Alvina Winters

Alvina M. "Vina" Winters, age 100 of Melrose, died peacefully on Monday, October 28, 2013 at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 31 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vincent Lieser officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Alvina Marie Kemper was born February 5, 1913 in Melrose, Minnesota to Joseph and Katherine (Imdieke) Kemper. She was united in marriage to Edwin Winters on May 14, 1935 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. After their marriage, they farmed in the Melrose and Sauk Centre area. She loved living on their farm west of Melrose with her husband, Edwin. Vina would often say living and farming with her husband was like having heaven on earth. After Edwin died, Vina resided at Rose View Manor in Melrose for 17 years before returning to Sauk Centre. She was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose.

Alvina enjoyed music and dancing; she would often sing as her husband played the guitar. She loved animals, especially her cats. Vina's nieces, nephews, and their children were her family and would always have special treats for the children that came to visit.

Survivors include many nieces and nephews.

Alvina was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Edwin Winters on November 26, 1993; brothers and sisters, Rose Thieschafer, Anna Trisko, John Kemper, Alois Kemper in infancy, Frances Winters, Herman Kemper, Alphonse Kemper, Veronica Sonnen, and Marie Johnson.

Serving as casket bearers will be Gene Johnson, Jim Winters, Cyril Meyer, Ray Trisko, Joel Orth, and Chuck Rien. Cross bearer will be Judy Dalen. Gift bearers will be Julian and Mary Haskamp and LeRoy and Kathy Kemper. Eucharistic Ministers will be Luverne and Jean Ritter. Reader will be Mark Haskamp.