Marie Solberg
Marie Helen (Beneke) Solberg, age 87, of New Albin died peacefully Saturday, April 29, 2017 at her home. Funeral services were held Thursday, May 4 at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Wheatland in rural New Albin. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Marie was born May 20, 1929 at home to Adolph and Emma (Meyer) Beneke. This home was where her grandparents settled in 1884, a year after coming to America; and where her father was born and died. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, Wheatland. Marie attended the Gade Country School through the eighth grade.
July 16, 1953, Marie married Howard Solberg at St. John's. They farmed on Marie's family farm on top of Pool Hill in rural New Albin. Marie helped with the farm work, raising chickens and milking cows. She always had a big garden and canned and froze much of her produce. Marie worked at the Hi-way Cafe in New Albin, Northern Engraving and Thornton Manor in Lansing, and cleaned homes in the area.
An accomplished seamstress, Marie sewed much of her daughters' and her own clothes. She pieced and tied many quilts and created quilts for all of her grandchildren. These quilts were hand-quilted by Marie and her quilting friends. She baked bread, pies, cookies and cakes, and taught her girls to sew and bake. Marie made a great pot of chili, and all of her grandchildren loved her meatballs. She enjoyed crocheting, especially afghans, reading, and in later years, search-a-word puzzles.
Marie had been a member of the Houston County Extension Homemakers, and was active with her girls in the Wheatland State Liners 4-H Club. She was a lifelong member of St. John's United Church of Christ, Wheatland in rural New Albin, and was active in their ladies aid and quilting group. Marie was part of the New Albin Senior Citizens group and enjoyed playing cards with the residents of Thornton Manor. She had a wealth of knowledge of the history of her family and the community and shared many stories of her greater family.
Marie is survived by her husband of 63 years, Howard; three daughters; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Linda (John) Devine of La Crosse, WI, and their son, Jason (fiancée Donna Beneke) Devine, Lila (Jerry) Burmeister of Atwater, MN and their children and grandchildren, Tracy (Kirk) Dilly and Ellie, Nikki (Brian) Harrison and Isaac, Emma and Josiah, and Zach Burmeister, and Lorna Kasten of Spring Grove, MN and her children, Rachel (Steve Jr.) Wiste, Sara (Tyler Erickson) Kasten and Ryan Kasten; her sister-in-law, Violet Beneke; four nephews, Bruce (Deb), Bob (Diane), Daryl (Karen) and Randy (Marty) Beneke; three nieces, Janet (Kurt) Stalsberg, Audrey Phillips and Carol Van Brocklin; and her very dear friends, Stella Burmester and Gladys Heitman.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Selma (Ray) Van Brocklin; her brothers-in-law, Alvin Beneke and Ralph Solberg; and a number of aunts and uncles.
Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, Caledonia Chapel assisted the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent at www.jandtfredrickson.com.
A special thank you to Ryan Kasten for all the help he provided to Marie in the seven years he has lived with them. Also, to the New Albin Ambulance Service for their care whenever Marie was in need.
Marie always hoped she would be able to enter heaven from the home where she was born, and she did - from the very room she was born. In the words of a friend, "God dropped her off and picked her up in the same place." Blessed be her memory.
