “I was known as BareTracks because I was barefoot all the time.” In 1939, his family moved to a resort on Horseshoe Lake, where they lived without running water or electricity. Lowell remembered cutting ice from the lake for summer use. The resort closed in 1942 during World War II and the family later settled in Waseca. There Lowell attended school, worked a daily paper route, and excelled in football and track, even setting a half-mile record. He graduated from Waseca High School in 1950. He volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1952, serving as a heavy equipment repairman in an engineering battalion. On February 11, 1956 he married Rita (Pumper) at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Faribault after meeting her at a dance at the Monterey Ballroom. In 1967, Lowell attended Brown Institute for computer electronics, graduating first in his class. He later completed additional training in New York, bringing his family along for a summer and traveling on weekends visiting places such as New York City and Upstate New York. For a time, Lowell and Rita owned and operated Norge Cleaning Village in Faribault, MN, where their children fondly remember helping out. He worked for UNIVAC as a computer maintenance technician for many years, serving at locations including Northwest Airlines and Mankato State University, retiring in 1989. In retirement, he continued working at Ace Hardware repairing windows and screens.

Lowell took great pride in working with his hands and was a true handyman. He enjoyed woodworking and spent a lot of time handcrafting various projects. He used these skills to remodel his home, creating a space that reflected his dedication to his family. He also relished time in his garden and loved picking his raspberries. If his grandchildren were being too rambunctious, he would often send them out to the berry patch to keep them busy. Every summer the family would come together to enjoy fresh raspberry and Dairy Queen sundaes. He had a deep love for fishing and cherished time spent on fishing trips with his sons, including camping Up North and adventures in Canada. Lowell was known for his strong work ethic, leading by example, and teaching those around him the value of hard work. A man of faith, Lowell held a steadfast belief in the Lord and was a longtime member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church and a current member of Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Faribault. His faith was a constant throughout his life—a faith well kept.

He is survived by four children: Mike Wolters of Pennington, MN; Mark (Julie) Wolters of Faribault; Terri Wolters (Keith Krause) of Rochester, MN; and Jim (Lynn) Wolters of Fergus Falls, MN; eight grandchildren: Tiffany, Jacob, Jason, Alex, Elizabeth, Logan, Shannon, and Madison; five great-grandchildren: Reese, Evelyn, Michael, Olivia, and Ava; and siblings: Bill Wolter, Joyce Garlick, Ruth (Mike) Simmons, Donna Hartman, and Dwight Wolters. Lowell was preceded in death by his wife, Rita Wolters; and his sister, Barbara Woodrich.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, Faribault. Interment will be at St. Lawrence Cemetery in Faribault, with military honors provided by the Rice County Central Veterans Association.

Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.