St. Peter, MN - Devoted teacher, wife, mother, friend and prankster, Michelle Ann (Lohman) Westre, age 65, of St. Peter, MN passed away peacefully on All Saints' Day November 1st, 2025 at her home in St. Peter, MN. She was surrounded by her husband and two daughters as she passed into the Lord's presence.

Michelle was born on March 4, 1960 to Jerry and Jackie (Collette) Lohman in Fargo, ND. She moved to Rochester, MN where she graduated from John Marshall High School.

Michelle furthered her education by receiving her bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in special education. She discovered her passion for working with children and received a Montessori certification at St. Catherine's University in 1989. She began her career as a Head Start preschool teacher that led her to find her true calling of teaching early childhood special education.

She married Peter Westre in August 1984 and together they built a home rooted in laughter, kindness, and curiosity. Becoming a mom to Hannah and then Rhebekkah strengthened her desire to teach children and help the world see them.

Michelle used her gift of connecting with children to become a teacher. She first taught at Head Start beginning in 1988 before joining the Mankato School District in 2000. She spent three decades nurturing young learners. She started an initiative called "First Signs" in Mankato to improve early screening and awareness of autism. In addition, she promoted literacy in English language learners through a program that allowed parents access to materials in their home language.

Michelle loved gardening, reading, relaxing with her can of Tab and pulling good-natured pranks on those she loved. Her quick wit, her unwavering faith, and her laughter that filled the room will be missed.

Left to remember and cherish Michelle are her husband, Peter Westre; her daughters, Hannah Westre and her husband Yankuba Sanyang, and Rhebekkah Westre and her wife Leah Westre; two grandsons, Zakariah and Tijan Sanyang; her siblings Rachelle McCullough and Thomas Lohman; and her beloved cat, Billy. Her parents and grandparents preceded her in death, along with many beloved pets.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 7, 2025 at 9:30 am at Trinity Lutheran Church- St. Peter. Service at 11am with luncheon to follow. St. Peter Funeral Home-Klein Chapel is assisting with arrangements. Nonperishable food items may be brought to church to honor Michelle.

The family wishes to thank Mayo Mankato-Andreas Cancer Center and St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate care. The family requests donations to St. Peter Food Shelf and St. Peter Children's Weekend Food Program, causes that are close to her heart.

Michelle left this world on a day set aside to honor the saints-lives that reflect grace in quiet and ordinary ways. It feels fitting. Her faith was never loud, but it was lived: in the way she tended her garden, her laughter at the table, in how she saw the good in every child. She taught us by being present and making us feel known. The seeds she planted- of patience, kindness, wonder- will keep growing in our lives.