Mae I. Moe

Mae I. Moe, 97, a resident of Des Moines, IA, formerly of Rothsay, died Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at Scottish Rite Park in Des Moines, IA.

Mae was born on October 22, 1917, near Rothsay, MN, to Carl and Marie (Rude) Stras. She attended District 127 and Rothsay Public School, graduating in 1935 from Fergus Falls High School. In 1937 she graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College. Mae taught in Ottertail County rural schools for five years. She married Otto A. Moe on June 8, 1939. They farmed and moved to Rothsay in 1947, where she lived until moving to the Des Moines, IA, area in 2004.

Mae was a life-long member of Hamar Lutheran Church (now New Life Lutheran Church) and active in ladies’ organizations. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and offered a helping hand wherever needed. For 25 years she assisted her husband in their Rothsay State Farm Insurance office. She also taught at Rothsay High School.

Mae was a devoted wife and mother to her three children. She and Otto enjoyed a full life of love and 59 years of marriage before his passing in 1998. She always welcomed visitors and shared her wonderful cooking and hospitality with many relatives, friends and children who stopped by. Her talents and hobbies were unlimited; creative writing, sewing, crocheting, oil and acrylic painting, rosemaling, quilting, cooking and baking. She baked and decorated wedding cakes for her three children and many others in the community. She enjoyed time at the lake, traveling, dancing, Senior Citizen activities, card playing, volunteering and spending quality time with family and friends. Her love of Jesus, family and friends, along with her kind wit and sense of humor, will be fondly remembered. She was grateful to get to know and spend time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and was most appreciative for all the caregivers who brought her much joy and so lovingly provided the care she needed.

Preceding her in death is her husband, Otto Moe; an infant daughter; parents; sister, Carol Halbakken; sons-in-law, John Anderson and Dayle Hauger, and several extended family members.

She is survived by three children. Marlyce Hauger of Urbandale, IA; Kathleen “Kathy” Anderson of Urbandale, IA; Keith (Catherine) Moe of Vergas, MN; six grandchildren, Larry (Meredith) Hauger of Moorhead, MN, Michelle (Bill) Kurtz of Urbandale, IA, Kayla (Brad) Winnike of Clive, IA, Barry (Wendy) Anderson of Ridgefield, WA, Cindy (Jason) McClain of Lakeville, MN, Brian (Kerry) Moe of Chaska, MN; eleven great-grandchildren, Alexandria, MacKenzie and Remington Hauger, Nathan and Emily Kurtz, Jenna, Hanna and Haley Winnike, Elliott Anderson, Audrey McClain, Lydia Moe; brother, Carlton Stras; brother-in-law Del (Ramona) Moe; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to New Life Lutheran Church Building Fund or Hamar Cemetery Fund.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, February 21, 2015 at New Life Lutheran Church, Rothsay, MN
Clergy: Reverend John Krueger
Interment: Hamar Lutheran Cemetery, Rothsay, MN