Naomi Enke

NAOMI RUTH ENKE was born June 1, 1926 to William and Inice (Campbell) Nelson in Canby, Minnesota. She was baptized July 11, 1926 and confirmed December 8, 1940 at Marble Lutheran Church in Marble Township in Lincoln County. She grew up on the family farm near Ivanhoe, Minnesota and attended country school at District 13, graduating from Ivanhoe High School in 1944. She continued her education at Mankato State College where she received her teaching certificate. She taught in Arco School from 1945-1947 and in Lake Benton School from 1947-1951, as well as doing substitute teaching. On June 16, 1949 Naomi married Vernon Enke at the St. Genevieve Catholic Church parsonage in Lake Benton. Their union was blessed with five children and 56 years of life together. The couple made their home in Lake Benton where they raised their family. Naomi later worked at Utoft-Johansen Furniture Store in Lake Benton from 1967-1979, when she retired. Vernon passed away in 2006. Naomi continued to live in Lake Benton until she entered the care of Hendricks Nursing Home in 2015 where, on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 she died at the age of 90.

Naomi was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lake Benton where she actively served in the GLCW Altar Guild, Circle, and Grace Lutheran Quilters. She was a member of Beta Federated Club and the Henry Sollie American Legion Auxiliary. She co-started the Cub Scouts in Lake Benton in the early 1960s. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, reading, family history and genealogy, quilting, and collecting rocks, and loved her time spent with family.

Naomi is lovingly remembered by her children, David Enke of Lake Benton, MN, Dean (Jacklyn Ekstrand) Enke of St. Joseph, MN, Rebecca (Ronald) Draper of Chokio, MN, Daniel (Cynthia Carpenter) Enke of Appleton, MN, and Elizabeth (Robert) Redlinger of Lake Benton, MN; 14 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; a brother, Roger Nelson of Ivanhoe, MN; a sister, June (Howard) Johnson of Bella Vista, AR; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon; her parents; a granddaughter, Melissa Enke; and two grandsons, Eric Redlinger and John Enke.

Blessed be her memory.

Memorials may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church, Lake Benton First Responders, or Lincoln County Parks Hole-In-The-Mountain Cabin Restoration.