– Obituary courtesy of Zentner-Beal Funeral Home

Marietha Elizabeth (Ray) Jelle passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at Complete Care at Maple Grove in Madison. Marietha was born in Kennan, WI to Victor J and Hazel (Beard) Ray on August 26, 1927. They relocated and settled in the Verona area where she graduated from Verona High School in 1945 going on to attend and graduate from Whitewater State Teachers College in 1948. After one year of teaching at the Mc Pherson School, she was married on June 8, 1949 to Obert D Jelle at the Perry Lutheran Church in Daleyville. After establishing their dairy farm and raising her children to school age, she returned to teaching in 1965 at La Follette Heights near Mt Vernon, and in 1981 at the Mt Horeb Primary building until her retirement in 1990. Her interest in quilting continued until shortly before her death, in addition to her lifelong passion of always learning and instilling that interest in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her son Terry (Theresa Robins), daughters Julayne and Marge (Jim) Knuth. Grandchildren Jesse (Becky) Cummings, Daniel (Shannon) Jelle, Norah Hayes, Cate (David Dodson) Adams, and Sam (Lindsay) Adams. Great grandchildren Isabelle, Jackson and Evelyn Hayes, Nathan and Meredith Adams, and Elise, Lila and Charles Jelle, in addition to many cherished nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Obert, infant daughter, Kathleen, infant grandson, Joseph and daughter in law, Patricia. Also preceding her in death were brothers Doug and wife Charlene, George and wife Ruth, Kenneth and wife Lavina. In-laws Lennys and Willis Luchsinger, Alster and Carol Jelle, Sharon and Fritz Durst and Carol and Kenneth Nyland, nephew Greg Wickersham, and niece Lynn Daniels.