Lucille Elizabeth Walsh, 95, of Lyle, Minnesota, passed away on Oct. 15, 2015, at Our House Senior Living in Austin, Minnesota.

Lucille was born in Johnsburg, Minnesota, on Dec. 25, 1919, to Catherine (Goergen) and Fred Smith. She attended parochial school in Johnsburg, traveling there by horse and buggy, and later moved to Austin where she worked as a nanny for a family. On Nov. 4, 1939, Lucille married John T. Walsh at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin. John was from Lyle, Minnesota. Lucille and John built their life around farming and family in the Lyle area. John passed away in 1990 and Lucille continued to live on the family farm until 2009 when she moved to Our House Senior Living in Austin, Minnesota.

Growing up in the depression era, Lucille developed a strong work ethic, which served her well in providing for a large family and supporting John with the farming business. She will be fondly remembered for being an excellent cook, baker and seamstress. For the annual church fundraiser, Lucille started in advance, making hundreds of cookies, donuts, breads and home canned pickles and jam. When winter arrived, the walls in the fruit cellar were lined with hundreds of jars of food, grown and preserved from her large garden. Her sewing talents resulted in many fine articles of clothing over the years which she made for her daughters and herself. She was quick to laugh and especially enjoyed the antics of little children. Lucille was a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church, the Rosary Society and the Lyle American Legion Auxiliary.

Lucille is survived by her children: Mary Kay Dooley, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Sandra Loftesnes, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Elaine (Gary) Braaten, Austin, Minnesota, Patricia (Dennis) Matthias, Woodbury, Minnesota, James Walsh, Stewartville, Minnesota, Charles (Wendy) Walsh, San Bernardino, California, and Mike Walsh (fiancée Marcia Toft) Lyle, Minnesota; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Catherine and Fred; brothers: Roman, Harold, Andrew and John; sister Marcella; husband John; young daughter Jean Annette; and son Daniel.

Her memory will be cherished by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Blessed be her memory!”

Memorials may be made to Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Calvary Cemetery, the Lyle American Legion Auxiliary or charity of the donor’s choice. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Lyle with Father Swaminatha Pothireddy officiating. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Austin. Visitation will be at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and at the church on Wednesday morning for one hour before the service.