MINNA O. BEHNKE, 100, of 703 Fleming Ave., died Sunday, March 1, 1998 at Dove Health Care. She was born April 14, 1897 in German Valley, Town of Albany, Pepin County, to Louis and Emma (Thomas) Thalacker. Minna married William A. Behnke on June 8, 1921 in the German Valley Church and they moved to Eau Claire in 1925, where Minna, resided in her home for 75 years. She worked at the National Presto Munitions Factory during World War II. \r\nMinna was the oldest charter member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, where she was active in the Altar Guild and Ladies Aid.\r\nSurvivors include three daughters, Elaine Wrigglesworth, Alice (Donald) Smiskey and Gloria (Eilert) Berg, all of Eau Claire; a son, Bill (Shirley) Behnke of Atlanta, GA; a daughter-in-law, Dawn Behnke of Eau Claire; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.\r\nShe was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Wayne; a great-grandson, Joshua Wisnewski; eight brothers, Herman, William, Otto, Rudolph, Walter, Ewald, Robert and Arthur Thalacker; and four sisters, Ida Thalacker, Hattie Crapser, Louise Day and Clara Books.\r\nFuneral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church with Pastor Steven D. Rutter officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends may call 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lenmark-Gomsrud Funeral Home and an hour prior to services, Thursday at the church.

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