Erika Veronika Slemp

SLEMP, Erika V., of Rio Rancho, died Tuesday, June 15, 2010, after a difficult struggle with colon cancer. She was born in Zweibrücken, Germany on May 5, 1942 to August and Paula Tretter. She is survived by her son Larry and wife Mary and their children Melissa and Matthew; her son Steve; her sister Elisabeth Schädler; her sister Irmgard Gleich; her sister-in-law Ilse Tretter; her brother Egidius Tretter and companion Monika Fickinger; her sister Johanna Holzer; her brother Günter Tretter and wife Lydia; her brother Wolfgang Tretter and wife Hella, all of Germany; her sister-in-law, Rosalee Flanagan of Rock Port, Missouri; brother-in-law Dale Slemp and wife LoAnn of Aurora, Colorado; many, many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews in Germany; many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews residing in many places in the U.S. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Al; her infant brother, Peter Tretter; brother-in-law Remigius Schädler; her brother-in-law Richard Gleich; her brother Helmut Tretter; her brother-in-law Helmut (Heli) Holzer; her brother-in-law James Hudson and his wife Marie; and her brother-in-law Maurice Flanagan. Erika was a very loving, giving, generous woman. Anyone who knew her would agree that she didn’t have to know you very long before she was giving you a big hug. She loved listening to music and watching the birds in her various bird baths. She also enjoyed her newest companion, her dog Missy, who was constantly at her side. She was a wonderful cook and her sons especially enjoyed her German cheesecake. Her grandchildren were the light of her life, and she enjoyed doing anything and everything with them. In fact, she even admitted that she felt an ache in her heart when she wasn’t with them. She especially loved shopping with Melissa and watching Matthew play soccer, a game she loved. In the last year she became a member of Asbury United Methodist Church, where she especially loved to sing hymns, but more importantly renewed her relationship with our Lord. The family would like to express their thanks to the wonderful hospice staff of Presbyterian Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be sent in Erika’s name to Asbury United Methodist Church, 10000 Candelaria, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87112. Erika’s care has been entrusted to Daniels Family Funeral Services 2400 Southern Blvd SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 (505) 891-9192