Mable Ada Braband

Mable Braband, age 93, of Tracy and formerly of Balaton, Minnesota, died peacefully on Monday, January 27, 2025, at the Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy. Funeral Services are 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 3, 2025, at Agape Fellowship in Marshall, Minnesota. Following a reception at the church, interment will be at the Lakeside Cemetery in Balaton, Minnesota. Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Sunday, February 2, 2025, at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall. The evening will conclude with a Prayer Service at 5:30 p.m. Visitation will then continue one hour prior to her celebration, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Monday, at the church.

Mable Ada Johnson was born on August 29, 1931, in Murray County, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Earl and Pearl (Dyslin) Johnson. Mable was in the 5th grade when she left country school and then attended school in Balaton where she graduated with the high school class of 1949. She went on to study at Northwestern Bible College in Minneapolis for a year where she stayed with a doctor's family and nannied for them.

Mable was engaged on Christmas 1949 to Donald W. Braband and they were united in marriage on August 18, 1950, at the Balaton Presbyterian Church. Mable and Don raised four children and shared 61 years of marriage together before his death in 2012.

Mable sold Avon for many years and enjoyed visiting with many friends and customers. She was known to serve warm doughnuts at her Avon Christmas open house. Don and Mable were well known in the area for their produce and apples from Don's sister's orchard in Iowa. They would sell at area farmers' markets and their local farm. Loyal customers would drive miles in search of their apples, or they would turn in after seeing the large sign on Highway 91 painted on the side of the barn roof. That barn and part of their home was lost in the 1992 tornado. After repairing the home and adding additional buildings, they lived there until 2004 when they moved to Balaton. Following Don's death in 2012, Mable stayed there until moving to the Tracy Care Center in 2021.

Mable was a humble and compassionate woman who was always calm in crisis. She strived to pass on honor, faith, and goodness to her children. Mable was always hospitable and welcomed anyone into her home with something to eat. Her enjoyments in life included watching birds, word puzzles, a competitive game of Rook, vegetable gardening, and spending time with her loving family. Mable often reflected on scripture and focused on faith as the basis of life and truth. She was a faithful member of Agape Fellowship Church and loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with all her heart. Mable was a constant prayer warrior for those she loved and her church family.

Mable died peacefully with family at her side on January 27, 2025, in Tracy, Minnesota. She reached the age of 93 years, 4 months, and 29 days. Blessed be her memory.

She is survived by her 4 children, Naomi Donnellan (and Jim Anderson) of Saint Paul, Timothy (and Laynie) Braband of Litchfield, Miriam (and Mark) Mattson of Vergas, Lori (and Alan) Peterson of Minneapolis; 9 grandchildren, Todd (and Amy) Mattson, Chad (and Rachel) Mattson, Jolene (and Corey) Hoeft, Zach (and Jenna) Braband, Peter (and Megan) Braband, Travis (and Holly) Braband, Anne (and Gwydion) Angell, Connor Peterson, James Peterson; 14 great-grandchildren, Gavin, Mikayla, Bryce, Ryan, Rowan, Hemlock, McKenna, Maisy, Henry, Nora, Gabriel, Olivia, Aida, Eve; sister-in-law, Lou Galbraith; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. 

Mable was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Braband; parents, Earl and Pearl Johnson; brothers, Birch Johnson, Orison Johnson; sister, Mildred Terhark; and several in-laws.