Clarissa Ostern Brenna, a resident of Green Lea Manor in Mabel, Minnesota, died peacefully on January 25, 2013.
She was born October 11, 1915 near Elgin, North Dakota to John and Clara (Fossum) Ostern. When she was four years old the family moved to Minnesota and lived on the family farm southeast of Spring Grove. She was confirmed in the Old Wilmington Lutheran Church at the age of fifteen. She attended Houston County District 58 rural schools and graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1934.
Clarissa married Leonard Brenna on February 1, 1936. They started farming on the Gust Melby farm and moved to the Brenna family farm south of Mabel in 1945. They moved to the village of Mabel in 1981. Clarissa was hired as the first kitchen manager at Green Lea Manor in Mabel and held that position for fourteen years until her retirement.
She was a faithful member of Mabel First Lutheran Church and belonged to WELCA.
Clarissa was the last surviving member of her immediate family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Clarence, Edwin, James, Kenneth, and Ray and her sisters Mildred Manthey and Ella Breutzman. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 75 years, a daughter, Meredith Sikkink, and an infant daughter.
Left to cherish her memory are three children: Rita (Gilbert) Bergsrud of West Bloomfield, MI, John (Alison) of Rochester, MN, and Karen (Lewis) Whitmer of Waynesboro, VA., a son-in-law Robert Sikkink of Austin, MN, thirteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren , five great-great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
There will be a visitation Friday, February 1, from 4 PM to 6 PM at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 11 AM at Mabel First Lutheran Church.
Memorial donations may be made to Mabel First Lutheran Church. |