Alma L. Vilhauer, 99

Alma Lorentina Vilhauer passed away peacefully on Sept. 20, 2014, at The HealthCenter in Kalispell, with her daughter, Audrey Lapka and grandson, John Reis at her side.

She was born on March 6, 1915, to August G. and Maria (Klooz) Heupel on their farm near Leola, S.D.  Alma was the oldest of 10 children; she had seven sisters and two brothers. She attended first through eighth grades in a rural school near their farm. She lived there until her marriage to August J. Vilhauer on March 17, 1936. They moved to Leola for a short time before renting a farm northeast of Long Lake, S.D.  In 1941, they purchased a farm 17 miles west and 1 mile south of Leola.

In 1963, August and Alma sold the farm and moved to Aberdeen, S.D. August used his carpentry skills in his semi-retirement while Alma, as always, took such loving care of their home, cooking wonderful meals and sharing them with any and all who would stop by for a visit. Alma was a very loving, caring, compassionate person and an amazing cook. She baked the most marvelous goodies and was the best baby sitter anyone could ever have. There was nothing to be mended or sewn that Alma couldn't fix and she did it beautifully. She crocheted many afghans and booties for friends and family which are cherished by all. Alma enjoyed bowling for a good many number of years.

She bowled on a league and also traveled to many national tournaments with five of her sisters. They had great times and many good memories as they traveled and bowled together. They became known and mentioned in the Nationals as the “Leola Sisters.”

Alma was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Aberdeen where she was a long-time member of the Altar Guild and sang with the “Friendship Singers.” She was previously a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Leola, and Salem Lutheran Church in rural Leola.

In 2000, Alma moved to The Homestead in Aberdeen where she lived until moving to Bigfork to live with her daughter, Audrey and husband Gary Lapka in 2001. She resided with them in Bigfork and spent winters with them in Hawaii until moving to St. Joseph Retirement Community, an assisted living home in Polson, in 2006. She became a resident at the Lake View Care Center in Bigfork in October 2008, where she was living at the time of her death.    

Survivors include two daughters, LaDonna (Robert) Sommerville of Clive, Iowa, Audrey (Gary) Lapka of Bigfork; one son, LaRue Vilhauer of Glasgow; three sisters, Viola Smolnisky of Aberdeen, Ann Quinn of Rapid City, S.D., and Irene Lightfoot of Watertown, S.D.; one brother, Harold Heupel of Laramie, Wyo.; 13 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.  

She was preceded in death by her husband, August J. Vilhauer; her parents, August G. and Maria Heupel; four sisters, Olivia Young, Lillian Rath, Irma Muhlbeier and Vivian Snow; one brother, Edgar Heupel; one daughter, Juliet Meyer; two sons, Leslie Wayne and Larry Vilhauer; four grandchildren, Joseph Meyer, Markus, David and Colin Reis; and one great-grandchild, Ashley Reis.

There will be a visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 S. Main St., in Aberdeen, as well as from 10 a.m. until service time at the church. Alma's funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, at Zion Lutheran Church, 1732 S. Main St., in Aberdeen, with Pastor Marsha Sylvester officiating. There will be a reception at the church following the services, immediately followed by graveside services at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Aberdeen.

Arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory in Polson, and Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home in Aberdeen. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at www.grogan funeralhome.com.