Alpha Stanke

Alpha Stanke, age 97, was called to her Heavenly home on Tuesday morning, October 15, 2019, at Colony Court in Waseca.
Funeral Service will be 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 19, at Salem Lutheran Church in Eagle Lake with Pastor George Dummann officiating. Interment will be in the Smiths Mill Cemetery following the service.
Visitation will be from 4-7 PM on Friday, October 18, at Starkson & Steffel Funeral & Cremation Service ~ Arnoldt Chapel of Janesville and continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
Memorials are preferred to Salem Lutheran Church or Smiths Mill Cemetery.
Alpha Verdena Florence (Berge) Stanke was born on February 26, 1922, to Ole and Gunda (Hansen) Berge in Souris, North Dakota. She was baptized on April 5, 1922, by Rev. T.T. Carlson and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith by Rev. Peder Oklevik from Oslo, Norway on October 25, 1936, both in the Turtle Mountain Lutheran Church. After completing her education in the local area of Haram Township, Bottineau County, North Dakota, she then ventured to Minneapolis-St. Paul area and got a job at International Harvester Company and during World War II, she worked at their defense plant.
On May 8, 1943, Alpha was united in marriage to Erhart Stanke at the Smiths Mill Lutheran Church by Rev. Netzke. They were Blessed with two children, VonDa Rae and Elden Erhart. For 62 years she worked side by side with her beloved husband at their farming operation. Together they traveled the countryside seeing all 50 states and a few foreign countries. Alpha enjoyed farming, mowing lawn, the Minnesota Twins, and especially her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
She was a member of Salem Lutheran Church of Eagle Lake, where she taught Sunday School, played the organ and was a member of the Ladies Aid for several years.
Alpha is survived by her daughter, VonDa Britton of Janesville; six grandchildren: Todd (Sara) Britton of Janesville, Aaron (Kelly) Britton of Bovey, MN, Adam (Amanda) Britton of Janesville, Tara (Drew) Sprengeler of Janesville, Daisy Stanke of Janesville, and Charles (Jennifer Gleason) Stanke of Waseca; daughter-in-law, Merry Stanke of Janesville; 10 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her husband, Erhart in 2005, her son Elden in 2015, her son-in-law: Rick Britton in 2006, parents, three brothers and seven sisters.