Marie A Wambeke

Marie A . Wambeke passed away at the age of 95 June 10, 2013 at the Billings Clinic Hospital in Billings MT.   She was born June 7, 1918 in Bruning NE to German immigrants William and Helena (Hinrichs) Steffens.  In 1919, the Steffens family traveled over the Big Horn Mountains in a Model-T Ford to settle in Deaver WY.  
Marie graduated from Deaver High School in 1936 and married her high school sweetheart, Emiel Wambeke, June 7, 1937.   Emiel and Marie spent 49 years together in the Deaver/Powell area.  Marie spent many years working at and managing the Trailway Cafe in Deaver and completed her employment years working at the Deaver School.  She remained on the family farm until the time of her death.
Marie loved to fish and often talked about the large fish fries that they had after a successful fishing trip.  She also loved to travel and relished the trips she made after retirement with her brother Fred and sister Martha.  She enjoyed bowling into her 90's and loved playing cards.  She and her cribbage partner took 2nd place in the local cribbage tournament this year.  She spent many hours volunteering at the Deaver/Frannie Methodist Church and helping with the senior lunches at the Deaver Community Center.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Emiel; sisters, Martha, Helen, and Dorothy; brother, Fred; son-in-law J.R. Wright; and grandson Wendell Wright.
She is survived by her children Loretta Schwehr (John), Jim Wambeke (Judy), and John Wambeke (Evelyn) of Deaver WY; Evelyn Wright, and Mary Fraser (John) of Powell WY; 14 grand children; 27 great grand children; 8 great, great grand children; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 14, 2013 at the Deaver/Frannie Methodist Church in Deaver WY.  Viewing will take place Thursday, June 13, 2013 from 6-7 PM at Thompson's Funeral Home, 111 West Third Street, Powell WY.
Memorial donations  may be made to the Deaver/Frannie Methodist Church or a charity of your choice.