MARIETTA - Funeral services are being held 11 a.m. today at St. John's Lutheran Church of Marietta, for Mildred Zanke. Pastor Brad Larson will officiate at this service. Special music provided by organist, Sonja Farmer, soloist, Charity Harvala and the Marietta American Legion Auxiliary Chorus. Honorary casket bearers are the Marietta American Auxiliary.

Active casket bearers include grandchildren Karla Schwebke, Tami Zanke, Darin Zanke, Samuel Meyer, Joseph Meyer and Jacob Meyer. There will be a spring interment at Augusta Cemetery.

Mildred Fay Berntson was born Dec. 3, 1917, in Gary, S.D., to parents Otto and Fay [Thompson] Berntson. She was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Gary, S.D. Mildred attended school in Gary, graduating from Gary High School in 1935. She furthered her education attending Business College in Minneapolis. She was united in marriage to Harlow J. Zanke on Dec. 24, 1938. They lived most of their married life in Marietta, until a few years ago when they moved to Park Avenue Apartments in Madison. Mildred was very active in her church and community, serving on the school board, election board, past president of the American Legion Auxiliary and Girl State Chairwomen. Death came to Mildred, Oct. 25, 2009, in Sioux Falls, S.D. She had reached the age of 91 years, 10 months and 22 days. In life, Mildred enjoyed dancing, playing cards and bingo, reading and writing poetry, embroidery work, puzzles, traveling and her grandchildren.

Mildred is survived by her loving husband, Harlow [married for 70 years] of Madison; two children; Jim [Margo] Zanke of Fairmont, Minn., Deb [Greg] Meyer of Waconia, Minn.; grandchildren; Karla [Steve] Schwebke, Tami Zanke, Darin [Jessica] Zanke, Samuel [Angela] Meyer, Joseph [Nicole] Meyer and Jacob Meyer; great-grandchildren; Clint [Joelle] Thomas, Kate Thomas, Scott and Colton Hines, Lucas and Tori Zanke, Zachary, Rebecca and William Harlow Meyer, Logan and Gage Meyer; step-grandchildren, Dustin [Candace] Schwebke; great-great-grandchildren, Aiden and Isaac Thomas; step-great-great-grandchildren, Alyse and Brian Schwebke; sisters, Dorothy [Cal] Schreiver and Ruth Jean Shearer; brothers-in-law, Gordon Zanke and LuVerne "Pete" Hults; sister-in-law, Luella Stamp; and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Mary Hults; and a brother-in-law, Hubert "Fat" Shearer.

Blessed be her memory.