Freda Rebarchek, 90
Freda Rebarchek left our world after a brief illness at Lakewood Hospital in Baudette, MN on November 28, 2011 with family at her side. She was born to Fred N. and Clara (Schmidt) Pedersen on July 23, 1921 in Graceton, Minnesota.
She was raised in Graceton, Minnesota. Her mother died when she was 13 so Freda took over cooking cleaning and washing for her dad and 3 brothers. She attended school for 5 years graduating from the 8th grade with honors. She married Allie Rebarchek on December 18, 1942. Allie built their home a mile from where she was born to raise their family. She continued to live there until December 2010 when she entered LakeWood Care Center for rehab. She never gave up the hope of returning home.
She was a wonderful cook and worked as the head cook at the Trinity Hospital for over 35 years. It was not uncommon for the patients to find strawberries and ice-cream from her strawberry garden that she had picked the day before. She cooked everything from “scratch” and was very proud of the fact she was never late for work. Friends and family always smiled when she would say, “Remember, there is desert!” (usually pie), but usually not until after you had already filled your plate.
They farmed and Freda had many a story of milking cows, cutting wood, as well as growing and harvesting potatoes. It was a rare occasion that someone would stop to visit without having coffee and cookies or pie. She often even invited pesky salesmen in for coffee.
Her hobbies and interests included visiting family or friends, playing cards at the Williams Senior Center, baking, picking strawberries or blueberries and gardening. Many neighbors and family would stop for a visit when the garden was ready and go away with a bag of vegetables.
She loved to sew and family/friends were often the benefactors of quilts and other projects. More than sewing or quilting or cooking or baking she loved to give.
She was a charter member of the TAG (Thursday Afternoon Group) Club which disbanded, the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the American Legion Auxiliary and of course the Williams Senior Center. When her children were young she was a 4-H leader. She was always willing to drop what she was doing to help family or friends and always thought of others needs before her own.
She is survived by her children, David Rebarchek (Shari) of Grand Forks, ND, Kay Adams (Bill) of East Grand Forks, MN, and Gene Rebarchek (Jeanne) of Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico as well as numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Allie, son, Neil Walter, daughter, Carol Ann Pieper, brothers, Nels, Ray and Paul, son-in-law, Ben Bitzer and daughter-in-law, Delores Rebarchek.
In lieu of flowers, Freda and her family request donations to the Williams Senior Center or your favorite charity.
Funeral services for Freda Rebarchek of Williams will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at 10:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Williams. Visitation will be on Friday from 6-8 PM with an 8:00 p.m. devotional service at Helgeson Funeral Home in Baudette. Interment will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Williams.
