Harryette “Elaine” Mueggenborg passed away on May 16, 2023, in her hometown of Kingfisher, Oklahoma, at the age of 87.
Born on April 18, 1936 to Harry and Emma (Stolz) Thomsen, she was raised on a dairy farm northwest of Kingfisher. The youngest of three girls, Elaine quickly learned hard work and homemaking. Alongside her sisters Elvena and Emmaline, she learned how to cook and bake at an early age, a skill that kept her family “healthy” for years to come. She graduated from Kingfisher High School and worked at Walton Drug Store for a few years until she got married.
She married Vernon Mueggenborg of Kingfisher on September 7, 1955. Vernon was a second generation wheat/cattle farmer and they made their home on the Kostka Farm just south of Kingfisher. Elaine immediately mastered the task of being a housewife and helping on the farm–she drove wheat trucks when Vernon did harvest, and she took care of the cattle and pigs. They had their first son Dennis while at that home until they moved to the Henry Danne farm northwest of Kingfisher. It was there that the rest of the Mueggenborg children were born; Alan, Diane, Rodney, and Paula. In 1971, the family moved to the current Mueggenborg home place west of town.
All her life she was devoted to her home and her family. She loved cooking for family and friends and equally loved hosting get-togethers, making feasts that usually included five different homemade pies (a talent now passed on to her eldest). She loved decorating her house for every season and holiday. For the past ten years her grandchildren, who affectionately referred to her as “Groom,” loved seeing the Christmas tree up year round in her living room with seasonal decor.
When she wasn’t cooking or planning meals, she and Vernon loved to take the kids and grandkids to the lake, spending many Sundays at Canton and summers at Tenkiller or Beaver.
She and Vernon were active members of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Kingfisher, and she was also a member of the Altar Society where she co-chaired the annual Turkey Dinner for years.
Elaine journaled daily in her books she got every year from Solomon’s Insurance Agency and her kids and grandkids still enjoy reading them and reminiscing.
She is survived by four of her children: Dennis and wife Tammy Mueggenborg of Kingfisher, Alan Mueggenborg and husband Jeremy Stevens of Tulsa, Diane and husband Kevin Ray of Edmond, and Paula and husband Trevor Leffingwell of Kingfisher; 13 grandchildren: Tyler Mueggenborg (Susan), Dane Mueggenborg (Kate), Macy Winters (Evan), Kinsey Mueggenborg, Katey Mueggenborg, Kaden Mueggenborg, Dawson Leffingwell, Jackson Leffingwell, JT Ray, and Abby Cosby (Clint); and four great grandchildren: Maxwell Mueggenborg, Kennedy Winters, Rowan and Wrenlee Mueggenborg.
Elaine is preceded in death by her husband Vernon, her son Rodney, her parents, her two sisters and brothers-in-law, two nephews, a great niece, and numerous Mueggenborg relatives.
Memorial donations may be made to Sts. Peter & Paul Altar Society, 1001 Teal Ridge Ln, Kingfisher, OK 73750 and/or Memory Lane, PO Box 21, Kingfisher, OK 73750.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30am, Friday, May 19, 2023 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church with burial following at Kingfisher Cemetery.