Alice Marie Williams

Alice M. Williams age 86 of Balaton, MN died Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at the Avera-McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Services will be held 10:30 AM Saturday, March, 27, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 PM Friday, March 26, 2010 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Balaton, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM, and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Balaton. The Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton is handling the arrangements. “THE LEFSE LADY” Alice Marie (Riste) Williams was born June 20, 1923 to Edwin and Aagot (Hynden) Riste on a farm West of Florence, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Opdahl Lutheran Church in Florence and attended Public school in that area. Alice graduated from Tyler High School, Tyler, MN in 1941. On June 20, 1941, Alice married Dale Nelson Williams of Balaton, MN. To this union two children, Larry Dale and Lona Rae were born. They farmed in Balaton area until September 1941 when Dale was drafted into the U.S. Army. They were then stationed in California for 3 years where Alice worked as a “nanny” and later worked in a Defense Plant in Los Angeles, assembling parts for planes and weapons. From California they spent a year in St. Louis, MO before returning to Balaton, where Alice worked in several cafes and then was employed at the Balaton Municipal Liquor Store for 22 years. She was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Choir member since 1957. She was also Past President of the American Legion Auxiliary, Past Grand Electa of the Grand Chapter of MN, O.E.S., Past Matron of Delta Chapter, O.E.S., and Gold Star Mother since 1968. Alice enjoyed singing and playing the electric guitar for many occasions. Her most favorite project was making “Lefse”!! She also enjoyed quilting and playing cards. On Wednesday, March 24, 2010, Alice passed away at Avera-McKennon Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Alice is survived by one daughter, Lona Wood of Clinton, TN; three grandchildren, Scott Wood of Northfield, MN; Suzanne (Jamie) Beets of Clinton, TN; Brenda Williams of Bemidji, MN; eight great-grandchildren, Brittany and Gage Wood, Taylor and Dallas Beets, and Jessie, Jason, Jonathan and Jacob Johnson; three sisters, Eva Burgeson of Redlands, CA, Ruth Holt of Redlands, CA, and Mary Wixon of Highland, CA; one brother, Dennis Riste, Highland, CA; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Dale in 1998, her son, Larry Dale, killed in Vietnam, May 5, 1968; her parents, stepmother, one brother, and one sister.