Staff photo by Fritz Busch Two of the four Seifert quads Martha “Marti” Seifert Andersen of Albert Lea and Marie Seifert Hoffmann of New Ulm attend a mass for their late brother Mike Seifert at Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye Friday. Marti, Marie and their sister Monica (not pictured) of Colorado turn 75 Saturday.

SLEEPY EYE — Seventy-five years ago Saturday, Martha, Marie, Monica and Mike Seifert became the first quadruplets born in Minnesota.

With just 11 sets of quadruplets in the United States at the time, they became instant celebrities.

Their parents, Art and Delores Seifert of Stark Township expected triplets to be born in 1950. Delores Seifert gave birth to twins a few years earlier.

The quads were born two months early. Monica was the lightest at birth in Sleepy Eye Municipal Hospital, weighing 2.6 pounds. The quads shared hospital incubators, two to each unit, and remained in the hospital until they were 67 days old.

The quads were such big news, they were a Minnesota State Fair featured exhibit for three years.

Growing up on a farm with six older siblings, 10 kids in all, everyone was expected to do chores.

“We went out and pulled weeds like any normal farm kid,” said Monica at the quad’s 71st birthday party. Usually, Mike and Monica did more outdoor chores and Martha and Marie did housework.

The Seifert quads were among the oldest living quadruplets in history.

This year was the first Seifert quad birthday party without all of them. Mike Seifert died of Parkinson’s disease last December. He farmed and worked for many years at golf courses including Dakota Ridge Golf Club near Morton.

“We lost our twin brothers, Lewis and Lowell, to Parkinson’s disease a few years ago,” said Marie Hoffmann.

Lowell Seifert farmed. Lewis Seifert worked at Schell’s Brewery.

Others in the Seifert family included Teresa Wenisch of Lamberton, Marvin and Gerald “Snork” of Sleepy Eye and Viola of Leech Lake.

Marti Andersen of Albert Lea and Marie Hoffmann of New Ulm attended a Divine Providence Community Home mass for their brother Mike in Sleepy Eye Friday. Monica of Colorado was not able to attend the mass but is in good health as are Marti Andersen and Marie Hoffmann.

“We miss Mike. It’s sad not to have him here,” said said, choking up with tears. “We’re doing all right. We feel we’ve been very fortunate to live as long as we have, being born in 1950 in Sleepy Eye, weighing two to four pounds each,” said Marti.

Marie Hoffmann keeps busy these days walking dogs every morning as a volunteer for the Brown County Humane Society.

“I enjoy any animals. My husband (Gary) said I could volunteer there for as long as I want to, as long as I don’t bring any animals home,” she said.

“I like golfing. We winter in Palm Desert, Ca. I still enjoy vegetable gardening, like we always did on the farm. I think it’s a good, healthy thing to do. I love it,” said Marti Andersen.

Marie said the 2025 Sleepy Eye Historical Society Christmas ornament will go on sale this summer, featuring an historical rendition of the Seifert quads.

Photos of the Seifert quads can be found at Divine Providence Community Home and at Schell’s Brewery.