MayBell Bakke

MayBell Sandberg was born March 9, 1929 to Frank and Rose (Schultz) Sandberg in Moorhead, MN. She lived in Moorhead for a short time before moving to Vergas, MN. MayBell had a hard work ethic. She assisted on the family farm with every chore imaginable, from milking cows to running the bailer.  She was united in marriage to Norman Bakke in March of 1947 in Vergas, MN. They made their home near Lake Lida where Norman worked on the mink farm and MayBell operated a small daycare for neighboring children. MayBell was an excellent homemaker. While raising her family she worked at the West Central Turkey Plant in Pelican Rapids doing various jobs. She also worked for a time at Swift and Company in Frazee. In her spare time, she loved to garden. Every spring MayBell would watch her flower garden blossom. She had a special love for hollyhocks, bleeding hearts and pansies. From her vegetable garden, MayBell was especially known for her pickled beets, stewed tomatoes, and the best dill and sweet pickles you ever ate!  She canned everything for later use, and taught all of her daughters the art of canning.  She also had a passion for embroidery, ceramics, crocheting and weaving rugs.

MayBell will be remembered and deeply missed by her 11 children: Joyce (Richard) Lefebvre of Lake Park, MN, Nancy (Richard) Molacek of Mayville, ND, Norma (Loren) Soland of Fairbanks, AK, Darrell Bakke of Detroit Lakes, MN, Corinne (Robert) Harkness of National City, MI, Sheryl (Charles) Roper of Detroit Lakes, MN, Pamela Bakke-Overvig of Detroit Lakes, MN, Bonita Bakke of Detroit Lakes, Kristie (Gary) Frank of Detroit Lakes, Barbara (John) Galinski of Elk River, MN and Tammy Bakke (Ethan Just) of Barnesville, MN. She is also survived by a special friend of the family, Steve Bergen, of Detroit Lakes. MayBell was blessed with 32 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren along with one brother; Raymond (Sharon) Sandberg of Detroit Lakes and one sister; June Woods of Detroit Lakes.  She will always be in our hearts and memories forever.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Norman, infant daughter and one sister Mary.