Sister Agnes was a missionary and a hospital administrator

Missionary Benedictine Sister Mary Agnes Salber, whose 76 years of religious life included service at the Immaculata Monastery in Norfolk and St. Augustine Indian Mission in Winnebago, died April 7 in Norfolk. She was 90.

A funeral Mass was held April 10 at the monastery chapel, with interment in Prospect Hill Cemetery, also in Norfolk.

Sister Agnes was born in 1928 on a farm near Raeville and entered religious life during her freshman year in high school. She professed first vows in 1947 and final vows in 1950.

She worked in the business and admitting office of Holy Trinity Hospital in Graceville, Minnesota, for two years, and underwent X-ray technician training in Minneapolis.

Upon returning to Norfolk, Sister Agnes worked for 10 years in the X-ray department, admitting office and at the switchboard at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

In 1961, she became a missionary in South Korea, using her medical experience to help a hospital and maternity clinic in Daegu, eventually becoming the hospital’s administrator – a position she held for 14 years.

In 1981, Sister Agnes came home to Immaculata Monastery as treasurer, and after eight years returned to Holy Trinity Hospital in Graceville as administrator.  She also served as prioress at Immaculata Monastery from 1993 to 2001.

In January 2003 she joined the staff of St. Augustine Indian Mission in Winnebago, first as an accountant for the mission and four parishes. She became the business manager in 2008 and superior of the mission’s convent in 2011.  

Sister Agnes retired to the Norfolk motherhouse in 2014.