Individual Details
Nellie "Pat" Baker
(4 Apr 1898 - 23 Feb 1978)
Special to the Pioneer Press, May 1966
Housewife Busy Making Bookmarks
by Helen Ouimette
Hudson, Wis.--Give Mrs. Arthur (Nellie) Staberg of Hudson, a scrap of felt, a needle, thread and a paper clip and in the twinkling of an eye she will have transformed it into an enchanting tiny animal bookmark.
The tiny bookmarks take the form of mice, cats, dogs and horses with long flowing felt tails. Recently a little cotton-tailed rabbit has joined the lineup.
Why the paper clip?
"The paper clip is sewed on under the animal to anchor it on the book. The the long tail serves as the book mark," explained Mrs. Staberg.
Where did she ever get such a clever idea?
"A relative of mine in California used to make felt handmades of all kinds which were in great demand out there. These handmades could be made in the home and shipped out. I became intrigued with the little mice bookmarks. I've always preferred working with small articles.
"For several years I was making the mice bookmarks at the rate of 100 a week, averaging 4,000 a year. I'd sent them out to gift and book stores.
"I also made other felt items. So it wasn't unusual for me to put in 16 hours a day at my home work."
Then tragedy strick. Mrs. Staberg was hospitalized with a severe bout of arthritis. The attack robbed her of much of her tremendous energy and left her with a useless left thumb.
The plucky, straight-backed, silver-haired Mrs. Staberg said, "People kept asking me, 'Couldn't you make just a few of those cute little bookmarks for me.' I thought of all the boxes of scrap felt I had packed away. Why couldn't I continue making the animal bookmarks just for friends and relatives, working on days I felt good?"
She used to cut everything by hand, but her husband suggested making wooden pattern forms which do the cutting.
Her biggest problem now is disciplining herself. She said, "I was just going to make a few animals one day. It wasn't until my hands starting shaking that I realized I'd made 22."
HSO, 2 Mar 1978, Sec 2, p19
Mrs. Arthur (Nellie) Staberg, 79, of 325 Third St. N, died Thursday, Feb. 23, at the River Falls Care Center after a lengthy illness.
The funeral was Monday, Feb. 27, at 2 pm at Grace United Methodist church in Kiester, Minn., with the Rev. Layen Adelman officiating. Interment was in Fairview Cemetery in Kiester.
Nellie Baker was born April 4, 1898 in Kiester, Minn., the daughter of Henry and Ida Baker.
On Oct. 19, 1940 she was married to Arthur Staberg of Hudson. She was a housewife and practical nurse.
Surviving are her husband Arthur of Hudson; two daughters, Carol (Mrs. Robert) Eilenfelt of Mankato, Minn., and Margaret (Mrs. Keith) Henricksen of Oakland, Calif.; and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Staberg of San Diego, Calif., and Mrs. Wilma Johnson of Albert Lea, Minn.; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death was a son Russell Matteson who died in infancy, and four brothers, Russell, Glen, Floyd, and Henry Baker.
Arrangements were by the Heinter Funeral Home in Wells, Minn.
NAHA Library, St. Olaf University, Northfield MN
Rowberg Scrapbook #110, page 18 (unknown newspaper)
Nellie Staberg
Wells- Funeral services will be Monday at 2 p.m. for Mrs. Arthur (Nellie Baker) Staberg, formerly of Kiester.
Services will be at Grace United Methodist Church, Kiester, the Rev. Layen Adelman officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Heitner Funeral Home, Wells, is in charge of arrangements. There will be no visitation.
Mrs. Staberg died at 9:45 p.m. Thursday at the River Falls Care Center, River Falls, Wisconsin, after a lengthy illness. She had been a resident of Hudson, Wisconsin since 1940. She was a housewife and practical nurse.
Survivors are her husband, Arthur, of Hudson, Wis., two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Carol) Eilenfelt, Mankato, and Mrs. Keith (Margaret) Henrickson, Oakland, Cal., and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Staberg, San Diego, Cal., and Mrs. Wilma Johnson, Albert Lea.
Her parents, one son, Russell Matteson, who died in infancy, and four brothers, Russell Baker, Glen Baker, Floyd Baker and Henry Baker preceded her in death.
Housewife Busy Making Bookmarks
by Helen Ouimette
Hudson, Wis.--Give Mrs. Arthur (Nellie) Staberg of Hudson, a scrap of felt, a needle, thread and a paper clip and in the twinkling of an eye she will have transformed it into an enchanting tiny animal bookmark.
The tiny bookmarks take the form of mice, cats, dogs and horses with long flowing felt tails. Recently a little cotton-tailed rabbit has joined the lineup.
Why the paper clip?
"The paper clip is sewed on under the animal to anchor it on the book. The the long tail serves as the book mark," explained Mrs. Staberg.
Where did she ever get such a clever idea?
"A relative of mine in California used to make felt handmades of all kinds which were in great demand out there. These handmades could be made in the home and shipped out. I became intrigued with the little mice bookmarks. I've always preferred working with small articles.
"For several years I was making the mice bookmarks at the rate of 100 a week, averaging 4,000 a year. I'd sent them out to gift and book stores.
"I also made other felt items. So it wasn't unusual for me to put in 16 hours a day at my home work."
Then tragedy strick. Mrs. Staberg was hospitalized with a severe bout of arthritis. The attack robbed her of much of her tremendous energy and left her with a useless left thumb.
The plucky, straight-backed, silver-haired Mrs. Staberg said, "People kept asking me, 'Couldn't you make just a few of those cute little bookmarks for me.' I thought of all the boxes of scrap felt I had packed away. Why couldn't I continue making the animal bookmarks just for friends and relatives, working on days I felt good?"
She used to cut everything by hand, but her husband suggested making wooden pattern forms which do the cutting.
Her biggest problem now is disciplining herself. She said, "I was just going to make a few animals one day. It wasn't until my hands starting shaking that I realized I'd made 22."
HSO, 2 Mar 1978, Sec 2, p19
Mrs. Arthur (Nellie) Staberg, 79, of 325 Third St. N, died Thursday, Feb. 23, at the River Falls Care Center after a lengthy illness.
The funeral was Monday, Feb. 27, at 2 pm at Grace United Methodist church in Kiester, Minn., with the Rev. Layen Adelman officiating. Interment was in Fairview Cemetery in Kiester.
Nellie Baker was born April 4, 1898 in Kiester, Minn., the daughter of Henry and Ida Baker.
On Oct. 19, 1940 she was married to Arthur Staberg of Hudson. She was a housewife and practical nurse.
Surviving are her husband Arthur of Hudson; two daughters, Carol (Mrs. Robert) Eilenfelt of Mankato, Minn., and Margaret (Mrs. Keith) Henricksen of Oakland, Calif.; and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Staberg of San Diego, Calif., and Mrs. Wilma Johnson of Albert Lea, Minn.; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death was a son Russell Matteson who died in infancy, and four brothers, Russell, Glen, Floyd, and Henry Baker.
Arrangements were by the Heinter Funeral Home in Wells, Minn.
NAHA Library, St. Olaf University, Northfield MN
Rowberg Scrapbook #110, page 18 (unknown newspaper)
Nellie Staberg
Wells- Funeral services will be Monday at 2 p.m. for Mrs. Arthur (Nellie Baker) Staberg, formerly of Kiester.
Services will be at Grace United Methodist Church, Kiester, the Rev. Layen Adelman officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery. Heitner Funeral Home, Wells, is in charge of arrangements. There will be no visitation.
Mrs. Staberg died at 9:45 p.m. Thursday at the River Falls Care Center, River Falls, Wisconsin, after a lengthy illness. She had been a resident of Hudson, Wisconsin since 1940. She was a housewife and practical nurse.
Survivors are her husband, Arthur, of Hudson, Wis., two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Carol) Eilenfelt, Mankato, and Mrs. Keith (Margaret) Henrickson, Oakland, Cal., and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Staberg, San Diego, Cal., and Mrs. Wilma Johnson, Albert Lea.
Her parents, one son, Russell Matteson, who died in infancy, and four brothers, Russell Baker, Glen Baker, Floyd Baker and Henry Baker preceded her in death.
Events
| Birth | 4 Apr 1898 | Kiester, Minnesota |  | ||
| Marriage | 24 Sep 1918 | Faribault County, Minnesota - Kyle L. Matteson | | ||
| Marriage | 19 Oct 1940 | Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota - Arthur Olav Staberg | | ||
| Death | 23 Feb 1978 | River Falls, Wisconsin | | ||
| Burial | 27 Feb 1978 | Kiester, Minnesota, Fairview Cem | | ||
| Divorce | Kyle L. Matteson |
Families
| Spouse | Arthur Olav Staberg (1901 - 1992) |
| Spouse | Kyle L. Matteson (1896 - 1976) |
| Child | Russell Kyle Matteson (1920 - 1920) |
| Child | Carol Mayda Matteson |
| Child | Margaret Nellie Matteson |
| Father | Henry Hudson Baker (1860 - ) |
| Mother | Ida May Godding (1860 - ) |
| Sibling | Russell M. Baker (1885 - 1966) |
| Sibling | Glenn D. Baker (1887 - ) |
| Sibling | Floyd V. Baker (1891 - 1972) |
| Sibling | Mary Laura Baker (1893 - ) |
| Sibling | Wilma Mae Baker (1895 - ) |
| Sibling | Henry Baker (1901 - ) |
Endnotes
1. U.S. Social Security Death Index .
2. Hudson Star-Observer, Hudson, Wis., 2 Mar 1978, II-19, Obituary, Mrs. Arthur Staberg.
3. 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Minnesota, Hennepin, Ward 2.
4. Minnesota Online Marriage System (Index).
5. Hudson Star-Observer, Hudson, Wis., 2 Mar 1978, II-19, Obituary, Mrs. Arthur Staberg.
6. U.S. Social Security Death Index .
7. Hudson Star-Observer, Hudson, Wis., 2 Mar 1978, II-19, Obituary, Mrs. Arthur Staberg.
8. Hudson Star-Observer, Hudson, Wis., 2 Mar 1978, II-19, Obituary, Mrs. Arthur Staberg.