Jennie Tebben

Jennie Tebben met her Savior on July, 1, 2026 at the age of 97 years and 7 months. Her celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, July 8 at Bethany Church in Clara City at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation one hour prior.

Jennie Poppen was born near Raymond, MN on December 2, 1928, to Ben and Fannie (Folkerts) Poppen. Her parents were German immigrants and she didn’t learn to speak English until she went to school. She graduated from the 8th grade at District #36 and then helped on the farm, played piano and accordion and sang in the church choir.

Church was always important in her life and that is where she met her future husband. Jennie married John C.Tebben on March 15, 1950 at the Bethany Reformed Church. They made their home on the Tebben family farm where they farmed together for 35 years. Jennie helped with the animals, had huge vegetable and flower gardens and was an avid canner. She embraced farm life and was always ready with meals and treats.

John and Jennie were blessed with four daughters, the alphabet sisters. Jennie spent countless hours sewing clothes for the girls including most of their bridesmaid dresses. In addition to clothing , she became a quilter and crochetter creating quilts and afghans for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her hands were rarely idle and she continued embroidery and puzzling in the later years.

Travel was a highlight in their lives. Once the girls got a little older, they took many memorable vacations across the country together. Later, they went on group tours with favorites including their trips to Alaska, The Holy Land and Europe.

They retired to their new home in Clara City in 1985 and hosted many lively family gatherings as the family grew over the years. Jennie was a great cook and you never went away hungry. She loved all the in-laws, treating them as her own. Each new grandchild and great-grandchild was a treasure. She was a great supporter of all their activities whether it was sports, drama or music and was usually ready to go even though it wasn’t always easy for her.

Faith was at the center of her life. Nothing made her happier than being able to be in church on Sunday. She was faithful with her devotions, loved the music and could often be found singing or humming hymns. She was an encourager and prayer warrior and prayed daily for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was involved in the ladies' circles, Bible studies and taught catechism at Bethany.

In 2008, Jennie was in a tragic car/train crash that took John’s life. Jennie battled back with some life altering injuries and returned to her home. She did not complain, although things were sometimes challenging. In 2022 she moved to the Clara City Assisted Living. Here she met new and old friends. In December of 2025, she moved to the Clara City Care Center.

Jennie is survived by her daughters Ardis (Craig) Dirksen, Hutchinson; Betty (Jerry) Boersma, Eagan; Carin (Lee) Hagemeyer, Clara City; and Diane (Paul) Bakker, Willmar; eleven grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, her sister, Ida Huisman; brother, George Poppen; sister-in-law, Violet Poppen and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her son-in-law, Tim Skoglund, her sister Etta (Bernard) Brummer, brother, Bert Poppen, a sister in infancy, in-laws Gerrit Huisman, Emily Poppen and Richard and Gladys Ammermann.