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Frances Marie Tabaka, 97, of Pine River, Minnesota died Saturday, February 5, 2011 at Brookside Comfort Care in Pine River.

Frances was born the youngest of four children on February 15, 1913 in Chicago, Illinois to Edward and Mary (Pekoc) Haas. She attended school at St. Sabina's Parish, being taught by the Dominican nuns, which was a great memory for Frances. As a young girl she did a lot of babysitting and helping the elderly and handicapped people in the community. She graduated from Calumet High School and then went on to attend the Metropolitan Business College, graduating in 1931. Following her graduation she worked at various jobs until she got her "dream job" at American Airlines, a position she held until her marriage in 1940. She met Halvor Berger of Brevik, Minnesota while on a trip to northern Minnesota to meet her future sister-in-law. They married and lived in Brevik where Halvor owned Sunset View Resort. His wedding present to her was a new home which he built himself. Frances became an active member of St. Edward's Catholic Church in Longville and among many duties served as President of the ladies Guild. Halvor died suddenly in 1952, and a year later Frances sold the resort and moved to Walker. After her father died, Frances and her mother spent the winters in Florida and California. In 1958 Frances married Ray Tabaka and they made their home in Longville on the Little Boy River. Ray died in 1992 and Frances continued living in Longville until she sold her home and moved to Pine River where she has lived until the present. Frances lived a full life and was a member of St. Edwards Catholic Church of Longville for 45 years, a member of St Agnes Catholic Church in Walker from 1953 - 1958, and a current member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pine River. She was also a member of the Chicago Girls Flying Club, the Moccasin Garden Club of Longville, the Council of Catholic Women of Pine River, Longville, and Walker. She also served as Chairman of the Cass County National Foundation of the March of Dimes, and for several years was a volunteer fund raiser. She also taught religious release time classes at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Walker and St. Edwards Catholic Church in Longville.

Frances was introduced to photography by her husband Ray, and it became one of her favorite hobbies, along with gardening, needlepoint, reading, playing cards, and listening to classical music. She also loved to travel and enjoyed many lovely trips in her lifetime. Frances lived life with a ready smile, a great sense of humor, and had a simple elegance about her that will not be forgotten. She was a premiere hostess, and always set a beautiful table with white linens and china, no matter what age she was entertaining. She was a lady of etiquette, yet was always patient and forgiving with her many nieces and nephews and children in the family. Many will fondly remember the "tea parties", swimming, and time spent at the cabin on Leech Lake. Frances said she was blessed with wonderful parents, good marriages, loving relatives, and excellent health, and felt she lived more lives than one!

Frances is survived by her nephews; Wayne F. Haas, Glenn E. Haas, John E. Berger, Halvor J. (Bonnie) Berger, niece; F. Carol Kline, step- daughter, Arlene Bajula, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren, many great nieces and nephews, and her special caregivers and friends from Brookside Comfort Care, Bob and Dawn Cadwell.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Edward and Mary Haas, husbands; Halvor Berger and Ray Tabaka, sister, Edna Berger, brothers; Edward and Larry Haas, and niece, E. Grace Van Geest.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. at the Dennis Funeral Home in Longville with Fr. Joseph Sirba officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. until time of service. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Longville. The Dennis Funeral Home of Longville assisted the family in making service arrangements.[[In-content Ad]]

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