Alice Florence Sebenaler, 98, of Mentor, MN, passed away on November 22, 2024 peacefully at home with her loving children at her side. She was born on May 6, 1926, to beloved parents Anthony and Josephine (Hoffman) Janorschke, in Pierz, MN.
In the early years of her life, Alice’s family lived in the St. Cloud and Little Falls area before moving to Yankton, South Dakota, and finally settling in Mentor. She was the oldest of four siblings, which included her sisters, Marie “Mick” and Joan, and brothers Alby and Robert “Bob.” Alice recounted her family with many fond memories she had of growing up in Mentor at the old Hall Farm, including skating on Lake “Mabobalice.”
Alice graduated from Mentor High School with the class of 1944. After graduation, Alice went to Grand Forks to work in the hospital for a brief time. After a short time in Grand Forks, she moved to Minneapolis to attend Beck Radio School and, in November 1944, she graduated, passed her FCC examination, received her radio license, and was offered a job in Alaska which she declined the offer to begin her life with Ronald “Ron” Sebenaler who was serving in the Army Air Corps.
Alice and Ron married on May 6, 1946 on her twentieth birthday. The newlyweds honeymooned in Bemidji and went to Itasca State Park. Initially they lived on the original Sebenaler homestead next to their current beloved farm where they began to raise their six children.
Alice spent her days as a dedicated homemaker in addition to being a part of the Mentor PTA, Ladies Guild, and in St. Lawrence taught Sunday School for many years. She also held offices in the American Legion Auxiliary, Mentor Garden Club, Homemakers Club, Catholic Daughters, Eagles Auxiliary, and was an emergency rural mail carrier for years. Alice also belonged to the Golden Link in Crookston, where she volunteered well into her senior years.
Alice and Ron, known as “Nana and Bumpa” to their grandchildren, created wonderful memories on the farm which included a plentiful jar of home baked cookies, games of badminton and croquet, slip-n-slide on the slope, evenings around the kitchen table playing cards, Taboo, Pictionary, or Boggle, enjoying rhubarb sauce, camping under the oaks and stars, roller coasters at the Fertile Fair, mud fights in “Mud Lake,” swinging on the swing, summer days sunbathing, swimming and picnicking at the beaches of Lakeview or Oak Cove, and plenty of play with the farm cats, turtles, tadpoles, frogs, and toads. There was always loads of love and laughter!
Alice and Ron’s legacy lives on through their children: Tom (Joan) Sebenaler, Jude (Jerry) Tarkowski, JoAnne (Dean) Terry, Teri (Jay) Sebenaler Koreny, Scott (Donna) Sebenaler; Grandchildren: Heidi (Toby) Spilde, Tony Sebenaler, Allison (Joe) DeCamillis, Chris (Tia) Tarkowski, Shane (Dana) Terry, Rhonda Steltenpohl, Josh (Bex) Terry, Kim Tarkowski, April (Jeff) Lamb, and Shane Koreny; Great-Grandchildren: Beau Spilde, Payton and Jordan Steltenpohl, Lily, Violet and Willow Tarkowski, and Luca and Siena DeCamillis. Several of her great-grandchildren got to enjoy the wonders of the farm and the warm (and competitive) spirit of their “Nana Great” which often included arm wrestling, dominos, and endless games of Farkle.
Alice had a zest for life and lived it fully for ninety-eight years. In those years, she loved going to church, Shooting Star casino, playing bingo, watching anything Minnesota sports including Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, Lynx, Wild, spending time traveling especially to Hawaii, and preferred being barefoot or in flip-flops as long as she could during the year. Alice was able to stay on her farm until her final breath, some of her last words were, “I had a really good life. I was very lucky. Make sure to tell everyone I love them.”
Alice is preceded in death by her beloved husband Ron; parents Tony and Josephine Janorschke; eldest son, Richard “Rick” Sebenaler; her siblings Alby Janorschke, Bob Janorschke, Joan Renner, and Mickey Josten; her dear son-in-law Dean Terry; and many more loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, brothers & sisters in-laws, and relatives.
Funeral services will be provided by Stenshoel-Houske Funeral & Cremation Service. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Mentor, MN, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at noon. Visitation will be held one-hour prior to Mass. Burial will take place the same day at St. Lawrence Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her memory to any of Alice’s favorite organizations: Fertile Ambulance Service, Mentor Fire Department, Northland Food Bank, Gilda’s Club Minnesota, or Hospice of Red River Valley.
