Mae M. Wegener

Mae M. Wegener (Lindgren) passed away on the morning of August 18th at Evergreen Hospice, Kirkland, WA surrounded by the love and comfort of her two daughters. It was a beautiful sunny day for her final journey home to be with her husband.  She was born on the family farm in Red River, MN on May 6, 1924.  She grew up in Noyes, MN and graduated from Pembina High School in 1940 at the age of 16.  Mae met George Wegener and they were married in 1943, two weeks before he left for a two year tour of duty overseas with the US Army.  In his absence, Mae lived in Minneapolis, worked for Gamble Skogmo and volunteered her time at the USO.  During this time she also received her CNA from the University of Minn.  In 1945, she and George moved to Portal, ND where they spent the next 60 years, moving to Seattle in 2005 to be close to their girls. George passed away in 2007.  During their time in Portal, Mae was an active member of the community.  She purchased a ceramic studio with Ione Keller and eventually became sole owner of Mae’s Ceramics for many, many years.  She had customers from miles around in both the US and Canada.  She was an accomplished artist in oil painting, wood working, drawing, sewing, and most of the pieces were her own design.  Our mom could do anything!  Lithographs of her painting of the ‘Bygone Streets of Portal’ are hung in many homes around the world.  Her latest artistic venture in Seattle was driftwood sculpture, creating many beautiful pieces exhibited in the NW Driftwood Art Show.  Most important in Mae’s life was her family.  She was a beautiful woman, who loved her family ferociously, with all her heart.  For as much as our hearts ache, she has left us with so so many wonderful memories and a shining example of what it means to be the best mother, grandmother and great grandmother in the world.
She will greatly missed by her daughters Barbara (Jim) Salter and Joni (Michael) Ballantyne; grandchildren:  Quinn (Ben) Richey, Gillian (Paul) Davis, Anthony (Caitlin) Salter, Blake and Tori Ballantyne; great grandchildren: Tyler and Makiah Richey and Siena Davis, all of the Seattle area; her sister Earlene Newton of Porterville, CA; many nieces and nephews and many many friends both in North Dakota and Washington state.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2013 at 1:00 pm in the Chapel of Barton’s Funeral Home, 14000 Aurora Ave N., Seattle, WA  98133.
In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests that remembrances be sent to Evergreen Hospice 12822 124th Ln NE, Kirkland, WA 98034