Mae Jenkins
Mae Beverly (Scharf) Jenkins passed away and went to be with her Savior on March 13, 2020, at age 99 at the Lakewood Health System Care Center in Staples.
Funeral Services were held March 21, at the Staples United Methodist Church.
Internment is at Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples, next to her husband, LeRoy and her parents.
Mae was born to Gustav “Gust” and Lena Juliana Marie (Longbella) Scharf on May 1, 1920, in Staples. Other than when Mae lived in Fargo, ND, attending Business College and Tacoma, WA, during WWII, she lived in Staples her entire life. Mae graduated from Staples High School in 1938. While in high school worked part-time at the Scharf Chevrolet Dealership and in the fall of 1938 she attended Interstate College Business School in Fargo, ND, staying at her uncle, Chris Longbella’s home. After graduating Mae worked for W. C. Kelehan Insurance Agency and worked as a bookkeeper at the Jenkins Appliance Store, Staples.
Mae married LeRoy Jenkins on July 21, 1941 in Staples. During World War II, LeRoy was not able to join the Navy due to a bad back. He and Arnold Scharf went to Tacoma, WA, to work as welders in the Shipyards. Their first child, Lee, was born while they were in Tacoma.
LeRoy and Mae raised five children, Lee, Dennis, Kevin, Karen and Laurie. Mae was a devoted mother and later followed the lives of her grandchildren.
After LeRoy died on a hunting trip to Wyoming in 1968, Mae received her driver’s license (after age 50) which allowed her to become more independent.
Mae was a member of the Staples United Methodist Church and active in the Dora Mead Circle. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, solving puzzles, going to auctions, yard sales and taking trips to the casino.
Mae and LeRoy enjoyed dancing at Bar Harbor and River Inn and pheasant hunting. She walked on her treadmill every morning until age 98 and got around Staples with her walker until 2018 when she moved to the LHS Care Center. At 99, she was still doing her trademark dance and “Da ta da” tune with her walker.
Mae is survived by three sons, Lee (Judy) of Staples, Dennis of Grand Junction, CO and Kevin (Sue) of Staples; two daughters, Karen (Kurt) Meyers of Edgewater, CO and Laurie (the late, Tim) Hopkins of Motley; seven grandchildren, Curt (Roxanne) Jenkins of White Bear Lake, Jennifer (Dale) Krippner of Hanover, Lisa Jenkins of Staples, Tristan Jenkins of Denver, CO, Kyle Meyers of Arvada, Colorado, Amy Hopkins of St. Cloud and Amber Hopkins of Crosby; nine great-grandchildren, Christopher, Amelia, William and Lillian Jenkins, Alexis and Cole Dingman, Ari Hopkins, Liam and Georgia Kruchten; one sister, Norie (the late, Bill) McGivern of Mendota Heights and many nieces and nephews.
Mae is preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers, Gordon (Mary) Scharf and Arnold (June) Scharf; two sisters, Dorothy (Laverne) Aldrich and Muriel (Clarence) Thompson and an unnamed baby sibling.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Staples United Methodist Church.
Arrangements were by the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel.
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