Mardelle Lorraine Schoenborn, age 85, of Mahnomen, MN, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 in her home, surrounded by her loving husband and children, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Born in Winger, MN, on November 7, 1924 to Louis and Manda (Kinseth) Kaste, she attended Mahnomen Public School and graduated with the class of 1942. Mardelle married the love of her life, Walter John Schoenborn, on May 6, 1944 and they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2009. The couple spent the majority of their life together in the Mahnomen area. Over the years, Mardelle worked at the First National Bank and later for BC Financing. In addition to raising their 15 children, Mardelle also served as the bookkeeper for their family business, Mahnomen Concrete, for 18 years.

After leaving the family business, Mardelle kept busy cooking, baking, sewing, cleaning and nurturing her children. Mardelle and Wally's home was a busy, happy place where they welcomed each of their children along with their growing families. Spending time with family was a wonderful thing for Mardelle. She especially looked forward to summer at the lake and the annual 4th of July family get-together and fishpond for her grandchildren. She also enjoyed designing and sewing for her family members. Another pastime Mardelle immensely enjoyed was her love for music, going dancing with Wally and her ability to play the piano. In her younger years she played piano with several area dance bands and later for civic organizations and community gatherings like TLC at the nursing home, Catholic Daughter functions, and Christmas programs and masses at St. Michael's. Mardelle was a long time member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and it Ladies Aid. She also held memberships with the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Justin 2020, the Red Hatters, the Library Club, the Mahnomen American Legion Auxiliary, and the Bejou VFW Auxiliary.

Mardelle is survived by her husband of 65 years, Wally, Mahnomen; five sons: Michael (Vivian), Mahnomen, Gary (Debbie), Detroit Lakes, MN, Jeff (Sue), Mahnomen, Doug (Brenda), Mahnomen, and David (Maren), Elk River, MN; ten daughters: Diane Schoenborn, Minneapolis, MN, Carol (Norbert) Herby, Plymouth, MN, Linda (Ken) Svenby, Waubun, MN, Rita (Larry) Wollmuth, Waubun, Cleone (Steve) Rude, Anchorage, AK, Sandy (Lloyd) Maydole, Hawley, MN, Nancy (Doug) Flicek, Ramsey, MN, Laurie (Jeff) Dodd, Fargo, ND, Rhonda (Paul) Collison, Green Bay, WI, and Michelle (Kevin) Gieseke, Mahnomen; 35 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Lucille (Milo) Winter, Waubun; five brothers-in-law, LaVerne (Verla) Schoenborn, Marvin (Eleanor) Schoenborn, Delmar (Betty) Schoenborn, Anthony (Joan) Schoenborn and Sylvester (Patricia) Schoenborn, all of Mahnomen. Preceding Mardelle in death were her parents; grandson, Joe Flicek; sister, Ione Hanson; brother, Lyle and brother and sister-in-law, Robert and his wife, Donna.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 pm on Friday, March 26, 2010 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Mahnomen. Visitation will be at St. Michael's Catholic Church on Thursday, March 25, 2010 from 5 pm to 7 pm with a prayer service at 6:30 pm followed by a Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Justin 2020 Rosary. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service on Friday.

Interment will be at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery in Mahnomen.