Irene M. Sorbo, 94, of Lake Mills, Iowa, formerly of the Silver Lake, area, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008, at the Lake Mills Care Center in Lake Mills.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Silver Lake Lutheran Church in rural Northwood, Iowa, with the Rev. Randy Baldwin officiating. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdayat Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place after a lunch and fellowship at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Emmons.

Irene was born Jan. 16, 1914, in Silver Lake Township, Worth County, Iowa, the daughter of Hans Martin and Serena Ovidia (Thompson) Bendickson. She was baptized at Silver Lake Lutheran Church in March of 1914. She was confirmed at Silver Lake Lutheran Church in June of 1928.

Her family moved to Nunda Township, in Freeborn County, in 1927, then to Mansfield Township in 1929. She attended rural schools in both Worth County, Iowa, and Freeborn County.

On June 10, 1934, Irene was married to Clarence O. Sorbo in Northwood, Iowa, at a former pastor&8217;s home instead of at Silver Lake Church so they could be married in the Norwegian language. They farmed with his parents in Silver Lake Township until 1949 when they purchased the family farm. Clarence and Irene farmed and raised their family on the north shore of Silver Lake until they moved to Lake Mills in 2001. Irene entered Lake Mills Care Center on Dec.11, 2007.

Joys of Irene&8217;s life were spending time with her family, working in her garden growing flowers and vegetables, gathering and sharing family history, and visiting with friends and neighbors. She was active in her church circle as long as she was able.

Irene is survived by three daughters, Senora Holstad and her husband Dean of Lake Mills, Iowa, Clarine Coker and her husband Ade of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Linda Ward and her husband Bill of Lake Mills, Iowa; a son, Clifford and his wife Carolyn Sue of Newton, Iowa; a daughter-in-law, Vivian Sorbo of Forest City, Iowa; 19 grandchildren: Michael Holstad and his wife Ellen of Thompson, Iowa, Diane Honsey and her husband Ross of Emmons, Randy Holstad and his wife Dorene of Lake Mills, Iowa, Connie Arispe and her husband Ronald of Clear Lake, Iowa, Lori Peterson and her husband Terry of North Oaks, Dan Holstad and his wife Jennifer of West Branch, Iowa, Gustavus Sorbo and his wife Jill of Mankato, Sonja Alamsya and her husband Yurry of Forest City, Iowa, Richard Sorbo of Okoboji, Iowa, Otis Sorbo and his wife Melissa of Waldorf, Ayodeji Coker and his wife Ado of Brooklyn, N.Y., Christianah Jackson and her husband John of Atlanta, Ga., Olusegun Coker and his wife Shawntelle of St Louis, Mo., Oluseyi Coker of Kanawha, Iowa, Ololade Oluyomi and her husband Abiodun of Philadelphia, Pa., Eric Sorbo and his wife Aaren of Ames, Iowa, Melissa Wiechman and her husband Sean of West Des Moines, Iowa, Suzanne Sorbo of Spring, Texas, and Kevin Peterson and his wife Mary of Joice, Iowa; one brother, Glenn Bendickson and his wife, Margaret of Lonsdale; one sister-in-law, Jeanette Bendickson-Harmon of Kensett, Iowa; one brother-in-law Glenn Sorbo and his wife Mary of Plymouth, Iowa; along with 31 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death, by her parents, Hans in 1955 and Serena in 1974; her husband, Clarence, in 2004; a son, Gaylord, in 2006; a son-in-law, Dennis Peterson, in 1995; a sister, Lila, in 1920; three brothers, Harlan in 1978, Endre in 1988, and Elthon in 2002; and one brother-in-law Alfred Sorbo in 1961 and his wife Arlene in 1987.

Pallbearers will be Michael Holstad, Gus Sorbo, Ayodeji Coker, Eric Sorbo, Kevin Peterson, Gary Bendickson, Randy Holstad, Dan Holstad, Olusegun Coker, Richard Sorbo, Otis Sorbo and Drew Bendickson.