Worthington, MN
    Mildred Virginia Henning, 85, passed away Sunday, May 22, 2011 at the Crossroads Care Center in Worthington, MN.
    Mildred was born October 31, 1925 at the family home, the daughter of Gust Sasse and Elizabeth Minnie Goedtke. She received her early education at the country school in Elk Township. She worked on the family farm with her parents and four brothers, taking over the role of homemaker at a young age of 14 when her mother passed away. This is where her love of the kitchen and having a house full of family, friends and good food began. Her incredible culinary skills helped her catch the eye of her forever partner Fred Thies Henning who was working on the farm for her father.
    They were united in marriage September 17, 1947, where they started their life together on a farm west of Bigelow. This is where they started their family. They had two daughters, Norma Jean and Nancy Jeanette. Together they farmed, milked cows and tended to their three huge gardens. Mildred was a homemaker, and in 1970 to 1974 she was employed at Michaels Steakhouse part time in the kitchen. She also worked part time at the Bigelow liquor store for a year where she exercised another one of her talents, her gift to gab to anyone. Her hobbies included cooking, gardening, dancing, playing cards, doing crossword puzzles, going for long drives in the country and her five grandchildren.
    After the death of her beloved husband in 1998 she stayed on the farm until the fall of 2007. She then moved to Worthington to be closer to her family.
    Survivors include her daughter, Nancy (Wayne) Reker, Worthington; grandchildren, Holly and Landyn Reker, Worthington, Kimberly Reker, Saint Louis Park, Chelsey Reker, St. Paul, and Lacey Reker, Harrisburg, SD and her son-in-law, Wallace Reyelts, Worthington.
    She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred in 1998 and daughter, Norma in 2010.
    Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Worthington, MN, with Rev. Joe Behnke officiating. Casket bearers will be Jerry Shore, Tom Peters, David Sasse, Brian Kunze, Dale Bryngelson and Denny Turner. Burial will be in the Worthington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 25, 2011, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Worthington.
Benson Funeral Home in Worthington is in charge of the arrangements.
