Pauline “Polly” A. Sponberg, 87, passed away peacefully Monday, Oct. 16, 2017,  at her home near New Richland, surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Vista Lutheran Church in rural New Richland. The Rev. Brian Gegel will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup-Friedrich Funeral Home, 217 W. Division St. in New Richland, and again one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in Vista Lutheran Cemetery.

Pauline Ardis was born Dec. 1, 1929, to parents Peter and Olava (Bridley) Knutson in Albert Lea. She attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse, Bell School. Polly graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1948 and from St. Olaf College in 1952. She was a teacher in Pocahontas, Iowa, and New Richland and served on the New Richland-Hartland School Board for 15 years.

On March 19, 1955, Pauline married Darrol Sponberg at Oakland Lutheran Church, where she had been baptized and confirmed. She helped her husband in their trucking and farming business.

In her free time, Polly enjoyed playing cards, gardening, mowing and watching her grandkids’ activities.

She will be deeply missed by her family.

Survivors include her son, David (Lee) Sponberg; daughter, Paula Priebe, and her children Madison, Jackson and Allison; daughter, Karla Christopherson, and her husband, Doug Christopherson, and their girls Abby and Olivia; sister, Elaine Buley; brother-in-law, Adryn (Donna) Sponberg; sister-in-law, Jana Lee Sponberg; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Polly was preceded in death by her husband, Darrol; parents Peter and Olava Knutson; sister, Ione (Tom) Morris; brothers Paul Knutson, Vernon Knutson and Clare (Mavis) Knutson; and son-in-law, Terry Priebe.

Memorials  are preferred to the American Heart Association.