Irlene Rohrberg Obituary (1918

Irlene Laura Rohrberg, one of eight children of Louise Margretha (Bichel) and Frederick Henry Bebensee, was born near Glenwood, Iowa on April 24, 1918. In 1920, the family moved to Hemingford, Nebraska where they farmed until the drought forced them off the farm in 1934. They then moved to Alliance, Nebraska where Frederick worked as a carpenter. Irlene attended school in Alliance and then worked in the area caring for homes and ranches. She cleaned, prepared meals, and even killed a rattlesnake with a short handled ax. At age 21, Irlene traveled to Glenwood to visit family and met Levon John Rohrberg. The two were married at St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola, Iowa on November 15, 1939. They made their home on the farm and were blessed with their children; LeVerne, Coreen, and Kenton. Irlene enjoyed her role as homemaker and farm wife and the family were members of St. John Lutheran Church. In 1955, Irlene and Levon became members of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Glenwood. Irlene served on the Altar Committee, was a members of the Dorcas Circle, the Ladies Aid, and Trinity Quilters. In 1999, Irlene and Levon moved from the farm to a home in Glenwood. Levon and Irlene had been married nearly 60 years when Levon died later that year on October 28th. Irlene continued to live at home and remained active in her church. She became a member of the Red Hat Society, the Blue Bird Club, played with four different card clubs, and volunteered at the Glen Haven Home. Irlene loved to garden, flowers, and her church. She made quilts for all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. On December 8, 2006, Irlene died at the Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa at the age of 88 years, 7 months, and 14 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Levon Rohrberg; sisters Verna Underwood, Lucille Brown, Opal Barnett, and Dorothy Bruggmann; brothers Virgil Bebensee and infant brother Clyde Bebensee. Irlene is survived by her children LeVerne Rohrberg and his wife Diane of Glenwood, Coreen Johnson and her husband Ken of St. Paul, MN, and Kenton Rohrberg and his wife Eileen of Hays, KS; sister Leona Parks of Littleton, CO; sister-in-law Deloris Bebensee of Glenwood; 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.