Marie Fank, age 93, of Brooten and formerly of Bird Island died Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at the Glacier Ridge Hospital in Glenwood. Mass of Christian Burial is Tuesday 1:15 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bird Island with Rev. George Schmit as celebrant. Burial is in the church cemetery. Visitation is Monday 4-7 p.m. at Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Bird Island with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation continues Tuesday at the funeral home from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations are preferred to St. Mary’s Catholic School.

Marie Christina Fank was born December 29, 1917 at Stirum, ND, to John and Anna (Reimer) Farenbaugh. When she was five her family moved to Bird Island, MN where she grew up and attended St. Mary’s School. Marie married Harry Fank on October 13, 1937 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and they were blessed with nine children. They made their home and farmed at rural Bird Island for many years and in 1986 moved to Lac Qui Parle Village. After Harry died in 1999 Marie continued to live there until 2001 when she moved to Brooten to live with her daughter Mary and husband Loren and their family. Marie enjoyed cooking until later years, crocheting, gardening, tending her flower beds, and reading books about frontier life. Most importantly Marie loved her family.

Marie is survived by her eight children: Nick (and Norma) Fank of Prattville, AL, Harry Jr. (and Ardy) Fank of Hector, Clara (and Herb) Mies of Sauk Centre, Virginia (and Chuck) Molitor of Lake Lillian, Joe (and Jan) Fank of St. Mary’s KS, Mike (and Deb) Fank of St. Mary’s KS, Mary (and Loren) Wetzel of Brooten, and Mark (and Jacquie) Fank of Wadena; her 31 grandchildren; her 41 great-grandchildren; her 7 great-great-grandchildren; her two sisters: Bernice (and Jack) Farl of AZ and Theresa (and Lyle) Anderson of CA; and her brother Joseph (and Delores) Farenbaugh of CA. Marie is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harry Fank, her son Robert Fank, her grandson Robert Fank, her three brothers and her three sisters.

Blessed Be Her Memory