Alda Mae Tanking Frey, 85, of Chandler, Ariz., died peacefully on Monday, June 13, 2022, at her home in the Sunbird Retirement Community.

Alda was born on April 15, 1937, the daughter of Alfred and Catherine Runnebaum Tanking. Alda grew up east of Seneca on the Tanking Homestead and graduated from Saints Peter and Paul High School in 1955. After high school, Alda moved to Topeka and was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company for five years.

Alda married Fred William Frey, of Bern, on April 15, 1961. They made their home on a farm east of Dubois, Neb. She enjoyed homemaking, attending her children’s sporting events, playing cards, dancing, the color purple and spending quiet time in prayer.

In 2005, Fred and Alda purchased a winter home in SunBird. Alda has called this beautiful oasis in the desert her home ever since. She enjoyed meeting friends from all over the country and enjoyed the Arizona sunshine.

Alda had a personal relationship with her Heavenly Father. She was baptized into the Catholic faith in 1937. She worshiped at Saints Peter and Paul in Seneca and St. Stevens in Sun Lake, Ariz. Alda spent many hours a day in quiet time praying for our world and her family.

Alda is survived by her sons, Howard Frey of DuBois, Neb., and Roy (Shari) Frey of Sabetha; daughter, Cindy (Russ) Wilfert of Mesa, Ariz.; five grandchildren, Jacqueline (Josh) Myers of Des Moines, Iowa, Jacob Frey of Lawrence, Broderick (Haley) Frey of Manhattan, Jenna (Quaid) Vuncannon of Gilbert, Ariz., and Caden Wilfert of Goodyear, Ariz.; one great-grandson, Wiliam Myers; one brother, Elmer Tanking of Tonganoxie; two sisters, Eileen Meyer of Sabetha and Jerri Ann Matzke of Silver Lake; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by Fred, as well as siblings, Johnny Tanking, Regis Tanking and Jerry Tanking.

A Celebration of Alda’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, June 24, 2022, at the Sunbird Community Room. Friends may gather for a rosary at 10:30 a.m. Grandchildren will be sharing memories, which will be sure to entertain us all. “Care Bears” of the Sunbird community will provide refreshments.

On Friday, July 8, there will be a 9:30 a.m. rosary and 10 a.m. mass at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic church in Seneca. Burial will be immediately following.

Memorial Contributions can be made to https://neighborswhocare.com/donate/.

Online messages of condolence can be left at Valley of the Sun Mortuary or www.dignitymemorial.com.

The Sabetha Herald 6/22/2022