Obituary For Mabel Hildebrandt

Mabel (Mrs. Alfred J.) Hildebrandt, age 90, of Faribault, formerly of Kenyon, died on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at The Lodge at Summit Oaks, Burnsville, following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 16, 2009 at Prairieville United Methodist Church, rural Faribault at 10:30 a.m. with the Reverend Dana Houck and the Reverend Elden Eklund, officiating. Interment will be at Prairieville Cemetery.

Visitation will be at the Boldt Funeral Home on Sunday, March 15^th from 4 to 7 p.m. and also at the church on Monday for one hour prior to the service.

Mabel, the daughter of Toleff and Clara (Smith) Skolness, was born on February 5, 1919, in Skyberg and was that year's New Year's baby. She attended country school in Skyberg and, as a teen, boarded in Kenyon to attend Kenyon High School, where she graduated in l936.

On May 8, 1942, she married Alfred Hildebrandt. The couple farmed his family's Richland Township land until 1979 when they retired to Faribault. Mabel loved to travel, and in their retirement, she and Alfred visited Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, as well as Scandinavia, including her father’s native Bergen, Norway. Over the years, they also visited family members in Los Angeles, Brazil and New York City.

After Alfred's death in 1993, Mabel moved to a townhouse near River Bend Nature Center, a place that always brought her joy. In 2005, she moved to Keystone, an assisted living community in Faribault.

Throughout her years in Kenyon and Faribault, Mabel remained active in the life of the church. She was baptized at Hegre Lutheran Church in Skyberg, which she attended until marriage. Then she joined Prairieville United Methodist Church where fellow members were like a second family to her.

Mabel was beloved for her quirky sense of humor, her pecan pies (a mainstay at holiday dinners) and her continuing interest in the world around her. She loved nature, walking in the woods and bird watching. Mabel loved animals, but cats were a special favorite.

Music and art also were important in Mabel's life. As a member of the Golden Notes choral group, she joined other retired women in performing for nursing home residents and at community events. She also enjoyed oil painting, and many of her works hang in the homes of her children, nieces and nephews.

She is survived by a son, James (and Pat) Hildebrandt of Mantorville; two daughters, Joan Higinbotham of St. Paul and Sherri Hildebrandt of St. Paul; son-in-law Arthur Higinbotham of Minneapolis; three grandchildren, Kitty Higinbotham of St. Paul, Carrie (and John) Menk of Kenyon, and Bradley Hildebrandt of Kasson; two great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Alfred.

Memorials are preferred to Prairieville United Methodist Church, Rice County Humane Society, River Bend Nature Center or donor’s choice.

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	MABEL HILDEBRANDT

Mabel	Mabel (Mrs. Alfred J.) Hildebrandt, age 90, of Faribault, formerly of Kenyon, died on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at The Lodge at Summit Oaks, Burnsville, following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held Monday, March 16, 2009 at Prairieville United Methodist Church, rural Faribault at 10:30 a.m. with the Reverend Dana Houck and the Reverend Elden Eklund, officiating. Interment will be at Prairieville Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Boldt Funeral Home on Sunday, March 15^th from 4 to 7 p.m. and also at the church on Monday for one hour prior to the service. Mabel, the daughter of Toleff and Clara (Smith) Skolness, was born on February 5, 1919, in Skyberg and was that year's New Year's baby. She attended country school in Skyberg and, as a teen, boarded in Kenyon to attend Kenyon High School, where she graduated in l936. On May 8, 1942, she married Alfred Hildebrandt. The couple farmed his family's Richland Township land until 1979 when they retired to Faribault. Mabel loved to travel, and in their retirement, she and Alfred visited Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, as well as Scandinavia, including her father’s native Bergen, Norway. Over the years, they also visited family members in Los Angeles, Brazil and New York City. After Alfred's death in 1993, Mabel moved to a townhouse near River Bend Nature Center, a place that always brought her joy. In 2005, she moved to Keystone, an assisted living community in Faribault. Throughout her years in Kenyon and Faribault, Mabel remained active in the life of the church. She was baptized at Hegre Lutheran Church in Skyberg, which she attended until marriage. Then she joined Prairieville United Methodist Church where fellow members were like a second family to her. Mabel was beloved for her quirky sense of humor, her pecan pies (a mainstay at holiday dinners) and her continuing interest in the world around her. She loved nature, walking in the woods and bird watching. Mabel loved animals, but cats were a special favorite. Music and art also were important in Mabel's life. As a member of the Golden Notes choral group, she joined other retired women in performing for nursing home residents and at community events. She also enjoyed oil painting, and many of her works hang in the homes of her children, nieces and nephews. She is survived by a son, James (and Pat) Hildebrandt of Mantorville; two daughters, Joan Higinbotham of St. Paul and Sherri Hildebrandt of St. Paul; son-in-law Arthur Higinbotham of Minneapolis; three grandchildren, Kitty Higinbotham of St. Paul, Carrie (and John) Menk of Kenyon, and Bradley Hildebrandt of Kasson; two great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Alfred. Memorials are preferred to Prairieville United Methodist Church, Rice County Humane Society, River Bend Nature Center or donor’s choice. Guest Book Memories Will Be Recorded Below