Hayfield, MN (KROC-AM News) - A funeral will be held in Hayfield Friday for a woman who died nearly 50 years ago - a death that remains a mystery.

The service is for Gloria Rieken, who grew up on a Hayfield-area farm.

Rieken obit
loading...

Rieken was a freshman at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis when she vanished, last seen leaving her apartment headed to class in early November 1970. Her remains were found in an abandoned and burned home in east-central Minnesota on November 10, 1970 - less than two weeks before her 19th birthday. It's believed she died on or about Nov 9.

Mille Lacs County investigators were able to rule out fire as the cause of death but could not determine what killed the young woman - or who she was. Her remains were then buried in a Mille Lacs County cemetery.

About 5 years ago, members of Rieken's family provided DNA samples for comparison to unidentified remains as part of the state's Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse program. A positive match was made in February this year. Rieken’s father passed away about a month before her remains were identified.

The cause of her death remains a mystery and the case is still open.

Friday’s service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church and is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM.

Here's her obituary.

More From KDHL Radio