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Pauline Rode

August 21, 1921 — March 7, 2024

North Mankato

Pauline Rode

Pauline Milbrath Becker Rode age 102 of North Mankato, died Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Monarch Meadows.

Memorial service 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2024, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Mankato with Pastor Marques Nelson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Mankato Mortuary assisting with services. The service will be live streamed and recorded for later viewing.

Memorials preferred to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Missions, The Risen Savior School or to an organization of the donor’s choice.

Pauline Mathilda Milbrath was born August 21, 1921, in her parents’ home in Lakefield, Minnesota. She was the second eldest of seven children born to Reinhold and Antje (Koester) Milbrath. Pauline was baptized, confirmed and received her grade school training in the Lutheran Church and School in Rost Township, Lakefield, Minnesota. In 1939, she graduated from Okabena High School.

After helping on her parents’ farm for four and a half years, she married Airforce Lieutenant Leslie Becker on February 20, 1944, in San Antonio, Texas. Leslie was killed during World War II on a B-17 Bomber on February 28, 1945. 

In September of 1945, Pauline moved to Mankato to attend commercial college and worked three and a half years for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. She was united in marriage to Arnold Rode on September 15, 1949, in Mankato. They had four children Byron, Cynthia, Kay, and Dawn and made their home in the Lake Crystal area. 

Pauline was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Mankato and truly enjoyed sewing, gardening, and music. Her passion was being a homemaker for family.

Survivors include her four children Byron Rode of Lake Crystal, Cyndi Nyseth of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Kay Rode and husband, Michael Kosowsky of Juno Beach, Florida, Dawn Rode of Mendota Heights; four grandchildren Joshua Rode and wife Kelsey Johnson-Rode, Angela Phares and husband Ron, Julie Nyseth, Jill Harder and husband Timothy; fourteen great-grandchildren Hailey, Hannah, Finley, Riley, Maddie, Michael, Blaine, Aliyah, Jack, Max, Jane, Aria, Aiden, and Alison;  a great-great-granddaughter Charlie; two sisters-in-law Pat Milbrath of Jackson, Minnesota and Naomi Milbrath of Loveland, Colorado; nieces, nephews, and their families.

Preceded in death by her parents, first husband Leslie, second husband Arnold in 2011, granddaughter Rachel, six siblings, Evelyn and husband George Aden, Viola and husband Hillard Mueller, Ronald Milbrath, Edith Milbrath, Edward Milbrath, and Delbert Milbrath, and other in-laws.


The family wishes to thank the staff at Monarch Meadows and Brighton Hospice for their special care for Pauline.

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