Sophia Marie Hillesheim-Kral

Sophia was born in New York, New York on April 22, 1915 as Sophia Kaminsky, the daughter of William and Maria Kaminsky. On October 9, 1915, Maria relinquished six month old Sophia to the New York Foundling Hospital orphanage in Manhattan. Sophia was one of 250,000 children shipped from the East Coast to families in the West on one of the infamous "orphan trains." Two-year-old Sophia Kamin arrived in St Paul /Minneapolis, MN. in 1917 and was taken in by a family. In 1919, Sophia was replaced to Springfield, MN. Scarcely before Sophia's eighteenth birthday, she was legally adopted by Mrs. Anna (Joseph) Greim and became Sophia Greim. Sophia grew up in Springfield and attended St Raphael and Springfield Public schools. On June 4, 1936, Sophia Greim married Charles E. Hillesheim, son of Meinrad and Bertha (Wiltscheck) Hillesheim of Stark / Siegel Township, Sleepy Eye, MN, at St Raphael's Catholic Church, Springfield, MN. After living in Springfield for many years, the couple moved to Sleepy Eye. Charles preceded Sophia in death on August 24, 1966. On February 16, 1985, Sophia married widower, Raymond O. Kral at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. Raymond preceded Sophia in death on August 26, 2007. Sophia worked at Anthony's Department Store and the Orchid Inn and Supper Club. She had a very strong love for her family and the people that touched her life. She often expressed, "Deepest gratitude fills my heart when I think of God's great goodness to me and the countless persons whose lives have touched mine and helped me to grow." Her legacy of kindness and her humble loving spirit a gift to many. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. Sophia is survived by her children, Patricia (Henry) Brandel of Atwater, MN.; Charlene (Gil) Peichel of Dell Rapids, S.D.; Johnora "Jonni" (Lon) DeGregoris of Gilbert, AZ.; Stephen (Lois) Hillesheim of Sleepy Eye, MN.; and Rene (Lonnie) Wendinger of Sleepy Eye, MN.; 13 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-great-grandchildren. Sophia is survived by step children, Phyllis (Frederick) Juni of New Ulm, MN. Linus (Janet) Kral, Ray (Susan) Kral Jr., and the late Marvin (Eileen) Kral of Sleepy Eye, MN., and many step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; surrogate brother, Norbert Ochs, Walker, MN., surrogate daughter, Dorothy (Crouter) Glynn, Casper, WY., brother in-laws Meinrad Hillesheim Jr., Arthur Sellner, Sleepy Eye, MN., and sister-in-law Evelyn Forstner, New Ulm, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Divine Providence landscaping project or the individuals choice. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Wednesday, May 25, 2016 Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel 301 - 3rd Ave. S.W. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 A parish prayer service will be at 4:00pm Wednesday at the funeral home. Visitation 2 9:00 am - 10:30 am Thursday, May 26, 2016 Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel 301 - 3rd Ave. S.W. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Service Information 11:00 am Thursday, May 26, 2016 St. Mary's Catholic Church-Sleepy Eye 636 1st Ave. North Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Interment Information St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery 720 3rd Ave. N.E. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085