Stella (Dolgner) Mentel, 97, of Austin passed away Feb. 21, 2013, at Adams Health Care Center.

She was born Feb. 2, 1916, in Lemond Township, Steele County, the second daughter and third child of Henry Christoph Rudolph Dolgner, German immigrant from Timkenberg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his wife Anna (Karsten) Dolgner. Stella attended country school in School District 36, Lemond township and completed confirmation classes at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Meriden, where she was confirmed April, 1930.

Stella labored on her parent’s farm until 1935, the year after her father’s death, when she and her mother relocated to 317 North Maple, Owatonna. After five years of working odd jobs, Stella secured employment as a sewing machine operator at the Harley Huber Glove Factory in Owatonna where she worked with skill and pride from 1940 through 1948.

Stella was united in marriage to Harry Aloysius Mentel on Nov. 25, 1948, at St. Hyacinth’s Catholic Church in Owatonna and moved to Austin with him in 1949. They settled permanently on acreage a mile east of the Austin airport. Stella thereafter devoted her time to homemaking, tending animals and raising her two daughters. She converted to Catholicism in 1952 but expressed a lifelong devotion to both of her faiths.

Stella was an epicure and an accomplished dessert cook. Her frosted prune rolls were legendary. She also had a great affinity to animals, particularly fowl, and raised hundreds of bantam chickens, ducks and geese over the decades.

Stella’s last two years were spent at the Adams Healthcare Center, where she continued to love life. She was known for her gentleness with the staff. She wished to be remembered as a good person who was dedicated to her daughters.

Stella was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her siblings Elsie (Mrs. Clarence Nelson) and Ewald Dolgner, both of Owatonna; her pet goose Ozzie and her toy poodle Tina.

Stella is survived by her daughters: Stella (Mrs. Tatsuroh Yamazki) of Tokyo, Japan and Sherry Mentel of Oakdale, Minnesota and by a large family of devoted nieces and nephews, including Joyce Nelson, Joann Nelson Buck, Shirley Nelson Sobrack, Karen Dolgner Sarazine and Yvonne Dolgner, all from the Owatonna area.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 1, 2013, at Queen of Angels Catholic Church with Father Dale Tupper officiating. There will be a 6 p.m. Rosary on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, at Mayer Funeral Home in Austin where friends may call from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and also one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be at 3 p.m. on Friday in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Cemetery in Meriden, Minn. Memorials are preferred to the Salvation Army.

Condolences for the family may be left at: www.mayerfh.com