Marga M. (Neef) Moen

Marga M. Moen, 97, of Preston, MN, met her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at Mayo Clinic St. Marys Campus in Rochester, MN.

Marga Maria Neef was born February 1, 1926 in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany to Heinrich Neef and Christine Brocker. She grew up fast and tough in war torn Germany. Marga was 11 years old at the start of WWII, enduring 7 operations on her eyes after being pulled from rubble as the result of bombings. Often times her family stayed hidden in their basement with nothing to eat but potatoes. They were told the trains going by were taking those whose homes were destroyed to a new place to live. Marga would wave to them, unaware of the events that were actually taking place. She escaped twice through the Iron Curtain, pushing a baby buggy to prevent being caught and killed.

For a while, Marga traveled with a circus working with the lions. She later met a handsome American staff sargent who was buying a camera while he was stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany by the name of Juan “Joe” Moen. They were married at the Justice of the Peace on October 4, 1956. At age 28, Marga, Joe and her son Manfred, whom Joe had adopted, moved to America on Joe’s birthday, March 28, 1957. They lived in Wisconsin for 2 years before moving to Henrytown. They worked as farm hands on the Francis and Leonard Stoskopf farm in the Harmony, MN area. Both Marga and Joe had a love for animals. Marga would care for the weaklings and the runts of the litter. She had a pet pig named Snootkin who would follow her everywhere she went. She even had him potty trained in the house. In 1959 they moved to Preston where Joe began Moen Milk Hauling. She and Joe enjoyed bowling, playing pool and card games such as Whist, 500 and Skip-Bo. They were members of Christ Lutheran Church in Preston. Marga was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary since 1963, even serving as a past President.

Marga was big into decorating for the Holidays. She would set up a large, 3-tiered Christmas village every year in her home. She loved Halloween, especially when the Trick-Or-Treaters would approach the house and her 5 foot frame would pop up behind the door in a hideous monkey mask, sending the kids running down the block. If there was one thing Marga enjoyed, it was pranks. You never knew where or when, but she would get you good! She absolutely loved to entertain people and she was great at it. There was never a dull moment with Marga.

Marga will be remembered as being kind natured and good hearted. She would give groceries to friends in need, crochet Barbie clothes for all the neighborhood kids and open her home to her children’s friends when they needed a place away from home to hang out. Family and friends were very important to her. You simply could not have asked for better parents.

Marga is survived by her children Manfred (Debra) Moen of Laughlin, NV, Karen Moen of Fountain, MN and Margo (John) Fahrenholtz of Chatfield, MN, 4 grandchildren Kenny (Jodi) Moen, Henry Ostby, MaKara (Mackinzee) Hayes and Josef Fahrenholtz, 3 great-grandchildren Journey Olson, Sydney Moen and Austin Moen, sisters Christa and Helga.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Joe, sister Elisabeth, her first born infant son, her 3rd infant child and her last infant son Joe Jr.

Funeral services for Marga will be held at Christ Lutheran Church in Preston, MN at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2023 with Rev. Kris Hertsgaard Kincaid officiating. Burial will take place at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester, MN at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. at the church prior to the service.

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