Mabel C.Weinberger

Mabel C. Weinberger, 94, died peacefully in her sleep at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Mott on December 5, 2004. She was the fifth of nine children born to Christian Peter and Julia Catherine (Smith) Highbe on July 28, 1910, in their farm home in Dakota Township of Adams County along the Cedar River with a rural address of Chandler, ND. She attended grade school in the rural Paranto School #2 and attended high school in Mott, graduating with the class of 1930 in the newly named Lincoln High School. She attended Dickinson Normal College and received a teaching certificate.

Mabel Catherine Highbe and Paul Fredrick (Fred) Weinberger were married on April 4, 1934, in St. Peter's Catholic Church west of her home in Adams County. They farmed with his parents, Frank and Marie Weinberger, northwest of Mott for a few years before moving to Hettinger where they managed the Yellowstone Hotel for about two years. They then returned to the farm and helped operate the family coal mine while raising their five children.

Mabel and Fred were active in community affairs. They belonged to the Hoop-De-Do Dance Club of Mott, the Happy Ramblers Square Dance Club of Regent, Acme and St. Croix Farmers Union, St. Michael's Catholic Church of rural Regent and later St. Henry's Catholic Church of Regent where she served as the Guild's president.

Mabel was also a member of the Every Day Folks Homemaker's Club, the Arts & Crafts Club and Royal Neighbors of America, all of Mott. She was the Hettinger County Farmers Union Recreational Director for 17 years, helping with camps, classes and picnics. She often babysat for neighbor's children and always made cookies for them. Whenever someone in their immediate community got married, had a baby or even a birthday, Mabel would put on a party for them.

In 1968, Fred and Mabel retired from the farm and moved to Dickinson where she enjoyed being the "salad lady" at the Esquire Steak House. She retired to care for her husband who passed away in January 1990.

Mabel will always be remembered for her hospitality. No one ever left her home hungry. She loved to entertain, play cards and travel. She and Fred traveled to Hawaii, France, Germany, and a Polka Fest in Austria and she also went to the Rose Bowl Parade, the Price is Right show, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Denver and Las Vegas.

In January of 1997, Mabel became a resident of the Good Samaritan Nursing Center of Mott. Workers there knew her as "smiley" or "dancer", as she loved to dance or tap her toes to old time music. She always had a sense of humor, positive attitude, and happy disposition.

Mabel is survived by her family who will sorely miss her: daughter Marlene and Richard Kouba of Regent; son Perry and Virginia Weinberger of Beaverton, Oregon; daughter June and Gary Hartze of Helena, Montana; daughter Donna and Rick Rogne of Clancy, Montana, and son Gary and Maria Weinberger of Fargo; 17 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Neileen Greff of Garrison, ND, and Hildah Highbe of Beaverton, Oregon.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, five brothers-Harold, Albert, Henry, John and one in infancy, three sisters-Martha Oberg, Elizabeth Larson and one in infancy, and one great-grandson, Joseph Kouba. Pallbearers are her grandsons: Jess Kouba, Carson Kouba, Rory Kouba, Shan Kouba, Morgan Kouba, Thomas Weinberger, Dion Weinberger, David Hartze, and Steven Rogne. Honorary pallbearers are former neighbors: Martin Messer, Alex Friedt, Alois Gion, James G. Gion, and Paul Gion.

The Mass of Christian burial will be held Thursday, December 9, 2004, at 10:00 AM at St. Henry's Catholic Church of Regent. Fr Kuriakose Nediakala and Deacon Don Gion will officiate with burial in St. Vincent's Catholic Cemetery at Mott. A rosary service will be held at 7:30pm on Wednesday evening at St. Henry's Catholic Church. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 1:00 to 6:00pm at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Mott and on Thursday one hour prior to services at St. Henry's Catholic Church.