Mabel Tassel

Mabel VanTassel, 95, Breckenridge , MN , formerly of Kent , MN passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at St. Francis Home , Breckenridge , MN . Funeral services will be on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 10:00 AM at St. Thomas Catholic Church, Kent , MN . Visitation will be on Friday, January 16, 2009 from 5 pm to 8 PM with a Prayer Service at 7 PM at Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home, Breckenridge , MN . There will also be visitation at the funeral home at 9 am prior to the funeral. Interment will be at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery , Kent , MN.

Mabel Isabel LeNoue was born at home on April 6, 1913 and grew up north of Kent , MN the sixth child born to Mary (Gagnon) and Cyrille LeNoue. Mabel completed her primary communion in 1920; Solom Communion in 1923; and confirmation in 1927 and public school diploma in 1928. At six months, Mabel and her family moved to Luck, WI returning to Kent , MN five years later. Mabel’s independence was witnessed early in life as she purchased her first drivers license at the age of 13. On October 10, 1935, Mabel and Bernard (Short) Van Tassel were married. As newlyweds they invested in a bar in Waverly, MN. The severe winter of 1935 kept people at home and the bar business suffered. The next summer they decided to move to Downey , CA where they lived for 11 years. Looking for a better place to raise their family, they returned to Kent , MN where they lived and worked on various farms. In 1957 they returned to the LeNoue family farm and farmed it until they retired in 1970. Retirement years were enjoyed at their cottage on Ottertail Lake and in Breckenridge until Short died in1989.

Mabel continued to enjoy family gatherings, travel, reading, soft music, gardening, baking, and needlework and liked helping others. Mabel was a remarkable woman and will be fondly remembered for her quick wit, warmth, and delicious rhubarb pie. Mabel took pride in her good health and fitness by walking stairs and bounding on her trampoline daily. Her spirituality was a priority and she found comfort and strength through her church community. Mabel was honored as Wilkin County Outstanding Senior Citizen in 1993 and Senior VIP in 1996, in part for the many years she volunteered at the food shelf. Mabel was a willing traveler and made four trips to Ireland , went on a cruise, and made numerous trips to visit family in Idaho , Washington , Wisconsin , Nevada and California .

Mabel is survived by her sons, Wes (Dude) Van Tassel, Ellensburg, WA, Jim (Mary) Van Tassel, Houlton, WI, Dale (Joan) Van Tassel, Riggins, ID, Alan Van Tassel, Ottertail, MN, Roger Van Tassel, Breckenridge, MN; her grandchildren, Steve (Jane) Van Tassel, North Oaks, MN, Craig Van Tassel, New York City, NY, Sue (Dave) O’Toole, County Mayo, Ireland, Katie (Kevin) Lavery, Jackson MI, Eric (Leigh) Van Tassel, Casper, WY; her great-grandchildren, Christina, Molly, and Patrick O’Toole; Jeremy and Samuel Van Tassel, Andrew and Nathaniel Lavery, Hannah and Miranda Van Tassel; her brother, Marvin (Bette) Le Noue, Arizona; her sister, Agnes Hestdalen, Wahpeton, ND: Her sisters-in-law, Betty LeNoue, Alice Van Tassel, and Ruth LeNoue

She is preceded in death by her parents, Cyrille and Mary LeNoue, her husband, Bernard Van Tassel; her granddaughter, Ericka Van Tassel; her brothers, Leo, Ray, Julius, Abel, Roland, Eugene, Chester, Vernon, Urvan, Lavern, and Lloyd LeNoue; her sisters, Alice Rezac, and Gladys Behrends



In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s School in Breckenridge , MN .