Caroline A. Richter, age 86, of New Ulm passed away Saturday, February 10, 2024 at the Hillcrest Health Care Center in Mankato.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 am on Friday, February 16, 2024 at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm. Burial will follow in the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home - North Chapel, and will continue from 10:00 - 11:00 am on Friday at the church.

To leave an online condolence for the family, or to sign the guestbook, please visit: www.mvfh.org

Caroline is survived by her husband, Jerome "Jerry" and their children, Jacqueline (Michael) Helget and Terrence Richter; 3 grandchildren, Joseph (Megan Pawlenty) Helget, Ashley (Rick) O'Connor, and Anna (Wesley) Helget Evansen; 3 great-grandchildren, Anthony, Jesse, and Nora; sisters, Maxine Kurkowski, Arlene (Dennis) Sperl; brothers, Gerald Kurkowski, Ronald (Karen) Kurkowski; step-brother, James (Dorothy) Block; and sister-in-law, Francoise Kurkowski.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Irene Kurkowski; step-father, Walter Block; grandparents, Leo and Anna Wojcik; brother, Joseph Kurkowski; step-sister, Sandra Tauer and sister-in-law, Sue Kurkowski.

Caroline Anna Kurkowski was born June 9, 1937 in Grenville, SD to parents Joseph and Irene Kurkowski (Wojcik). She was the oldest of six children. Caroline's youngest years were lived in Grenville. Her father passed away unexpectedly when Caroline was 12 years old, shortly after this occurred, her family moved to New Ulm, MN. While living in New Ulm, Caroline met the love of her life and sweetheart Jerome "Jerry" Richter. They were married on October 22, 1960 and were blessed with two children Terrence and Jacqueline.

Throughout the years, Caroline's careers were in New Ulm – First at 3M as an assembly line worker and then after that at New Ulm Telecom, as an Assistant Chief Supervisor.

Caroline was involved with her entire family in sprint car racing for most of her married life. She could always be found filming the races up in the stands as the Richter's #1 Fan! Caroline also enjoyed being at home. Family was very important to her and she always tried to spend as much time as possible with them. Caroline will be deeply missed by those who knew her. Blessed be her memory.