Cleonora A. Weness, 87

Cleonora Alreda Weness, 87, of Adams, formerly of Melvin, Iowa, died Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, at Austin Medical Center.

She was born March 13, 1915, in Lyle, to Oscar and Rena (Nelson) Sampson.

She was baptized and confirmed at the Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church and graduated from Lyle High School.

She worked as a housekeeper until her marriage to Kenneth S. Weness on Nov. 22, 1942, at the St. Olaf Parsonage in Austin. Following Kenneth's time in the service, they made their home in Adams until 1950, when they moved to Melvin, Iowa, where they owned and operated the Locker Plant. They traveled to Norway in 1975 and 1978 and have wintered in Mission, Texas. They moved back to the Adams area this November.

Cleonora was an avid needle worker, enjoying quilting, knitting and other crafts. She was a member of the American Lutheran Church in Melvin, Iowa and was active in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Mission, Texas.

Survivors include husband, Kenneth Weness, Adams; sisters and brothers-in-law, Enid and Don Patterson, St. Ansgar, Iowa; Mildred and Keith Westling, Osage, Iowa; Marilyn and Dean Rockafellow, St. Ansgar, Iowa; brother and sister-in-law, Russell and Gladys Sampson, St. Ansgar, Iowa; nieces and nephews.

Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m., today, at the funeral home and Tuesday at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2002, at Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church in Lyle with the Rev. Lydia Mittag officiating. Casket bearers will be David Weness, Brian Weness, Brian Sampson, Steven Sampson, Roger Weness and Mark Weness.

Interment: Six Mile Grove Lutheran Cemetery, Lyle.

Funeral Home: Adams Funeral Home, Adams.

Rachel E. Holt, 91

Rachel Eloise (Marsh) Holt, 91, died Nov. 30, 2002, of heart failure at Lakeview Home, Two Harbors.

She was born on June 19, 1911, in Glenwood City, Wis. She lived most of her life in Austin and spent the past four years residing at Lakeview Nursing Home in Two Harbors.

Survivors include sons, Ronald of Tampa, Fla.; and Marvin (Sandy) of Two Harbors; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.

Memorials: To Knife River Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 218, Knife River, Minnesota 55609.

Celia Alwes, 78

Celia Alwes, 78, of Blooming Prairie, died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2002, at the Prairie Manor Nursing Home, Blooming Prairie.

She was born March 3, 1924, in Rinard, Iowa, to Charles and Cassie (Stevenson) Hogan.

On Feb. 4, 1943, she married Elvin Alwes in Webster City, Iowa. They had lived in Blooming Prairie since 1948.

An active member of First Lutheran Church, Celia belonged to Naomi Circle. She enjoyed music and loved family.

Survivors include husband, Elvin Alwes, Blooming Prairie; daughters, Donna Ward, Blooming Prairie; Teri (Dale) Schnebly, Broken Arrow, Okla.; Linda (Larry) Gravenish, Blooming Prairie; Cheryl (Donald) Hatten, Brownsdale; Debra (Ronald) Paulson, Blooming Prairie; Tamara (Mike) Srock, Blooming Prairie; sons, Elvin (Jeri) Alwes, Blooming Prairie; Richard (Liz) Alwes, Millville; Kevin Alwes, Blooming Prairie; 40 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; sister, Irene Carroll, Oregon, Mo.; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, a grandson and a great-granddaughter.

Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002, at the funeral home and Thursday at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 11 a.m., Thursday, at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Richard Hegal and Rev. Heidi Heimgartner officiating.

Funeral Home: Worlein-Blooming Prairie Funeral Home.