The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2009, at Sacred Heart Chapel, Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, for Sister Ansgar (Agnes) Willenbring, who died on Wednesday, February 11, at Saint. Scholastica Convent, St. Cloud. Burial will be in the monastery cemetery. Friends may call at Saint Scholastica Convent on Friday, February 13, 2009, from 1-6 p.m., or for a Vigil Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. Visitation continues at 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral on Saturday, February 14 at 11 a.m.

S. Ansgar was born on March 18, 1913, to Henry and Margaret (Koetter) Willenbring in Richmond, Minn. She attended Ss. Peter and Paul School in Richmond. On September 13, 1931, she entered Saint Benedict’s Monastery, and made her perpetual profession on July 11, 1936.  The celebration of her 75th anniversary of religious life in 2008 was a joyous occasion.

For many years, S. Ansgar served in housekeeping and in health care in Hastings, in St. Cloud at St. Raphael’s Home and Saint Scholastica Convent, at Saint Benedict’s Monastery and for 24 years, at three different times, at St. Mary’s Mission in Red Lake. Her generous ministry further included being organist at Red Lake, parish minister in Ogema and assistant in the Media Department at Saint Benedict’s Monastery. She retired to Saint Scholastica Convent in November 2000 where she sewed, assisted in the dining room and continued her life of prayer and community living.

S. Ansgar is survived by her Benedictine community, two brothers (Irmund and Lawrence) and one sister, Bertha Lucken. Preceding her in death were six brothers (Edward, Benedict, Ludwig, Mathias, Bernard and Othmar), three half brothers (John, Frank and Andrew), two sisters (Josephine Neussendorfer and Theresa Eisenschenk) and four half sisters (Catherine Steinke, Mary Steinke, Anna Toenies and Tresa).