Obituary of Mary Frances Wohlenberg

Wohlenberg, Mary Mary Frances, “Marifran,” Wohlenberg, 94, of Yankton, South Dakota, passed away on January 24 in the Avera Majestic Bluffs Nursing Home. Visitation will be held at the church one-half hour prior to the service. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD is assisting with the arrangements. On-line condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Marifran was born on November 9, 1922, to Johanna Andrea (Johnsen) and Harry Herman Siedschlag in Sioux City, Iowa. She attended Central High School and upon graduation earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of South Dakota. She furthered her education at Northwestern in Chicago, IL. Her love of the arts was manifested in the many achievements in her life, beginning with acting in the cast of the Black Hills Playhouse in its second summer season. After her marriage to Donald F. Wohlenberg (December 24, 1948) and their move to Mitchell, South Dakota, she used her life-long training in ballet to open a dance studio in her back yard, later moving it to the basement of her house. Her love of music and her love of South Dakota, along with the many trips to their summer cabin in the Black Hills moved her to compose “South Dakota Suite,” a collection of pieces each representing the varied landscapes of the state. During the 1960s a friend of hers introduced her to Bob Ralston of the Lawrence Welk show, and he agreed to arrange her suite for piano. Since then, Conductor Henry Charles Smith orchestrated the piece entitled “Badlands,” which has been performed by the South Dakota Symphony and the Cedar Rapids Symphony. In her lifetime, her creative and intellectual interests also included becoming an accomplished seamstress, an accomplished china painter, and an avid reader. Her interests in education resulted in a 65 year membership in PEO. Marifran also traveled worldwide. Later in her life, she was privileged to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees for the National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota. Since the early 90s, she enjoyed and supported the international acclaim that the museum brings to our state. Marifran is survived by her three daughters: Andrea Jo Wohlenberg of Yankton, Mary Grace Pennino of Daytona Beach, FL, and Nancy Kathryn LaBuff of Missoula, MT; and three grandchildren: Theodore Jacob Hardy of Austin, Texas, Emil Franklin Joseph LaBuff of Missoula, MT, and Amelia Raine LaBuff of Portland, OR; two nieces and one nephew: Andrea Kay Redeker of Downey, CA, William Stanford Siedschlag II of Sioux City, IA, Linda Kay Duvanich of Swan Valley, MT; and one cousin, Larry Johnsen of Le Claire, IA. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Donald F. Wohlenberg, her brother William Stanford Siedschlag, her sister Kathryn Ann Duvanich, her grandson Joshua Edwin Hardy, her great-nephew William Standford Siedschlag, III, and sons-in-law Flynn J. Heer and Len J. LaBuff. Honorary pallbearers include Dr. and Mrs. James Nyberg, John R. and Christine Anderson, James W. Abbott, and SD PEO Chapter K. Pallbearers include Kenneth Bertsch, Michael Neuharth, Earl Neuharth, Charles Zeeb, James Orris, and Gordon Schulte. Memorial donations may be made to The National Music Museum, 414 E. Clark, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, or the Black Hills Playhouse Alumni Association, P. O. Box 74, Yankton, South Dakota 57078