Magdalene Garding

Magdalene M. Garding, age 100 of St. Martin, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at the Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 7 at St. Martin of Assisi Catholic Church in St. Martin with Rev. Edward Bebelun, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the St. Martin Parish Hall in St. Martin. The Christian Mothers and the St. Agnes Mission Group will pray at 7 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening at the Parish Hall.

Magdalene Mary Bueckers was born January 26, 1914 near Freeport in Oak Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Bernard and Bernadine (Boeckermann) Bueckers. She was united in marriage to Nicholas Garding on June 26, 1934 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Magdalene farmed near Albany for 37 years then moved to St. Martin in 1971. Since 2007 she resided at the Mother of Mercy Campus of Care in Albany.

She was a member of St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin, St. Ann's Christian Mothers, Rosary Sodality, and St. Agnes Mission Group. Magdalene enjoyed both flower and vegetable gardening. Her favorite flowers were her geraniums and she also canned the vegetables she grew. She also enjoyed quilting and crocheting, cooking, playing cards, and she loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Survivors include her children, Tillie (Rollie) Gilk of Albany, Marie Garding of St. Cloud, Doreen (Edmund) Ebensteiner of Richmond, Joe (Janice) Garding of Albany, Adeline (Ralph) Boecker of St. Cloud, Helen (Donnie) Van Drehle of Melrose, and Steve (Mary) Garding of Freeport; 24 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Armella Bueckers of Albany and Tillie Bueckers of Freeport.

Magdalene was preceded in death by her husband, Nicholas Garding on April 12, 1985; grandson, Tom Ebensteiner; two infant grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brothers and sisters, Katherine Toenies, Theresa Frie, Agnes Eickhoff, Joe Bueckers, Herman Bueckers, Edwin Bueckers, and Rose Wensman.

Serving as casket bearers will be Kevin Ebensteiner, Gail Wieling, Shawn Garding, Nancy Mellesmoen, John Gilk, and Tim Boecker. Cross bearer will be Justin Spanier and scripture bearer will be Robin Duckson. Honorary bearers will be St. Ann's Christian Mothers and the St. Agnes Mission Group.