Frances Riebeling, age 91, formerly of Inwood IA, died Friday, May 18, 2012 at the Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids, IA.
Funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Thursday, May 24th at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Inwood, IA, with Reverend John Wolf, officiating. Burial will take place prior to the service private for family in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Hull, IA.
Visitation will be Wednesday, May 23rd from 2:00 to 8:00 PM with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, IA.
Frances Dorthea Elise (Walter) Riebeling was born November 28, 1920 near Boyden, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Marie (Kruse) Walter. She was baptized on December 15, 1920 and confirmed on March 25, 1934 at the St. John Lutheran Church near Boyden. She attended parochial school through the eighth grade. After graduating from eighth grade she worked as a hired girl until getting married to Elmer Riebeling on June 26, 1941 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hull, IA. They were married for thirty-six years when Elmer passed away on September 3, 1977. They farmed in the George and Rock Rapids area until moving to Inwood in 1960. She was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Inwood, IA, belonged to BLWC, circle, served on the Altar Guild, parish Education Board, and Luther League advisor and taught Bible school. She enjoyed having a garden and canning the goods. She was a great cook and baker of breads, rolls and pies. She raised ducks, geese and chickens, and spent a lot of time reading her Bible. She was very supportive to her family and friends.
Surviving are Jan Riebeling of St. Michaels, MN, Betty (Ron) Gruis of Rock Rapids, IA; grandchildren, Michelle Riebeling of St. Michaels, MN and Lisa (Clark) Citene of St. Michaels, MN, Jennifer (Jason) Holt of St. Michaels, MN, Pam (Lyndon) Johnson of Mitchell, SD, Joel (Nicole) Gruis of Colton, SD, Tim (Liz) Gruis of Westmoreland, KS; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Laura Warner of Sioux Falls, SD, Delores Nachtigal of Ankeny, IA; two sisters-in-law, Nona Walter of Jasper, MN and Elizabeth Riebeling of Alvord, IA; one brother-in-law, Alfred Wagner of Glendale, AZ and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, an infant son, her son John, great-grandchild Isabelle Gruis, brothers, John and Carl Walter; sisters, Helen Diedrich, Viola Schroeder, Irene De Vries, Arlene Herman and Darlene Wagner.
