Mabel Emilia Belshan, 86, of Austin, died on Wednesday, Dec 20, 2006 at the Austin Medical Center.

She was born January 23, 1920 near Geraldine, Montana to Louis and Anna (Sistek) Plevka.

After her mother died, Louis moved Mabel to Minnesota where she lived with various relatives in Austin, Myrtle and vicinity.

Her father died when she was 12.

As a youngster, Mabel was active in the ZCBJ, participating in cultural performances and attending dances at the Brick Hall near Myrtle.

In 1938 Mabel married Jerome Belshan, also of rural Myrtle, in Nashua, IA. They lived on the Belshan farm in the Myrtle area for awhile and then moved to her father’s farm on Highway 218 north of Austin, near Lansing. There they farmed and raised a family. Mabel loved working on the farm and in her garden.

Primarily a homemaker, she also worked at the Lansing Elementary School and later at the Mapleview Lounge. In 1964 Mabel and Jerry moved to Austin.

They were members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Austin.

Mabel loved gardening, baking, reading and hunting wild mushrooms.

She was active at the Eagles and Moose in Austin and was a 75 year member of the ZCBJ (now WFLA). She was a wonderful mother, neighbor and friend to many in Austin.

The last five months she was a resident of St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.

Mabel was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jerome, a son Gordon and two grandsons, John and Paul. She is survived by sons Douglas (Janice) of Park Rapids and Joseph Jan of St. Paul. A daughter Judith of Solon Springs, WI. She will also be missed by friend Robert

Corbett, St. Paul and many other relatives and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held 10:30 am on Saturday, Dec. 30 at Mayer Funeral Home with Rev.

Russ Wangen officiating with interment at the Bohemian National Cemetery, near Myrtle, followed by a lunch at the Eagles Club.