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Marie Weist obituary, 9/9/05


Marie (Rinke) Weist, former educator, age 87 of New Brighton, formerly of St. Paul, passed away peacefully Friday, Sept. 9, 2005.
She was born June 23, 1918 in Aberdeen, S.D. Marie spent her childhood alongside her parents, helping in several stores they owned and managed, including a grocery, bakery, dry goods, meat market, and most recently, a crockery store.
She was a graduate of Northern State College, formerly Northern State Teacher’s College, of Aberdeen, S.D. She also attended the University of Minnesota. Marie graduated with several majors and minors including music, English, and biology.
Initially, she taught in a one-room schoolhouse, then going on to teach in high school until her marriage, about eight years later, to James Weist of Aberdeen, S.D.
They moved to Forest Lake, and then St. Paul in 1951, and finally to Maplewood in 1959.
After her youngest child, Ann, started first grade in the mid ‘60s, Marie returned to college to renew her teaching license. She was a substitute teacher for over 30 years, until she was almost 80 years old, in elementary, high school, and junior high school in St. Paul and the suburbs, as well as at St. Paul Technical College and Century College of White Bear Lake, her favorite teaching assignments.
Marie also learned to be a proficient hunter, and a skilled pianist, even accompanying a visiting orchestra in Aberdeen. She loved her music and was also a member of two choirs. She enjoyed playing her baby grand piano almost every day until she was 85 years old.
Marie regularly entered her pies, canned goods, jams, jellies, and sweet rolls at the Ramsey County and Minnesota State fairs, taking great pride in the ribbons she won. Most of the vegetables and fruit, including plums, apples, and grapes, were grown in the backyard of her modest home. On holidays, the family enjoyed a glass of her home-brewed wine.
Marie loved traveling all over the US, Canada, Europe, Russia, China, and Alaska. She especially loved riding the Amtrack train.
She also enjoyed attending homemaker club, flower gardening, and being a member of the Historical Society and Moose Club.
In her 80s, Marie planned to go back to college to obtain a master’s degree and to again play the piano in an orchestra.
Marie was preceded in death by her husband, James; son Frank; grandson Ryan; and brother Francis of Aberdeen, S.D.
She is survived by her children, Mary (Charles) Blood of Elk River, Barbara (Dennis) Blood of N. St. Paul, James (“Pete”) Weist of Avoca, Texas; John (Karen) Weist of Forest Lake, Mike Weist of St. Paul, Marie (Dave) Irwin of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Ann (Jack) Sawatzky of Pine City. She was blessed with 13 grrandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Services were Tuesday, Sept. 13 at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Maplewood.

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