Rebecca I. Vanderkloot

Rebecca “Becky” Irene (Bute) Vanderkloot, born January 11, 1942, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2026, at the age of 84 in Lino Lakes, Minnesota.

Rebecca was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School and later received a BS in Elementary Education from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. She started her career as a first-grade teacher in Dyer, Indiana and continued her career as a fourth-grade teacher in Crete, Illinois, and at Lincoln Trail Elementary in Mahomet, Illinois. Rebecca married the love of her life, Peter D. Vanderkloot, Jr., in 1976. Together, they moved to northern Wisconsin where she became a substitute teacher at MHLT Elementary School in the Minocqua School District and later a special education teacher’s assistant at North Lakeland Elementary School in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. During this time, she and her husband also owned and operated The Footprint shoe store in Woodruff, Wisconsin. They moved to Indiana for many years and Rebecca worked for Montoya Management as an office manager and receptionist. She and Peter later settled in Minnesota where she held several retail positions, including working at Amish Oak Two, and thoroughly enjoyed being a nanny and housekeeper for the Vannucci Family in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

Her hobbies included square dancing, bowling, painting and playing cards and she loved to spend time with her grandkids. She held a strong Christian faith and was active in many church choirs, the most recent of which was Christ Lutheran Church in Blaine, Minnesota.

She cherished the time she spent with her children, Peter III (Carolyn) Vanderkloot, Steven (Trina) Gentry, Sean (Heidi) Vanderkloot, Susan (Steve) Mercer, and Scott Vanderkloot (Katherine Hoffman), and took pride in the lives they built. She also leaves behind her sister Ethel; eleven beloved grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; extended family members and dear friends who will forever treasure her love and guidance.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter D. Vanderkloot, Jr.; her sister, Grace; and her brothers, David, George, and Bob, who welcomed her into eternal rest.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, June 17 at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home - Lino Lakes, 7050 Lake Dr.(Cty Hwy 23), Lino Lakes, MN. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1-2 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be the following day, June 18, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she will be laid to rest with her husband.

Though she is no longer with us, the love, wisdom and memories she gave so freely will remain a lasting gift to all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Alzheimer's Association or to Christ Lutheran Church in Blaine, Minnesota.