Be the first to share your favorite memory, photo or story of
Edith.
This memorial page is dedicated for family, friends and future generations to celebrate
the life of their loved one.
We ask on behalf of the family that you keep your comments uplifting and appropriate
to help all who come here to find comfort and healing.
Obituary for Edith V. Mohnsen
Edith Virginia Mohnsen died peacefully at Frederic Nursing and Rehab on Saturday, November 26th at 2:25 pm. This was just four months to the day from her sister’s death. She was 88 years old. Her son and daughter were by her side when she passed.
Edie was born on October 24, 1923 to John and Emma Bengtson of Lewis, WI. She grew up in a loving family with her big brothers, Gordon and Ernie and her big sister, Lucille. She spoke Swedish at home until attending Rocky Ridge country school. She spent many years teaching Sunday school at the Methodist church in Lewis, WI. She graduated from Frederic High School in 1941.
After high school, Edie graduated from Polk County Teacher’s college in St. Croix Falls, WI. She taught grades one through eight in a one room school house in Clam Falls, WI. Later she moved on to teach at La Follette country school in rural Frederic, WI. She often talked about the two one room school houses and how she loved teaching there. She met her husband, Alvin Mohnsen, when she boarded at his family’s home while she taught at La Follette. She boarded with the Mohnsen’s because 20 miles was way too far to drive to work everyday!
Edie married Al Mohnsen on June 18, 1949. They built a small house on Ward Lake across from Al’s parents’ farm house so that they could farm the Mohnsen family farm together. They moved to Luck when Al was diagnosed with asthma and his health no longer allowed him to farm. During Al’s illness Edie was always by his side, helping him as he faced severe asthma attacks and many hospital visits. Her calling in life was to be a servant to her family and friends. She always thought of others rather than herself.
Edie taught Sunday school at Bone Lake Lutheran Church and taught 4th grade at Luck Public Schools in Luck, WI. While teaching at the Luck Public school her children had the opportunity to have their mother as their 4th grade teacher. Amazingly it was a good experience for all involved! She was “Mrs. Mohnsen” during the school day and “Mom” after hours. Actually they may have called her “Mrs. Mohnsen” at home but definitely not “Mom” at school.
During the summer of 1969 the family left Wisconsin to move to California because of Al’s health. They made it as far as Gila Bend, Arizona where car trouble stopped the family from going on. It was one week before school was to start when Edie met the Ajo, Arizona principal while at the laundromat. He had a job opening only a short distance away and she was hired on the spot. As a result, the family spent a year in Arizona before continuing on to Desert Hot Springs, California. She finished her teaching years there and retired to Wisconsin near her family.
In her retirement, Edie spent most all of her time babysitting her grandchildren, helping out in her children’s homes, volunteering at the nursing home and helping her Mother-in-law in her last years. She became “world-famous” for her cookies, baking them for church events, hunting season and even boxing them up and mailing them to her grandson during his semester abroad in Scotland. She always said they were no good but somehow we “managed” to enjoy them.
Edie was preceded in death by her husband, Al; brothers, Gordon and Ernie Bengtson and her sister, Lucille Hedlund.
She is survived by her son, Bruce Mohnsen (Marsha) of Chippewa Falls, WI and her daughter, Karoline White (Bill) of Frederic, WI; her grandchildren, Nathan White (Christina) of Fairchild, WI, Josh White of Eau Claire, WI, Tamara Foster (Kelly) of Chippewa Falls, WI and Abigail Mohnsen of Chippewa Falls, WI; great-grandsons, Trevor (age 5), William (age 2), Landon (age 1) and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 30 from 5-7 p.m. at the Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic, WI.
Funeral services will be held at Bone Lake Lutheran Church in rural Luck, WI on Thursday, December 1 at 11 a.m with Rev. Mary Ann Bowman officiating. There will be one hour visitation prior to the funeral service at the church.
Burial at Bone Lake Cemetery will take place immediately following the service.
Online condolences may be left at www.rowefh.com. Please continue to check this website for updated information or call Bruce Rowe at 715-327-4475.
Rowe Funeral Home of Frederic, Wisconsin has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
