Funeral Services for Irene Mommsen age 88, of Grand Island, NE, formerly of Atkinson, NE, will be 10:30 A.M. Monday, June 12, 2017, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Atkinson.

Burial will follow in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Atkinson.

Visitation will be Sunday, June 11, 2017, from 5-7 P.M. at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with a Prayer Service at 7 P.M. Irene passed away Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at the Tiffany Square Care Center in Grand Island, NE.

Memorial may be directed to the family for future designation.

Clara Irene Krogstad was born on December 30, 1928, at the family home in Monroe Township, Towner County, North Dakota, to Martin and Alma (Rudland) Krogstad.  She was baptized on March 24, 1929, and later confirmed on April 30, 1944, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rolla, North Dakota. Irene attended Country School in Monroe Township and she graduated from High School in 1948 in Rolla, NE.

On September 21, 1949, Irene married Gerhard Hans Mommsen at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rolla, North Dakota.  After they were married, the couple moved to Boys Town, NE, and their 3 daughters were later born:  Judy, Diane, and Shirley.

In the late 1950's, the family moved to Atkinson, NE, where Irene kept busy.  She belonged to Extension Clubs, was active in card clubs as she was a serious player!  She played Cribbage with Diane until accusations of cheating from both players called the game to an end.

Irene and Gerhard were conservative citizens and worked together in the interest of school education and keeping high standards and values.  They made numerous trips to Lincoln to fight against bills that would lessen the values regarding education.

Irene was almost always seen with a roll of crochet thread and her needle in her lap. She spent numerous evenings riding in the pickup with Gerhard, checking pivot irrigations and crocheting her newest table cloth for her family or for one of the many requested wedding gifts!  She contributed to our military overseas by crocheting stocking caps for the troops.

Irene cooked and canned for most of her life.  She would have a hot meal prepared for the hired guys who still remember the fine cooking. Once the meal was cleaned up and dishes done, then during harvest season, she would also take a lunch out to the fields to each one of the guys.

Irene always made time for her daughters. She could see the talents of each daughter and encouraged them. She was almost as excited for Judy to try a new recipe as everyone else was! And she was always waiting to see what beautiful new articles Diane had sewn for herself. She was "Johnny on the spot" when Shirley wanted to save the tad poles from the mud puddles before Gerhard filled them with dirt. She would be right in there helping catch the little things and only hope they would live.

Irene was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. Each year Irene would make the Norwegian flat bread called lefse. Wherever Irene was at it, people soon learned what Lefse was! It takes a knack to be able to make it the way she made it, and her daughters still struggle to obtain that talent!

Irene loved to travel. Numerous times it was questionable if she was in town, in the state, or in the country. She thoroughly enjoyed each and every trip.

Irene loved the Lord. She passed her values and belief in the one true God on to her family. Irene was the first to be called whenever there were prayers needed. We're not sure, but we think she had a connection that surpassed ours with her prayers.

Irene lived in Atkinson until she need extra care. She moved to the Evergreen in O'Neill, NE, then to Bickford Cottage Assisted Living in Grand Island, NE then to Tiffany Square to wait for the Lord to take her home. We're sure she is enjoying the Angels singing.

Irene is survived by her three daughters,  Judith Stauffer of O'Neill, NE, Diane Landin and husband, Michael, of Dallas, TX, Shirley Rustman and husband, Ron, of Grand Island, NE; four grandchildren, Seth Stauffer and wife, Lindy, of O'Neill, NE, Erica Ritz and husband, TJ, of Doniphan, NE, Erin Thiel of Grand Island, NE, Dayd Stauffer and wife, Sara, of Kearney, NE; nine great grandchildren,  Justice Ritz of Kearney, NE, Kaden and Logan Ritz of Doniphan, NE, Braxton and Tate Stauffer of O'Neill, NE, Urijah, Ariana and Arabella Alloway of Grand Island, NE, and Brooks Stauffer of Kearney, NE; one sister, Agnes Taylor of Toledo, OR; two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Lang and husband Phillip of Elkhorn, NE, and Crystal Chapman of Lincoln, NE; one brother-in-law, Edward Mommsen of Omaha, NE; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Gerhard Mommsen in 1991; and one brother, Ralph Krogstad.