Balbina Winkels, 92

Balbina “Minnie” Marie (Schmitz) Winkels died Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at Bethany Home in Alexandria at the age of 92.

Balbina was born July 7, 1919 in Medicine Lake, MT to Peter and Hilda (Lien) Schmitz. She attended country school in rural Williston, ND through the 8th grade. At the age of 13 she moved to Detroit Lakes to work with a doctor as summer help. Minnie then went to live with relatives in the Perham area and worked doing day jobs until she was old enough to work in a restaurant. It was while living with her relatives that she met Leonard.

On September 16, 1940 Minnie was united in marriage to Leonard Winkels at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dent. The couple lived in Dent for a while with Leonard working as a butter maker and Minnie being a homemaker. They moved to Rose City for a few years and then to Millerville, where he was the creamery manager and Minnie continued to be a homemaker. She also helped Leonard with the books for the creamery. They moved to Alexandria in 1994.

Minnie enjoyed baking, sewing, quilting, crafts, gardening, crocheting, making cabbage patch dolls and clothes. Minnie was a member of Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Millerville and the Christian Mother’s.

She is survived by her daughters, Beverly (Bob) Abbott of Mound, Mary Ann (Ken) Kuhn of Millerville, and Cathy (Tom) Shea of Evansville; 10 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren; brother, Ambrose (Winnie) Schmitz of Torrance, CA and Raymond Schmitz of Fort Collins, CO; sister, Alice Evans of Williston, ND; brothers-in-law, Al Winkels of Northfield and Matt (Margaret) Winkels of Perham; sister-in-law, Margaret Ungari of San Jose, CA; and many nieces and nephews.

Minnie was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Hilda; and her husband, Leonard, in 1995.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, August 26 at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Millerville with the Rev. LeRoy Scheierl officiating. Music was provided by pianist, Rachel Wagner and the Voices of Joy Choir. Interment was at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Cemetery. Casket bearers were Steve Kuhn, Dan Kuhn, Peter Shea, Jeff Kuhn, Brad Abbott and Chris Shea. Honorary casket bearers were Michelle Behm, Erica Kraemer, Tanya Eberle and Rachel Tuel.

Arrangements are with Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria; www.andersonfuneral.net.

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