Lake Crystal is the kind of place where people actually know their neighbors. It's quiet. Most of the time, the biggest news involves high school sports or a new shop opening on Main Street. But in early 2025, that sense of small-town security was shattered by a tragedy that residents are still processing today.
Kristi Gardner Lake Crystal MN wasn't just a name in a police report. She was a mother, a grandmother, and a nurse who had spent nearly three decades caring for people at the Mankato Clinic. Honestly, it’s hard to wrap your head around how someone so dedicated to healing could have their life ended so violently.
The Events of January 2025
On the evening of Thursday, January 9, 2025, a 911 call came in from a home on 515th Avenue, just north of Highway 60. A friend had stopped by and found 57-year-old Kristi Joy Gardner unresponsive. When the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s deputies arrived, they confirmed she was deceased.
The investigation moved fast. Really fast.
By the next morning, the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a homicide. She had been shot multiple times. Investigators quickly shifted their focus to a 64-year-old man from New Ulm named Gary Mark Rodewald. Police confirmed they had been in a relationship.
The search for Rodewald didn't last long. Law enforcement tracked him to his own garage in New Ulm. Just before 6:00 a.m. on Friday, the Brown, Lyon, Redwood, and Renville County Emergency Response Unit found him inside a vehicle. He was unresponsive from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He died a few days later in a Minneapolis hospital.
💡 You might also like: Quién ganó para presidente en USA: Lo que realmente pasó y lo que viene ahora
It was a murder-suicide. The kind of thing you see on TV, but never expect to happen in your own backyard.
A Life Dedicated to Others
To understand why this hit the community so hard, you’ve gotta look at who Kristi was. She grew up in Rake, Iowa, and was basically the classic Midwest girl—played volleyball, basketball, threw shot put, and was even a majorette in the marching band.
She graduated from Lake Crystal High School in 1986 and went on to get her LPN degree from South Central Vo-Tech. For 26 and a half years, she was a fixture at the Mankato Clinic. Patients remembered her as someone who actually listened.
- Professional Legacy: Decades of service as a nurse.
- Family Life: She had five children and ten grandchildren.
- Personal Interests: She was obsessed with gardening, puzzles, and "Norwegian" cooking.
Her obituary mentions she loved finding a deal at thrift stores and was incredibly organized. It’s those little human details—like her love for Candy Crush or how she’d show love by sharing baked goods—that make the tragedy feel so much heavier.
The Impact on Lake Crystal
When something like this happens in a rural area, it doesn't just go away. It lingers. People start asking questions about domestic violence and how someone who seemed so full of life could be in such a dangerous situation.
📖 Related: Patrick Welsh Tim Kingsbury Today 2025: The Truth Behind the Identity Theft That Fooled a Town
The Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) handled the case, but for the locals, the "investigation" was about more than forensics. It was about losing a pillar of the community. In lieu of flowers, her family requested memorials be sent to CADA (Committee Against Domestic Abuse). That says a lot.
It’s a stark reminder that even in "safe" towns, domestic volatility is a real and present danger.
Why Her Story Still Matters
We often see these stories as headlines that disappear after 48 hours. But the death of Kristi Gardner Lake Crystal MN left a massive hole. Think about it: ten grandchildren who won't have her at their graduations or weddings. A nursing community that lost a mentor.
The tragedy also highlights the "silent" nature of many domestic situations. Friends and coworkers described her as kind and lifting the moods of everyone around her. Sometimes the people who project the most light are dealing with the most darkness behind closed doors.
What to Do If You or Someone You Know Is in Danger
If you’re reading this and something feels "off" in your own relationship, or if you're worried about a friend, don't wait for a "sign." The sign is your gut feeling.
👉 See also: Pasco County FL Sinkhole Map: What Most People Get Wrong
Immediate Steps to Take:
- Contact CADA: The Committee Against Domestic Abuse provides resources specifically for the Blue Earth County and Mankato area. They offer shelter, safety planning, and legal advocacy.
- Use the 988 Lifeline: It’s not just for suicide prevention; it’s a crisis line for anyone in emotional distress.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788.
Kristi's family chose to point people toward help in her memory. That’s a powerful way to turn a senseless act into a potential lifeline for someone else.
Moving Forward in the Community
Lake Crystal is a resilient place. The "Lake Crystal Cemetery," where Kristi was laid to rest, is a quiet spot, and life in town has mostly returned to its usual pace. But the memorial trees planted in her honor are a permanent fixture now.
People still talk about her at the Mankato Clinic. They remember the nurse who knew her patients' names and the grandma who always had a puzzle on the table. Keeping her memory alive means more than just remembering how she died; it’s about remembering how she lived and making sure other women in the area have the resources to stay safe.
If you want to honor her legacy, consider a donation to CADA or simply being more observant of the people in your life. Sometimes a simple "Are you okay?" can change the trajectory of a life.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check in on your friends who have recently gone through big life changes or seem more withdrawn than usual.
- Save the number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233) in your phone. You never know when you might need to give it to someone.
- Support local organizations like CADA that provide direct assistance to victims in rural Minnesota.