Marie A . Wambeke

Posted

(June 7, 1918 - June 10, 2013)

Marie A . Wambeke died Monday, June 10, 2013, at the Billings Clinic Hospital in Billings. She was 95.

She was born June 7, 1918, in Bruning, Neb., to German immigrants William and Helena (Hinrichs) Steffens.

In 1919, the Steffens family traveled over the Big Horn Mountains in a Model T Ford to settle in Deaver.

Marie graduated from Deaver High School in 1936 and married her high school sweetheart, Emiel Wambeke, on June 7, 1937. Emiel and Marie spent 49 years together in the Deaver/Powell area. Marie spent many years working at and managing the Trailway Cafe in Deaver and completed her employment years working at the Deaver School. She remained on the family farm until the time of her death.

Marie loved to fish and often talked about the large fish frys that they had after a successful fishing trip. She also loved to travel and relished the trips she made after retirement with her brother, Fred, and sister, Martha.

Marie enjoyed bowling into her 90s and loved playing cards. She and her cribbage partner took second place in the local cribbage tournament this year. She spent many hours volunteering at the Deaver/Frannie Methodist Church and helping with the senior lunches at the Deaver Community Center.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Emiel; sisters, Martha, Helen and Dorothy; brother, Fred; son-in-law J.R. Wright; and grandson Wendell Wright.

Marie is survived by her children Loretta (John) Schwehr, Jim (Judy) Wambeke and John (Evelyn) Wambeke of Deaver; Evelyn Wright and Mary (John) Fraser of Powell; 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; eight great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 14, at the Deaver/Frannie Methodist Church in Deaver.

Viewing will take place Thursday, June 13, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Thompson’s Funeral Home, 111 W. Third St. in Powell.

Memorial donations may be made to the Deaver/Frannie Methodist Church, 380 First St., Deaver, WY, 82421, or a charity of your choice.

Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and condolences may be sent to the family at www.thompsonfuneral.net or P.O. Box 807, Powell, WY 82435.

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