Eileen M. Heard, 83
Eileen Marie Heard, 83, of Austin, died on Feb. 18, 2009 at Our House Senior Care in Austin. 
She was born Oct. 22, 1925, one of eight children, to Nordahl and Lenore (Olsen) Nelson in Lyle, Minn. She grew up on a farm in Lyle and had fond memories of growing up there. She married Merle Heard on June 24, 1943 in Tennessee, where Merle was stationed in the Army. Eileen stayed home and raised her family until 1971 when she went to work at a bridal shop in Austin. Eventually she became manager of The Wedding Tree, formerly Hilda’s Bridal Shop. She left and began working for Gloria’s dress shop and ended her career at Lundberg’s in the Oak Park Mall. Merle passed away in 1988 at their home where Eileen continued to live. When she couldn’t care for herself anymore, she moved to the Oaks Condominiums where she made many new friends. She was very active in Holy Cross Lutheran Church, a member of Circle, always helping out when asked. She was also a Girl Scout leader. She made her final home at Our House Memory Care.
Survivors include her children, Kay Flynn, St. Paul, Rick (Jackie) Heard, Rapid City, S.D., Paula (Terry) LaPanta, Inver Grove Heights, Darol (Sandy) Heard, Austin, Suzanne (Peter) Gill, Eden Prairie, Scott (Susannah) Heard, Minneapolis, Minn., Sheila (Tracy) Harrington, Austin; 19 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; siblings, Eula (Harry) Reshetar, Austin, Char (Donald) Feltz, Osage, Iowa, Chester (Barbara) Nelson, Lyle, Carol (Robert) Kraushaar, Austin, Gary (Norma) Nelson, Lyle. 
She was preceded in death by her husband, Merle; her parents, Lenore and Nordahl Nelson; sons, Leland, David and Roger; brothers, Leland and Norman Nelson.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church with Pastor Warren Schmidt officiating. Visitation is at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment is at Six Mile Grove Cemetery, rural Lyle. Worlein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.