Noreen (Rene) June Carpenter

   Noreen (Rene) June Carpenter, age 96, of Longville, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at Serenity Living Solutions in Remer, Minnesota. 

   Noreen was born June 2, 1925, in Lakenheath, Suffolk, England, to Reginald and Ethel (Matthews) Webb. She graduated from school when she was 14 years old when World War II was in full swing.  Noreen enrolled in nursing school at 15 and became a full nurse by the time she was 18. She met Wesley (Bud)  Carpenter, an American serving in the Armed forces, and they married on December 11, 1943. They continued to live in England until Bud completed his service and returned  to Longville, Minnesota, where Noreen and their daughter, Maurinetta, were able to join him a few months later.  The local paper (1947) reports “This is the first war-bride to settle in this area and we welcome her and her daughter with best wishes that they will find much happiness in their new surroundings.”   Bud and Rene owned and operated a farm for many years during which time two more daughters, Billie Ann and Deborah, were added to their family.  The family grew to include eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.  After Bud passed away in 1979, Noreen operated the farm for several more years before moving to a mobile home park in Longville, where she lived until she moved to Serenity Living Solutions in Remer.

   Noreen’s family and her faith were the mainstay of her life. She had been a member of the Longville Community Church since March 27, 1959, and taught Sunday School there for 25 years. She used her nursing experience to help many friends and neighbors who called requesting assistance. Noreen loved to knit, was an avid reader, loved her flower gardens and family gatherings. She is remembered for her fantastic baking skills, especially her bread, sweet rolls, pies and Julekake. Noreen was a strong, loving woman who was a role model for her family and community.

   Noreen is survived by daughters Maurinetta (Gary) Slagle, Billie Ann (Dean) Slagle, and Deborah (Duane) Godfrey; grandchildren Wade, Wesley, Wendy, Derrick, Darren, Kelly, Darrick and Amber; great-grandchildren Eryn, Jack, Aniki, Avery, Jordan, Shelby, Myah, Braiden, Bowden, Jaxen, Maddy, Whitney and Jaycee; and one sister Daphne Betts. She was preceded in death by her husband Wesley; her parents Reginald and Ethel; sister Sylvia; brother Lawrence; and grandson Casey.

   A funeral service for Noreen will be held on Monday, May 23, 2022, at 11:00 am at the Longville Community Church, Longville, MN, with Pastor Duane Brown officiating. There will be a one-hour visitation before the service.  Interment will follow at the Riverside Cemetery in Longville. 

   Arrangements are being provided by Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service of Walker and Hackensack, MN.