Marcella Zierden

Marcella C. "Sally" Zierden, age 80 of Sauk Centre, died Thursday, May 20, 2010 at Country Manor Health Care Center in Sartell, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 24 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Rev. Todd Schneider will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Parish prayers will be at 5:15 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Marcella Ruegemer was born September 27, 1929 in St. Martin, Minnesota to Alfred and Magdalena (Blonigen) Ruegemer. On May 24, 1950 she married Arthur Zierden at St. Martin Catholic Church in St. Martin. The couple farmed north of Sauk Centre in Kandota Township, Todd County. She retired from the farm to Sauk Centre in 1990.Sally was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, St. Theresa's Mission Group, and Homemaker's Club. She volunteered as a member of the parish funeral choir and serving lunch at Holy Family School.Sally was an excellent flower and vegetable gardener and enjoyed traveling on bus tours. She carried on a family tradition of making beautifully stitched quilts.In 2003, as her Alzheimer's disease continued to advance, she moved to St. Benedict's Center in St. Cloud and later to Country Manor Health Care Center in Sartell. Her family would like to thank her friends, neighbors, and church family that looked out for Sally while she was still at home. The St. Benedict's and Country Manor staffs also deserve a thank you for the wonderful care they provided to Sally.

Survivors include four children, Jacquelyn (Daniel) Neu of St. Cloud, Clarice (Dwight) Bengtson of Clear Lake, Mark (Janice) Zierden of Melrose, and Lyla Mae (Sheldon) Carrier of Grey Eagle; 13 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Sylvester (Peggy) Ruegemer of Sauk Centre, Melvin (Aurelia) Ruegemer of Rockville, Viola Zierden of Grey Eagle, Lorella Pundsack of Melrose, Edwin Ruegemer of Bemidji, Lorraine (Gerald) Hoffman of Buckman, Virgil (Susan) Ruegemer of Pierz, Lawrence (Mary) Ruegemer of Richmond.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Art Zierden on October 28, 1987; and grandson, Aric Zierden.Serving as casket bearers, cross bearer, and scripture bearer will be her grandchildren.