Beatrice Haala
Mass of Christian Burial for Beatrice “Bea” Haala, 94, of Comfrey, will be held at 10:30 a.m. today (Wednesday, Feb. 22) at the St. Paul Catholic Church in Comfrey with The Rev. Andy Michels officiating. Interment will be at the St. Paul Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 Tuesday at Sturm Funeral Home in Comfrey, continues today at the church from 9:30 a.m. until time of services.
Mrs. Haala died Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, at Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye.
Beatrice ‘Bea’ (Hillesheim) Haala, daughter of Henry and Anna (Juenemann) Hillesheim, was born March 11, 1922, in Sleepy Eye, Brown County, Minnesota. She grew up on a farm in Stark Township and attended Country School 39 through eighth-grade. Bea spoke German until learning English in school. Beatrice married Leonard Haala at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye on Sept. 9, 1941. The couple lived on a farm near Leavenworth, Tracy, and Wanda until 1946 when they moved to a farm north of Comfrey where she enjoyed raising chickens. Bea worked at Del Monte in Sleepy Eye in the early 1960s, 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, the Catholic Aid Association that she served as 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.
She is survived by her children, Patti (Norbert) Wenisch of Searles, 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; four great-great-grandchildren; sister, Donna Mae (Donald) Schneider of Stoughton, Wisc; 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; and brothers, Donald and Alfred Hillesheim; brothers-in-law, Ed and Norbert Haala; and 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.
Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Comfrey. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.