Marie M. Rohling

Marie M. Rohling of Sartell passed away peacefully on Friday, July 15, 2022 after 100+ well-lived years. She was formerly a longtime resident of St. Cloud, including Benedict Village, Brainerd, and Brooklyn Park.

Visitation is Wednesday, July 20, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Daniel Funeral Home, St. Cloud and on Thursday at 10:00 AM at the church. Parish prayers are at 4:00 PM on Wednesday. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, July 21, at 11:00 AM at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, St. Cloud, with Reverend LeRoy Scheierl officiating. Interment will take place at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls.

Born Mary Magdalen Woebkenberg near Grey Eagle to Joseph and Kathryn (Wolking) Woebkenberg, Marie was the middle of seven children–fitting placement given her delight in the company of family. The fourth daughter before any sons, she served as their father’s “best farmhand I ever had.” After a childhood at a country school built on land donated by her father, she attended St. Cloud State Teachers College (now St. Cloud State University) for a two-year teaching degree. She later attained her Bachelor’s degree from SCSU and Master’s in Education from the University of Minnesota, both while working full-time and raising a family.

Marie married Othmar “Bud” Rohling on June 7, 1950 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in St. Wendell, MN, their 60-year union lasting until his death. Marie and Bud, also a schoolteacher, taught in several rural schools before moving their family to the Twin Cities. She devoted most of her career to the 2nd graders of Garden City Elementary in the Osseo School District; she adored teaching that age, especially seeing their progress in reading. After a 45-year career in teaching, Marie retired in 1985.

Marie graced her children and children’s children with the finer things: daily rosaries prayed on their behalf; deliciously crisp sheets; overly generous piles of gifts meticulously wrapped and armored with a roll of Scotch tape apiece; and no concept of how to serve a “small” slice of homemade pie. Marie and Bud road-tripped through all 50 states and Canada. Their tours of 11 European countries included some Bud had seen during World War II. As they aged, Marie faithfully served as her husband’s ears once the effects of wartime gunfire took a toll on his hearing. They were a couple comfortable in routine, reliably choosing Perkins for a meal out.

In their golden years, Marie and Bud obliged their role as lifelong Minnesotans by moving full-time to their cabin on Lower South Long Lake near Brainerd. When neighbors fled south for the winter, they simply moved their morning walks to the mall. They kicked up their heels square dancing in place of a longtime joint enjoyment of ballroom dancing. Marie insisted on style even when the time came to trade in the 3-inch heels she’d worn daily as a teacher for orthopedic shoes. Family members fondly recall her brightly painted fingernails. Bud and Marie’s 80s brought them back to St. Cloud, to the same condo building as two of Marie’s sisters. As a widow, Marie moved to and became a popular figure at Benedict Village independent living. Last year she transitioned to assisted living at the sister community of Chateau Waters in Sartell. Nursing staff reported vying for the privilege of caring for the pleasant and subtly feisty resident.

Marie filled out crosswords in pen, could out-guess any game show host, and passionately coached the Minnesota Twins’ every game from her favorite chair. She was an avid card player, participating in several weekly card groups where she lived or at local restaurants; other times she could often be found at her kitchen table playing solitaire or all four hands of bridge at once. Throughout her life, she cultivated large, vibrant flower beds that attracted comments from passersby. She kept a raised garden bed until a few years back–and turned every gifted zucchini into baked goods. For decades, Marie collected wedding announcements and obituary clippings into scrapbooks in order to commemorate her family, friends, neighbors, and teaching colleagues.

Last October, Marie celebrated her 100th birthday and received more than 100 greeting cards. Her passing concludes the Greatest Generation of the Rohling family, while only her “baby” sister survives among the Woebkenbergs. She’s truly a model of the hearty, active, hard-working, and devout senior population that places St. Cloud among the longest life expectancies in the country.

Marie is survived by her two children, Dennis of Isle and Karen (Lauren) Larson of Shawnee, KS; sister Kaye Klein of St. Cloud; grandchildren, Angela, Christian, Jared, Adam and Nicole; many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Departing before her were her husband; siblings Loretta Schmidt, Leona Frank, Rita Stuckel, Joe Woebkenberg, and Fred Woebkenberg; and more than a dozen brothers- and sisters-in-law.

Marie’s family would like to extend their appreciation for the dedicated care provided by the staff of Chateau Waters and Moments Hospice.