Mildred Monke

Mildred Monke died peacefully on January 17, 2016 at the age of 103.

Her funeral will be held at 10 a. m. Friday, January 22 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dickinson with Revs. Lisa Lewton and Joe Natwick officiating. Inurnment will follow at approximately 1 p. m. at the Zion Lutheran Church cemetery north of Regent. Visitation will be from 1-6 p. m. Thursday, January 21, at Stevenson Funeral Home with family receiving friends and visitors from 4-6 p. m.

She was born June 10, 1912, to her parents, Theodore and Sophie Monke, at their farm in Rifle Township north of Regent. Millie was the first of her family’s generation born in North Dakota and the last of that generation to pass. Her education and introduction to the world began at the knees of her parents, the local country school, Regent High School, St. Paul (Minn. ) Luther College, Interstate Business College in Fargo, and Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. She responded to a call by the American Lutheran Church Board of Missions to serve as manager and administrator of a complex, hostel and school for handicapped and orphaned children, widows and handicapped elderly men and women at Nayudupeta, India, from 1938 to 1961. She returned to the home of her parents in Dickinson in 1961 and accepted employment as a parish worker at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. She worked there until 1977, while caring for her mother and father until their respective passings. She cared for Sophie until she died at 101 years old. Mildred was involved in volunteer work centering on issues and services for the older population in the Dickinson area and North Dakota. She served on the state Governor’s Commission on Aging and was instrumental in getting the Elder Care bus service established in Dickinson. In 2006, Mildred self-published her first and only book, “North Dakota to India: The Memoirs of a Missionary. “She then became one of the first residents of Hawks Point on Dickinson State University’s campus, where she stayed and celebrated her 100th birthday with many friends and relatives. She moved to St. Luke’s Home in 2012 and resided there until her passing.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Harlan and Kenneth; her cousin and lifelong friend Clarence Monke and his daughter, Marlene Mazzeo; her cousin Harold Pahlmeyer and his wife, Joanne, and many other friends and relatives.

She is survived by Clarence’s wife, Irene Monke, their son, Leon (Kitty) Monke, Regent, and their sons, Scott (Laurie) and daughters Megan and McKenna, New England; Jason (Jesse) and children Aiden and Halyn, Delano, Minn. ; and Dustin (Sarah) and son, Grant, Dickinson; cousin Roy (Jean) Pahlmeyer, Regent, and their children James, Regent; and Christina (Mike) Bueide and their children, Molly, Alyson and Andrew; Gering, Neb. , as well as many other relatives and friends. Mildred leaves this world confident in the promises of her Lord and Savior, and in the great thanksgiving and praise for friends and relatives who made life meaningful and good.

Burial Date: January 22, 2016
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND

Funeral Service: Friday, St. John Lutheran Church, Dickinson, ND