Mabel B Hildebrandt

Mabel Blanche Hildebrandt was born on March 10, 1938, in Madison, Minnesota the daughter of Alfred and Anna (Lashowsky) Reese.  She grew up on a farm and attended country school through the 8th grade.  When she started 9th grade she had to move into Clinton to attend Clinton High School. During this time she worked as a seamstress and a waitress to pay for her room and board.  She met the love of her life, Erwin Hildebrandt, while waitressing.  Mabel graduated from Clinton High School in 1955.

Mabel and Erwin were united in marriage on September 14, 1957, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN.  After their marriage the couple rented a farm by Clinton for a year and a half before purchasing a farm in Nora Township in 1959.  This is where the couple raised their six children.

Mabel’s favorite time was in the Spring when she started her flower and vegetable gardens.  She also would help with whatever needed to be done on the farm, she was a farmers wife.  She loved the little animals and took special care of them.  

Besides helping on the farm, Mabel worked at Pope County Sheriff’s Office at a Dispatcher and Jailor for five years.  She then went to work at the Good Samaritan Home in Hoffman for fifteen years as a cook.  

Mabel and Erwin were members of Nora Lutheran Church where she was a Sunday School Teacher and taught Bible School.  She was also on the Farmers Union Youth Board, and President of the Pope County Dairy Association.  

She was a great cook and baker and taught all her children how to cook.  Mabel was known for her chocolate chip cookies and strawberry rhubarb pie.  She also enjoyed taking walks in the woods and collecting wild iris and wild violets with her children and her sister, Lou.  Mabel’s pride and joy were her grandchildren and spending time with them.

Mabel died on Sunday, April 9, 2023.  She is survived by her five children: Aaron (La’Tina) Hildebrandt of Katy, TX; Joel (Charlotte) Hildebrandt of Hawley, MN; Beth (Don) Elgin) of Mora; Jon Hildebrandt of Kensington, MN; Peter (Laurie) Hildebrandt of Alex; 20 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, and her sister, Fran (Gene) Hemmer.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Erwin; daughter, Dawn Stevens; four brothers: Martin, Delmer, John, Clifford, Walter; sister, Lou Strege.