Memorial service for Pauline Wendt, age 93, of Mobridge will be at 11 AM, Thursday, June 6, 2013 at the First Baptist Church in Mobridge. Inurnment will be at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. A Memorial visitation will be from 5 to 7 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. Pauline passed away Thursday, May 30, 2013 at the Mobridge Regional Hospital.

Pauline Regina Wendt was born on February 11, 1920 on her family's farm in Campbell County to Jacob and Magdalena (Vollmer) Wessel. She grew up on the farm in her early years until her family moved to the Bullhead area in 1930. She attended school in Timber Lake and boarded with the Catholic sisters during this time. She graduated in 1938 from Timber Lake High School. Following high school Pauline worked as a waitress at the local café, where she met Bill Wendt. They were married on April 6, 1941 at the Methodist parsonage in Timber Lake. Three children were born into the family, Richard, Cheryl and Debra. They made their home in Timber Lake area until 1951 when they moved their family to Mobridge.

Pauline worked for over 29 years in the nursery at the Mobridge Regional Hospital, where Pauline rocked many newborns. She was proud of the fact that she came up with the slogan for the hospital "Professional People with a Personal Touch." In the 1960's Pauline began making rolls, baking pies and wedding cakes for many people. She was known for her caramel rolls and also for supplying the snack bar at the hospital as part of the auxiliary.

Sewing was a passion for Pauline. She made clothes for herself, her children and grandchildren. As a gift of remembrance she also created doll sized replicas of wedding gowns for family members. She passed down her sewing skills to her daughters.

Although never published, Pauline had a way with words and used her talent to write both prose and poetry. She wrote poems for special occasions, including her parents 50th wedding anniversary, Cheryl's wedding, Richard and Peggy's housewarming, and family reunions. Pauline also wrote poems that expressed both her faith and her awe of what God had created. After retirement, she began to write "I Remember: The Story of Maggie and Jake." This was a testimonial to the courage and stamina of her parents as they raised 12 of their 13 children through the hardships of the Depression and drought of the Dirty Thirties. This short book was shared with extended family as a memorial to her parents.

Pauline loved to travel around the country with Bill and other relatives. Her trip to visit her niece in Australia was her "once" in a lifetime experience. She was very proud of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Pauline's faith was very important to her. She was very active in her church and served as deaconess until the age of 92. She was past president of the ABW and was instrumental in maintaining the mission outreach program.

Pauline is survived by her son, Richard (Peggy) Wendt of Glenham, two daughters, Cheryl (Byron) Perrine of Bird Island, MN and Debi (Lanny) Saintsing of Mobridge, grandchildren, Bill (Karyn) Perrine, Sarah Perrine, Mark (Kirsten) Wendt, Darin Wendt, Amanda Wendt, two great grandchildren, Prairie Wendt and Ryan Perrine and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Bill, and 6 brothers and 6 sisters.