Mabel E. Bergstrazer

Mabel Esther Bergstrazer, age 97, of Little Falls, MN departed from her earthly journey, Thursday, March 14, 2013 at St. Otto’s Care Center, to begin her eternal journey safe in the loving arms of her Lord and Savior. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Grace Covenant Church, 17117 Riverwood Dr, Little Falls, MN 56345 with the Rev. Steve Anderson officiating. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls, MN. Friends may call from 4:00 - 7:00 PM Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at Shelley Funeral Chapel,125 2nd Ave SE, Little Falls, MN 56345 and Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:00 AM prior to services at Grace Covenant Church. Mabel Esther Bergstrazer was born February 23, 1916 in Gascoyne, North Dakota to the late John and Olga (Vestfus) Runestad. She grew up in Gascoyne, ND and graduated from Gascoyne High School. Mabel worked at several dude ranches in Wyoming and Montana, and in her spare time she enjoyed riding the most spirited horses. During WWII she moved to Illinois where she worked in the DuPont dynamite factory. Mabel was united in marriage to Harold R. Bergstrazer on June 26, 1948 in Thermopolis, WY. Following their marriage, Mabel and Harold farmed near Denhoff, ND. They later moved to Montana, and in 1958 the couple moved to Little Falls, MN where they purchased a farm west of Little Falls. That is where her days were filled with what she loved the most; being with and caring for her family, always encouraging us to learn new things like swimming, fishing, cooking “Button Soup”, learning computer skills, etc… Mother was an active member of Grace Covenant Church. Mabel is survived by her daughter, Norma Hessary and husband, Khosrow, of Columbia, SC; son, Dennis and wife, Rose of Timika, Indonesia; brother, John Runestad of Billings, MT; sisters, Ella Hafner of Ludlow, SD; Olga Harvey of Thermopolis, WY; Lillian Andreen of Casper, WY; sisters-in-law Lucille and Nancy Bergstrazer; seven grandchildren, Angela (Mark) Benson, Jason (Lori) Sufka, Melissa (Ryan) White, Eric (Laura) Sufka, Justina (Chris) Rueterpohler, Joy Bergstrazer, Jessica Bergstrazer and 10 great-grandchildren, Andrew, Bryan, Thomas, Dorothy, Autumn, Brielle, Chelsea, Ayla, Hudson, and Callen. Also, numerous loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Harold R. Bergstrazer on December 9, 2004; four brothers, Henry, Oscar, Ted and Joseph Runestad and one sister, Ruth Shaffer. Pallbearers will be Mabel’s grandchildren. Mabel’s family would like to thank the staff’s of St. Otto’s and Horizon Hospice for the compassion, care and love that they provided Mother. We grieve, but not as those without hope.

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Mabel E. Bergstrazer

February 23, 1916 - March 14, 2013