In 1947, the family moved to Milbank, South Dakota, where Venita graduated from high school in 1950 and met her husband-to-be, Robert Mittelstaedt.
Following high school, she attended Northern State University and St. Luke’s Hospital School of Medical Technology, where she became a registered medical technologist, before earning her bachelor’s degree in medical technology at the University of South Dakota. While pursuing a career in medical technology, she and Robert were married in Minneapolis on August 30, 1958. Two children followed, Mary (b. 1961) and John (b. 1963), and participation in their activities became her new career along with volunteering in organizations that helped others in need. Earlier in her life, she played the saxophone, the piano and the violin, so she encouraged her children to take lessons and practice. Her love of music never waned, and she especially enjoyed symphonies and opera for all of her life.
Venita and her family lived in Columbia, Missouri, for five years before moving to Lincoln in 1973. It was there that she began weaving, an art that she pursued for the next 50 years.
In Lincoln, Venita and Bob joined First Plymouth Congregational Church over 50 years ago, where she served as Deacon and on the Abendmusik board. She was active in the Hand Weavers Guild of Lincoln, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Women’s Club, PEO Chapter AI, YWCA Lincoln, and served as an election judge for over 20 years. In spite of all of these activities, she found time to garden, cook gourmet meals, entertain and mentor graduate students from the University, and deliver Meals on Wheels for over 20 years.
She became a grandmother at age 60; three granddaughters (Meredith, Morgan, and Marlow) and one grandson (Matthew). She loved everything about being their Nana, spending many winters in South Carolina to be closer to them. She traveled everywhere to be a proud attendee of their graduations, and many musical, drama, and sporting events.
In the year before she was married, she and three girlfriends made a six-week trip to Europe, and she never lost her love of travel. In recent years, she and Robert spent time on every continent traveling as a couple, and with family and friends.
Venita was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Irene, her sister Linda Thelen, and her son John.
She is survived by her husband Robert (Lincoln), her daughter Mary Mittelstaedt Mann (Columbia, SC), her daughter-in-law Patrice Noel (Dayton, OH), her granddaughters Meredith Mann (Chicago, IL), Morgan Mann (Memphis, TN), Marlow Mittelstaedt (Dayton, OH), a grandson Matthew Mittelstaedt (Washington, DC), a niece, two nephews, a brother-in-law and cousins. She loved all of them dearly, and they returned that love and will miss her greatly.
Memorial service: Friday, June 21, 2024 at 2:00pm. First Plymouth Congregational Church, 2000 D Street, Lincoln, NE
Memorial may be given to Abendmusik Fund of First Plymouth, University of Dayton John D. Mittelstaedt Scholarship Fund, Tabitha Hospice of Lincoln or the charity of your choice.