Marie Selma Precht, 88

Marie Selma Precht, 88, of Austin, died Thursday, July 18, 2002, at St. Mark's Lutheran Home.

She was born Dec. 2, 1913, in Columbus, Ind. to Fred and Minnie (Scheidt) Niemoeller.

She graduated from Columbus High School in 1931.

On Aug. 11, 1937, she married Melvin Prect in Seymour, Ind.

The couple lived in Indiana until they moved to Austin in 1944.

She worked as her husband's insurance secretary until she had a stroke in 1966.

She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. She enjoyed playing bridge, cheering for the Minnesota Twins and participating in activities at St. Mark's.

Survivors include son, Robert Prect, Albert Lea; daughter Carol (Rev. John) Schleicher, Rochester; four grandchildren; sister Dorothy Brown, Columbus, Ind.; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; grandson, Andrew Schleicher, three brothers and one sister.

Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m., Monday, July 22 at the funeral home and Tuesday at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, at St. John's Lutheran Home with Rev. Robert Stohlmann and Rev. John Schleicher officiating.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery.

Funeral Home: Clasen-Jordan Mortuary, Austin.

Memorials: To St. John's Lutheran Church, Austin; Redeemer Lutheran Church, Rochester; or St. Mark's Lutheran Home, Austin.

Virgil C. Larson, 94

Virgil C. Larson, 94, of Albert Lea, died Thursday, July 18, 2002, at St. John's Lutheran Home.

He was born in Albert Lea Dec. 29, 1907, to WIlliam and Dora (Overgaard) Larson.

He graduated from Luther Academy and then worked at Wilson & Co.

On Oct. 15, 1938, he married Helen O. Highby in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The couple lived in California while he worked for the Chevron Corporation adn Consolidated Steel.

In 1947, they moved back to Albert Lea and he worked as a staking engineer at REA until 1974.

He enjoyed gardening and yard work, bicycling, bowling, traveling and telling stories from the past.

He was a member of the First Lutheran Church and Sons of Norway.

Survivors include son, Jeff (Sonia) Larson, Austin; granddaughter, Christine Larson, Richmond, Ind.; grandson Craig (Maria Estella) Larson, Corpus Christi, Texas and Richfield.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Dennis; and two brothers.

Visitation: 4 to 6 p.m. today, Sunday, July 21, 2002, at the funeral home and Monday at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 10 a.m., Monday at First Lutheran Chapel, Albert Lea, with Rev. John Hagen officiating.

Interment: Graceland Cemetery.

Funeral Home: Bayview/Reeborn Funeral Home, Albert Lea.