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Meda Julia Ricketts Reichow


Meda Julia Ricketts Reichow passed away April 29th, 2018 at Waverly Gardens surrounded by her family who loved her very much. She was 99 years 7 months old!

Born September 12th, 1918 to the late George Mason and Eva Locke Ricketts, she is survived by son Gary (Vicki), daughter Julie (Steve), 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Herb; and her daughter, Maralyn.

Meda, pronounced Meeda not Medda, grew up in Anoka, Minnesota.
Furthering her High School education, she graduated from St. Cloud State Teachers College with an Associate Arts degree in 1941.
Her teaching career started in Cedar, MN; Cokato, MN; and then finished her career teaching in the White Bear Lake School District.

While teaching at Washington Elementary School where Washington Square Apartments now sits, a young man who delivered milk to the school was smitten by the raven haired fourth grade teacher.
On July 28th, 1947, Meda married the milk man, Herb Reichow.
Together they raised their 3 children in a home they built on Campbell Avenue.
Besides caring for her family, and working outside the home, she still was able to fill her “spare” time with organizations she was passionate about.

Meda joined the Girl Scouts in 1928 and retired in 2006 after 78 years of Scouting.
She was awarded two of the highest scouting awards. The Golden Eaglet as a teenager and the Thanks Badge as an adult. She held various leadership positions from troop leader, to Camp Director, to Field Director, just to name a few. She ended her Girl Scout career as an Archivist at the Girl Scout River Valleys Council office.
Her love of scouting became a family affair with Gary joining Boy Scouts, and Maralyn and Julie joining Girl Scouts.

Music was also a lifetime passion. She started her singing career in grade school and continued her love of singing in various choirs, ensembles and solo work. In 1944 she joined the choir at the First Presbyterian Church of White Bear Lake. Her singing career ended a week before her death still carrying a tune at the Tuesday afternoon Waverly Garden hymn sing.
Her musical talents not only included singing but playing the violin and the mellophone horn.

Besides being passionate about her teaching career, she was a lifelong learner.
She taught elementary school for 11 years and then taught 14 years as a substitute teacher in the White Bear and North St. Paul districts.
Everywhere Meda taught, she started a Girl Scout troop.

She was a student of calligraphy, pottery, needlepoint, knitting, sewing and cards.

Other interests where she wore many leadership hats were at church, PTA, VFW Woman’s Auxiliary, and the local AARP.

Meda has experienced much in her 99 years, a lot of good years and a few bad years but in her words,
“It has been an interesting and knowledgeable life. No regrets.”