Elaine Jessie Mentel, 83, of Austin, Minnesota, died Monday, May 18, 2015, at Sacred Heart Care Center.

Elaine was born on June 20, 1931, in Moscow, Minnesota, to Isadore and Jessie (Hayes) Peterson. She met Clarence Mentel at the Terp Ballroom. They were married on June 2, 1956, at St. Augustine Church. They moved to rural Austin in 1960. Elaine enjoyed watching birds, gardening, flowers and cooking. In her spare time, she collected recipes, wrote letters, magazine shopped, and embroidered many blankets, dish towels and pillow cases. Elaine baked almost every day while the kids were growing up, such as bread and donuts, and she also canned every year.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Clarence; brothers: Arnold, Russell, and Gordon; sisters: Norma, Maxine, and Inez.

Elaine is survived by her sons: Dan Mentel, Austin, Minnesota, Mike (Betsy) Mentel, Austin, Minnesota, Robert (Alyssa) Mentel, Austin, Minnesota; daughters: Marlys (Derek) Lerum, Austin, Minnesota, Ruth (Brett) Carpenter, Zimmerman, Minnesota; grandsons: Chad Mentel, Travis Wytaske, Joe Mentel, Dustin Lerum and Jacob (Jen) Carpenter; granddaughters: Nicole (Brett) Anderson, Sara Mentel, Taylor Wytaske, Cerise Lerum, Christenia (Andy) Nelson, and Elaina Carpenter (Fiancé Logan Barrett); seven great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 21, at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father James Steffes officiating. Interment will be in St. Peters Catholic Cemetery in Rose Creek. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary with a prayer service at 6 p.m. Visitation will also be at the church on Thursday morning one hour before the service.