Lillian Ruth Ball, 83, of Austin died Saturday morning, Aug. 28, 2010, at Fieldcrest Care Center in Hayfield. She was born May 12, 1927, in Aitkin County, the daughter of Charles Leo and Mary Elizabeth (Thompson) Wencl. She attended country school near her home. On July 30, 1944, she was united in marriage to Warren Ball. In 1948, they moved to Austin and raised their family. After Warren’s death on April 10, 1969, Lillian raised her four youngest children alone. In addition to raising her children, Lillian worked for Land-O-Lakes and the Austin Daily Herald. She loved to sew, work in her garden and baking. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family.

Survivors include her six children, Roger (Julie) Ball of Sauk Center, Steven Ball of Pierre, S.D., Dennis (Vicki) Ball of Owatonna, Deanna (Mike) Evans of Dodge Center, Beth Ball of Austin and Darla (Greg) Hartquist of Austin; thirteen grandchildren; twenty one great-grandchildren; one brother, Lawrence (Judy) Wencl of Blooming Prairie; two sisters, Evelyn Culbert of Austin and Mayme (Buzz) Smith of Kent, Wash.; many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Warren Ball; four brothers and three sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, at the Worlein Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Steve DeFor officiating. Interment will follow the service in Grandview Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Wednesday for one hour prior to the service at the Worlein Funeral Home.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com