Mary Ann “Mim” Richter, age 81, of Whitehall, Wisconsin, passed away on
Friday, April 24, 2026, surrounded by her family at Mayo Clinic Health System in
La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Mim was born on November 2, 1944, in Whitehall to Bennie and Myrtle (Steen)
Johnson. She was a proud graduate of Whitehall High School’s Class of 1963
and went on to pursue her passion for caring for others at Hendrick Memorial
Hospital School of Nursing in Abilene, Texas. It was there that she met her future
husband, Tom Richter. The two were united in marriage on June 19, 1965, in
Whitehall, and together they made their home in Austin, Texas, and Mildenhall,
England, before eventually settling in Whitehall.
She dedicated 55 years to her work as a Licensed Practical Nurse, including 33
years alongside Dr. Brad Martin at the Whitehall Gundersen Clinic, where she
touched countless lives with her compassion and skill. In addition to her nursing
career, Mim was the owner of Mim’s Ole Barn and generously gave her time
volunteering at local nursing homes as an activity coordinator. She was a
devoted and active member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and a founding
member of the Whitehall Booster Club. Mim found great joy in gnome collecting,
crafting, bowling, gardening, gathering with family and friends, holidays, and
Christmas baking. She had a gift for making everyone feel welcome, well fed,
and deeply loved.
Mim is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years, Tom; her children, Kim
(Chris) Nogosek of St. Anthony Village, MN, Jeff (Laura Wente) Richter of
Portland, OR and Stacey (Greg Fernholz) Lisowski of Arcadia; and eight
grandchildren whom she loved “To the Moon and Back”: Sam Nogosek, Joe
(fiancée Rachel) Nogosek, Emilie Nogosek, Jeffrey Richter, Jaidyn Richter, John
Thomas (JT) Lisowski, Ben Lisowski, and Jana Lisowski. She is further survived
by her beloved brother, Barney Johnson of Texas, and her cherished sister,
Louise Sonsalla of Independence.
Mim also leaves behind many dear cousins, along with special nieces and
nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and many treasured friends, all of
whom hold a special place in her heart and will miss her deeply.
In addition to her parents, Mim was preceded in death by her sister-in-law Betty
Johnson and brother in-law Bill Sonsalla.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in Our
Saviour’s Lutheran Church with burial in the Lincoln Cemetery both in Whitehall.
Scott W. Brown – SAM will officiate.
Visitation will be Wednesday, April 29, 2026 from 4-7 p.m. in the Jack Funeral
Home in Whitehall and also one hour prior to the service at the church on
Thursday.