Alma Notch

Alma R. Notch, age 96, of Melrose, died Sunday, May 3, 2009 at the Pine Villa Care Center in Melrose.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 8 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vince Lieser and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Christian Mothers and Sts. Bernard & Elizabeth Council will pray at 6:30 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7:30 p.m. Thursday evening.

Alma Butkowski was born February 22, 1913 in Millwood Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Ladislaus and Mary (Eiynck) Butkowski. On June 25, 1935 she married Lawrence Notch at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa. After their marriage, they moved to Idaho where they farmed for three years. They then moved to Melrose and farmed north of town until 1964 when they retired. Alma was a homemaker all her life. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, and for many years, cared for the flowers in St. Mary's grotto.

Alma was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Christian Mothers, and Sts. Bernard & Elizabeth Council.

Survivors include her children, Lorraine (Ralph) Van Heel of Osseo, Marlene (Dennis) Doetkott, Marvin (Janet) Notch of Melrose, Ralph (Sharon) Notch of Andover, Bert (Maxine) Notch of Los Angeles, CA, Janice (Ronald) Roering of Sartell, and Beatrice "Bea" (Del) Pifer of Sacramento, CA; 27 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter; and sister, Hilda Caspers of Chaska.

Alma was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lawrence Notch on October 23, 1978; infant son, Kenneth Notch; brothers, George, Arnold, Joe, Vernon, Fr. Alto, and Harold Butkowski; and sisters, Ernestine Finken and Arlene Finken.

Serving as casket bearers will be Curt Doetkott, Chad Doetkott, Neil Notch, Kyle Notch, Brent Roering, Les Van Heel, Trevor Notch, and Brandon Notch. Serving as cross bearer will be Jordan Doetkott and scripture bearer will be Samantha Notch. Mass servers will be Morgan Notch and Chloe Notch. Gift bearers will be Lynn LaMott, Diane Vogel, and Jean Sakry. Eucharistic Minister will be Marlene Doetkott. Readers will be Chad Doetkott and Marlene Straszewski. Honorary bearers will be the Christian Mothers and Sts. Bernard & Elizabeth Council.