Anna Margaret (Mandsager) MOENCK

MOENCK, MANDSAGER, AUGUSTINE, HEMSTAD, TROUTMAN, THORSON, PIPER, KNICKERBOCKER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/4/2009 at 09:22:54

February 3, 2009
Fort Dodge Messenger

HENNING, MINN. - Ann Moenck, 103, of Henning, Minn. died on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009 at the Golden Living Center in Henning, Minn. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Henning with Pastor Darrell Vetter officiating. The organist is Wilma Morse. Casket bearers are Ann's grandchildren: Roxi Augustine, Andre Augustine, Sue Troutman, Deb Hemstead, Joel Hemstead, Kaj Moenck, Jan Moenck, and Larelle Holmes. She will make her final journey to be laid to rest with family at Washington Cemetery on her beloved Iowa prairie at Duncombe. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009 at the Belmont Funeral Home in Henning and resumes for an hour prior to services at the church.

Anna (Ann) Margaret Mandsager Moenck, daughter of Mikkel and Synva Mandsager, was born at Thor, on Aug. 8, 1905. Her parents were devout Christian immigrants from Odda, Hardanger, Norway so one of the first things her father did was help found and build Trinity Lutheran Church near their farm. It was here that Ann was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith besides learning the scriptures and hymns her mother taught at home. Ann was in the first class at Trinity to be confirmed in English when she was 14 years old after beginning instruction in Norwegian. A new pastor came who decided that it was time for change. While living on the farm with her 10 brothers and sisters, one of her jobs was to oil the windmill since she was the only one who had no fear of climbing. She also was the designated baker whose mother taught her how to bake lefse at the age of 13, a skill which lasted even after her nursing home admission at the age of 97. Following her graduation from Eagle Grove High School she attended business school in Fort Dodge. On Nov. 26, 1925 she married Walter Moenck in Vincent, when they made their home, farmed and raised 2 sons, Vernelle and Kenneth. She and Walt loved to square dance, play bingo and go to baseball games. Ann worked as a bookkeeper at V. G. Miller Implement in Vincent for 17 years where she sometimes pumped gas, sold and helped load various implements and listened to the problems of the young farmers who found their way to her office. They usually left with a bit of encouragement to "buckle down and keep trying."

She loved to bake and shared most of it with others, including hundreds of baked and decorated special occasion cakes for family, friends and neighbors. No one left her home without strong coffee and "lunch." She enjoyed singing the praises of Iowa and debating politics as an avowed Democrat. She never missed a vote including voting in her 21st presidential election of November, 2008. In 1976, she moved to Henning, Minn. to be near family due to Walt's failing health. She continued baking, watching the Twins, caring for Walt until his death in 1981and spoiling grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She entered the Golden Living Center in Henning in 2003 where she made her home, continued baking lefse, watching the Twins, playing Bingo, conversing with residents and staff until her hearing, sight, memory and health began to fail and where she entered her eternal rest on Jan. 31, 2009.

Ann is survived by her son Kenneth (Donna) Moenck, Henning, Minn; grandchildren: Roxi (Andre) Augustine, Manteca, Calif.; Debora (Joel) Hemstad, St. Paul, Minn.; Robert Moenck, Minneapolis, Minn.; Kaj (Jan) Moenck, Rockford, Minn.; Sue Troutman, Minnetonka, Minn.; 10 great-grandchildren, a brother Kenneth Mandsager of Middletown, R.I., 2 nephews and 3 nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers: John, Olas, Sivert, Mikkel, Herman and sisters Torbjor, Martha Thorson, Clara Piper, and Gertrude Knickerbocker.