Catherine A. Menke

Catherine Anne (Bendzick) Menke, age 96 of Jordan, Minnesota, entered eternal life on December 31, 2025, with her family by her side, at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Catherine on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 11:00 AM, with a time of gathering from 9:00-10:45 AM, all at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 313 Second Street East, Jordan, MN. Father Neil Bakker will preside. She will be laid to rest at St. John’s Calvary Cemetery. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed to St. John’s Church and the Building Fund.

Guests may join via live stream of the mass by visiting http://sjbjordan.org

Catherine Anne Bendzick was born on January 13, 1929, on the family farm on the hill in Jordan. She was the third of seven children born to Henry and Anna (Wacker) Bendzick. In the early years, Catherine and her siblings enjoyed sledding down the “Hill” and picking countless raspberries for dad to sell at the St. Paul Market. She attended St. John’s Catholic School through the eighth grade and graduated from Jordan High School in 1947.

Catherine met and married John Streiff, with whom she was blessed with three children: Carolyn, Marlene, and John. Her husband, John, died from a work accident, and she later met and married Roland Menke in November 1957. They had five additional children: William, Tom, Joe, Ann, and Allen. Eventually, the family settled its roots on her father’s farm in Jordan, and Catherine continued to embrace farm life.

Catherine devoted herself to volunteering, leading blood drives, and co-chairing funeral lunches at St. John’s for years. She also extended her time to the St. John’s Quilters, making quilts sold at the annual Fall Festival and buying some back for her children. Every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild received a quilt made with her care and love.

Catherine remained active throughout her life. She loved playing cards, golfing, sewing, and painting ceramics. At the age of 60, Catherine learned to swim. She was an exceptional baker, a skill she learned from her mother. Catherine’s faith and family meant everything to her. She was always loving, forgiving, and never judgmental. She and Roland were active members at church and prayed the rosary daily. Anyone who came to the farm was greeted by her saying, “C’mon in!” We will forever miss hearing her invite us in.

Catherine will be forever remembered by her husband, Roland; children, Carolyn (Terry) Sullivan, Marlene (Tom) Parkis, John (Lorene) Streiff, William (Juanita) Menke, Tom Menke, Joe (Lisa) Menke, Ann (Mark) Holzer, Allen (Sharon) Menke; grandchildren, Terry (Maureen) Sullivan, Kate (Bob) Morgan, John (Morgan) Bowen, MaryPat (Jonathan) Osborne, Michael (Terri) McCarthy; Sarah (Steve) DeJournett, Michael Streiff, David (Cayla) Menke, Jill (Joey) Kaiyalethe, Rachel (Buck Lester) Menke, Ryan (Val) Holzer, Justine (Ryan) Hagness, James Menke, Alissa (Ben) Fischer; great grandchildren, Ray Sullivan, Abby, Nathan & Emma Morgan, Maura Osborne, Aubrey McCarthy, Hailey (Marcus) Norris, Hannah (Mark) Dalman, Allyson Streiff, Tessa, Taylor & Tyson Menke, Ben, Sienna & Hazel Kaiyalethe, Calvin Menke, Cam & Delaney Holzer, Lanny & Dylan Hagness, Luka Fischer; sister, Marian Breeggemann; other loving relatives and friends.

Greeting Catherine in eternal life are her first husband, John Streiff; parents, Henry and Anna Bendzick; siblings, Marcella (Joe) Koenig, Jerry (Catherine) Bendzick, Ervin (Audrey) Bendzick, Irene (Elgar) Busch, Delphine Bendzick; and brother-in-law, Don Breeggemann.