Reshetars named Ma & Pa Teapot

Harry and Judy Reshetar were crowned Ma & Pa Teapot this week to kick off Teapot Days.

The Reshetars moved into Tea from Sioux Falls in 1977. They built their current home north of Tea on the Tea-Ellis Road in 1997. The two liked the thought of a small town and small school.

Originally from Austin, Minn., the pair got married after high school. Harry went to two years of school at Austin Junior College before going to Army. After the Army, he graduated with a degree in business administration from Columbia College. When they first moved to Sioux Falls he was working for a finance company. Then he worked at Sioux Valley Hospital for 33 years.

Judy went to St. Olaf Hospital for the radiology program. After spending three months at the University of Minnesota, she finished the radiologic technologist program at the hospital. She worked for 37 years as a clinical instructor for radiology at Avera McKennan Hospital.

Harry spent 12 years from 1984-1996 as the mayor of Tea. During his time as mayor, his biggest project was to blacktop roads and put in curb and gutter.

“I had a good council to support me. That’s what I ran for mayor on was to get blacktop roads and curb and gutter and sewer system. It was gravel with deep ruts in the spring,” Harry said. “I never thought the town would grow that fast. I mean it really took off after that.”

Lewis & Clark got approved toward the end of his time as mayor as well.

Harry was on the volunteer fire department for a number of years and also coached softball when their daughters were growing up. Judy was a Brownie and Girl Scout leader and belonged two different professional societies.

The Reshetars have belonged to Trinity Lutheran Church for at least 40 years.

Now that they’re both retired, they spend a lot of their time traveling to see their two daughters and four grandchildren. They have both enjoyed water skiing, with Harry last water skiing last year at age 76. They also enjoy the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins.