Mabel J. Folstad

Mabel J. Folstad, age 83, of Decorah, Iowa, died Thursday, April 9, 2009 at Wellington Place in Decorah following a lengthy illness. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah by Rev. Bryan Robertson with burial in Hesper Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. Friday at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Saturday one hour before the service at the church. Mabel Josephine Folstad was born July 22, 1925, in Ft. Atkinson, IA, the daughter of Anthony and Francis (Landa) Riha. She attended schools in Ft. Atkinson and Protivan. She was united in marriage to Maynard Folstad on January 26, 1956 in Mabel, MN. This union was blessed with three children: Sandra, Mark and Alvin. Mabel and Maynard farmed near Hesper from 1973-74 and then moved to Decorah. Mabel worked as a housekeeper at Aase Haugen Home, Berdine Sampson-Highlife Inn, Cliff House and Midtown Motel. She also did housekeeping for area families and waitressed at Ruby’s Restaurant. Mabel had been a member of Hesper Lutheran Church and is presently a member of Decorah Lutheran Church. She enjoyed cleaning, watching TV, mending, walking and having coffee with friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers: Virgil and Eddie Riha. Mabel is survived by her three children: Sandra Folstad of Decorah, IA, Mark Folstad of Decorah, IA and Alvin Folstad of Houston, MN; and by one sister, Dolores (Clinton) Sinclair of Spring Grove, MN.