Wilma Wangen, 91

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The funeral service for Wilma Elmira Wangen, of Albert Lea, will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at the First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.
Wilma died on Tuesday morning, Aug. 25, 2009, at St. John’s Lutheran Home. She was 91.
Wilma was born on Oct. 15, 1917, in Minnesota, the daughter of Henry and Josephine “Josie” (Jacobson) Berhow. Wilma’s early years were spent on a farm near Blue Earth, and then the family moved to Albert Lea where she graduated from high school.
She married Odin C. Wangen on Oct. 23, 1937, in Northwood, Iowa.
Wilma worked in the livestock office at Wilson & Co. for more than 30 years.
She was a member of First Lutheran Church where she had been active in a circle and was a volunteer in the church office.
She enjoyed maintaining her home and working in her large vegetable garden and flower garden.
Wilma is survived by her son, Roger Wangen, and his wife Mary Lou of Rome, Wis.; grandchildren: Eric (Tanya) Wangen, Lisa (Brian) Frost, Jeffrey (Dalcimar) Wangen; great-grandchildren: Emily, Hannah, Abby, Steven, and Scott; a brother, Milford (Helen) Berhow, of Rochester.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Odin, in 1962; brothers: Kenneth, Wayne, Henry “Hank” Jr., and Harlen Berhow; sisters: Hazel Mitchell, Mae Eldredge, Fern Gramm, and Erma Pollei. Her second husband, LeRoy “Roy” C. Merkel, also preceded her in death.
Memorials suggested to First Lutheran Church.