Mable Brewster

Mable Florence Brewster was born to Gust and Myrtle Anderson on May 10, 1941, on the family farm. She was the third oldest in a family of eight. Her birth was assisted by midwife Florence, her middle name.

Mable went to school at Westport, leaving home at 14 years of age to work at Melvin Kiland’s, where she helped take care of his parents. She also worked at Love’s Funeral Home in Wadena and for Eddie and Al Ottman.

Mable wed Donald Brewster on August 16, 1958, at the age of 17. They had five children, four while living in Wadena and the fifth when they moved to the farm. Mable was 23 with five children born within five years. She helped Don farm, planted big gardens, baled, milked cows and took care of many relatives living with them over their lives.

After Don passed in 1988, Mable continued to live on the farm until 2007. She moved to an apartment in Wadena until September 2016, when she moved to Weneeda Park Lodge. Mable loved the lodge and her new-found family. It was a perfect place for her to have friends to visit and people to see each day when her family was not around.

Mable loved her family and was always happy to have them home or to visit them. She treasured her times with her eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She loved to bake for family and friends, knit, listen to old-time music and, lately, to take part in activities at the lodge.

Mable passed away in palliative care in Wadena on January 28, surrounded by every one of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by Don, her husband of 29 years; her parents; brother Allan; and sisters, Doris and Della, followed by Elsie on January 29, 2017.

Mable is survived by her five children, Debbie (Randy Piller), Shirley (Randy) Gerritse, Carol, Curtis (Cheryl) and Brenda; grandchildren, Ryan (Laurissa) Gerritse, Danielle Gerritse, Crystal Jerome (Dennis Smith), Kerri (Kevin) Didychuk, Jenna (Curtis) Gerenscer, Kayla (Kevin) Brewster, Mason (Kendra) Brewster and Ian Brewster; great-grandchildren, Emily Gerritse, Lucas Gerritse, Samuel Smith, Roselie Smith and Mikayla Didychuk; siblings, Gladys (Stan) Svoboda, Dorothy Larson, Gilbert (Hazel) Anderson; in-laws, Skip Brewster, Ray Larson, Rosella Anderson, Melvin Rudd, Alfreda (Terry) Erickson, Gordon (Edna) Brewster, Betty (Gordon) Wolff, Aubrey (Judy) Brewster; plus nephews and nieces, cousins and friends.