Ilene Vavrichek, age 92, of Mahnomen, MN, died Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at St. Mary's Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes, MN.

Ilene was born September 25, 1916, in Winger, MN, to Ted and Sophia (Johnson) Harvey. She grew up in the Winger area and attended school in Mahnomen. On March 6, 1937, Ilene was united in marriage to Edward Vavrichek. Following their marriage, the couple farmed near Beaulieu, MN, before moving to the place east of Bejou, MN, where they farmed until retiring in 1968. At that time, they moved into Mahnomen where Eddie was employed as the caretaker of Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery and Ilene worked at Edna's Grocery Store and the Mahnomen Public School as a cook. Ed died in May of 1989 and Ilene remained in their home until moving to Valley View Commons in 2002.

Over the years, Ilene kept busy with many activities including sewing, quilting, embroidery, and counted cross-stitch. She loved to play bingo and many types of card games, especially rummy and cribbage and usually came out the winner! Ilene was also an avid Minnesota Twins fan and enjoyed listening to old time music. She was a long time member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bejou and an honorary member of the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

Ilene is survived by son, Richard (Edy) Vavrichek of Maple Grove, MN; daughter, Ardie (Ed) Hollenbeck of Minneapolis, MN; four grandchildren, Leanne, Michelle, Sheri, and Daryl: and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Jane Hegg and Josie Johnson, and a brother, Sherman Harvey.

Blessed be the memory of Ilene Vavrichek.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, June 8, 2009, 11 am at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bejou, MN. Visitation will be Sunday, June 7th from 3-5 pm with a prayer service at 4:30 pm at the Anderson~Mattson Funeral Home in Mahnomen. Burial will be in the Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery, Mahnomen.