Beatrice 'Bea' Haala

Beatrice 'Bea' Haala, daughter of Henry and Anna (Juenemann) Hillesheim was born March 11, 1922 in Sleepy Eye, MN. She grew up on a farm in Stark Township and attended country school #39 through 8th grade. Bea spoke German until learning English in school. On September 9, 1941, Beatrice married Leonard Haala at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. The couple lived by Leavenworth, Tracy, and Wanda until moving to a farm north of Comfrey in 1946 where she enjoyed raising chickens. Bea worked at Del Monte in Sleepy Eye in the early 1960's, was a bookkeeper for St. Paul's Church, Elaine's Gift Shop, Comfrey School kitchen, and cooked for many weddings. She was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Comfrey where she was an active member of the CCW, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 244, St. John Lutheran Home Auxiliary, Florentennial Garden Club, Prairie Sampler Quilters Guild, Brown County Home Extension, Catholic Aid Association where she served as the secretary and treasurer, and many card clubs. Beatrice enjoyed gardening and canning, quilting, crocheting, embroidery, traveling - especially her trip to Europe, playing cards - especially bridge, watching the Twins, ceramics, bowling with the Comfrey Cats, old time music, and time with her cousins. She had a beautiful back yard full of flowers and won many awards for her rose garden. Beatrice died on Friday, February 17, 2017 at Divine Providence in Sleepy Eye at the age of 94. She is survived by her children - Patti (Norbert) Wenisch of Searles, MN, Leon (Cheryl) Haala of Springfield, and Bruce Haala of Sleepy Eye; grandchildren - Greg, Annette, Mark, Cheryl, Jason, Jadd, Susan, Tamera, Tammy, Becky, and Shelley; 23 great grandchildren; 4 great great grandchildren; sister Donna Mae (Donald) Schneider of Stoughton, WI; and many nieces, nephews, and godchildren. Beatrice was preceded in death by her parents; husband Leonard, grandchildren - Brian Wenisch and Shannon Haala; daughter-in-law Diane Arnold-Haala; brothers - Donald and Alfred Hillesheim; brothers-in-law - Ed and Norbert Haala; sisters-in-law - Rosella Hillesheim, Genevieve Hillesheim, and Tillie Haala. Bea was very kind and had a gentle and loving personality. She had a large family and many friends and will be greatly missed by all. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Sturm Funeral Home, Comfrey Chapel 101 N. Field Comfrey, Minnesota, United States 56019 Visitation 2 9:30 am - 10:30 am Wednesday, February 22, 2017 St. Paul's Catholic Church, Comfrey 218 Field St. N Not Given, Minnesota, United States 56019 Service Information 10:30 am Wednesday, February 22, 2017 St. Paul's Catholic Church, Comfrey 218 Field St. N Not Given, Minnesota, United States 56019 Interment Information St. Paul Catholic Cemetery N Hwy 258 Comfrey, Minnesota, United States 56019 Luncheon Luncheon to follow interment at the Comfrey Community Center.