Mabel Mae Uttermark

Mabel Mae (Malmstrom) Uttermark age 89, of New York Mills, MN formerly of Sebeka died on October 5, 2017 at the Elders Home in New York Mills. Mabel was born to Lewis A. and Matilda (Deike) Malmstrom on June 27, 1928 in Morgan, MN. Mable graduated from Morgan High School in 1946 and found employment in Morgan. She was employed by Gambles during the Holidays, the Temple Brother’s Grocery Store, and many years at the Morgan Drug Store. Mabel married Mark L. Uttermark at the United Methodist Church on September 28, 1952 in Morgan, MN. She had met Mark while he was home on furlough recovering from a wound received with the US Army in the Korean War. They moved to Sebeka, where they operated a small dairy farm until the fall of 1959. They sold the farm and moved into Sebeka after Mark was employed by the city as a police officer. Mabel was a stay at home mother for many years, but in 1967 she was employed by the Sebeka School and worked in the High School Library as a clerk and media aid, while raising their four children. She retired in 1987 after 20 years. Mark and Mabel also opened their large home and hearts and ran a foster home for boys as wards of Wadena County Probation. They made a big difference in the lives of young men from the area. While living at their home in Sebeka, Mabel always had a big garden and loved to can and freeze vegetables. Mabel was known for her good home cooking and especially her baked goods. There were many Deputies and State Troopers who enjoyed stopping for late evening coffee and her cinnamon or caramel rolls and visiting with Mark and Mabel. After Mark retired in 1979 and started a saw sharpening business, she assisted him in the shop with orders and bookkeeping. When she retired in 1987, they sold the saw sharpening business and spent their time making and selling crafts from home and at various locations in the area. Mabel and Mark also did a lot of traveling, for years enjoyed many organized bus tours throughout the United States. Mabel was involved with the Priscilla Guild at Grace Lutheran Church and was active in the American Legion Auxiliary Post 456 of Sebeka. She was an avid reader of good mysteries and a romance novel, along with needle work and puzzles in the winter months. Mabel enjoyed sewing and made many dresses for her daughters and even a few formals for local high school girls during prom season. She collected salt and pepper shakers and often family and friends would send her sets while traveling. When Mark’s health deteriorated and he moved into the Elders Home in New York Mills, Mabel moved to Heritage Manor Apartments close by, to be near Mark until his death in 2013. She then moved to an assisted living, Home Sweet Home in New York Mills. Mabel was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Mark, her brothers John and Stanley Malmstrom and sister Margaret Schmidt. Mabel is survived by her children Mark (Faith) Uttermark of Duluth, MN; Myron (Val) Uttermark of Crookston, MN; Merna (Dale) Malmberg of Walnut Grove, MN and Marsha (Rodney) Vandermay of New York Mills, MN; grandchildren, Ryan Uttermark, Dustin Uttermark, Corey Uttermark, Randy Vandermay, Jason Vandermay, Katie Carlson, Samuel Malmberg, Amelia Malmberg, Matthew Uttermark, and Mallory Uttermark, twelve great grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces. Visitations will be from 4-7 P.M. on Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at the Wevley Funeral Home in Sebeka, MN with prayer service at 6:30 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at Grace Lutheran Church in Sebeka, MN with Pastor Mark Hesse officiating. Lolita Myers will serve as organist. Active Pallbearers will be her grandchildren. Interment Services will be held at Sebeka West Cemetery.