Meribel Steiner age 95, formerly of Walnut Grove, passed away on January 13, 2018 at White Pines of Blaine. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 18 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Walnut Grove Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to the service at church on Thursday. Burial will be in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Redwood Area Hospice.
Meribel Dahms Krentz Steiner was born on May 6, 1922, in Walnut Grove, Minnesota to Martin and Jessie (Cole) Dahms. She was baptized in the Congregational Church and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, both in Walnut Grove. She graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1940, and then attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis. She worked for the founder of ACE Hardware, and also at Honeywell in Minneapolis. On June 20, 1944, she married Martin Krentz and moved to Baltimore, Maryland until the end of WWII, at which time they moved back to Minneapolis. Two daughters, Merilea and Rosemary were born during their time in Minneapolis. In March of 1951, they moved to Walnut Grove and started farming. Three more children, Doug, Jessie, and Richard were born. In addition to helping farm, Meribel worked first in the Westbrook Hospital, and then in the Tracy Hospital. In 1971, she relocated to Albert Lea to work at Naeve Hospital as Director of Quality Assurance. She received the honor of being named BPW Woman of the Year. She married Leon Steiner on December 21, 1975. In 1988, Meribel retired and moved back to Walnut Grove. Meribel enjoyed her pets, spectator sports, swimming (especially scuba diving), reading, volunteer work, spending time with friends, and family gatherings.
Meribel is survived by her sons Doug Krentz (Rennae) of Walnut Grove and Richard Krentz (Nikole) of Calgary, Alberta; daughters Rosemary Valentine of Coon Rapids and Jessie (Ted) Stevenson of Beloit, Wisconsin; grandsons Mike Valentine, Peter Krentz, T. Cole Stevenson; and granddaughters Rustan (Tim) Jackels, Victoria (Will) Racke, Mary Valentine and Sophia Stevenson. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Maynard and Doug, infant sister Elaine, husbands Martin Krentz and Leon Steiner, and daughter Merilea.
I had the pleasure of getting to know Meribel when she served in the early years as a director of the Tracy Area Medical Foundation. She was an amazing, passionate woman and was very proud of her children. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to get to know her. My deepest condolences to you all.
Thinking about you Jessie and your family at this difficult time. I still have the prayer shawl that Meribel made for me:) I’m sending lots of positive thoughts and love your way!
Sending hugs to entire Krentz clan; and an especially long one to Doug. I hope you all find peace knowing she isn’t struggling any longer.
I will always cherish my memories of long talks with Meribel about life and family. She would share things she learned from her mother and her experiences and then relate them to current situation. Her insights on business politics were incredibly helpful as I tried to learn to manage my career. She was a fantastic mother, business person and kind-hearted care giver.
PS Hope Meribel was yelling at the Vikes with Mert yesterday!!!
I would like to offer my condolences to the family. Mere words cannot express the grief that comes from losing a dear loved one to death. What can give us a measure of comfort is the Bibles promises of the day when sickness and death will be no more. Such words can hopefully ease the pain you all are experiencing at this time of sorrow. May the God of ALL comfort keep you enduring now and in the days to come. And may happy memories warm your hearts. – Revelation 21:3-5; 2 Corinthians 1:2-4
I feel privileged to have gotten to know Meribel during recent years when she lived at Country View in Walnut Grove at the same time that our mother, Louise Malmberg, lived there. She was a faithful and kind friend to Mom during that time, for which we are very grateful. Meribel in her later life was still full of chutzpah, wit and wisdom! My sincere sympathy to her family. Blessed be her memory.
Meribel was such a inspiration for me. I knew her from working at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea. She was my go to person whenever I had any questions or problems. In fact I used to call her “mother Theresa”, she helped me many times when I needed advice. I just wish I could have seen her one last time before she passed away. My sincere sympathy to her family. I am so blessed to have had this woman in my life.
Meribel took a lively interest in people of all ages and was a thoughtful and compassionate friend to many. She was in the same graduating class at Walnut Grove H.S. with my mother, Louise Malmberg, and they found themselves together again in recent years at Country View in Walnut Grove. Mom commented admiringly over the years on what an exceptionally capable person Meribel was. Wherever she found herself, Meribel found ways to use her talents to make a positive impact. I am grateful to have known her and I send my sincere condolences to her family.