The funeral service for Leah M. Staloch will be held

4 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, at St. Theodore Catholic Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Donald Zenk and the Rev. Richard Loomis will officiate. Burial will be in St. Theodore Cemetery. Visitation will from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. Theodore Catholic Church, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. There will also be viewing one hour before the service at the church.

Leah died on Sunday, April 17, 2005, at her home.

She was 56 years old.

Leah was born in Yankton, S.D., on Nov. 27, 1948, the daughter of Harlan and Glennys (Nord) Pederson. She was a 1967 graduate of Yankton, S.D., High School.

She attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, S.D., for two years, graduated from USD in Vermillion, S.D., in 1971 and received her Masters Degree from USD in 1974.

Leah was a member of St. James Catholic Church

in Twin Lakes, where she was church organist, taught RCIA and baptism classes,

and had been president of CCW. She taught school in Ringsted, Iowa, and was a

library media specialist in Redwood Falls. She moved to Albert Lea since 1976, where she was library specialist at the Albert Lea Public Schools.

On Oct. 15, 1983, Leah was united in marriage with

Mark Staloch. Leah was a member of MEMO, American Library Association, served as past president of Delta Kappa Gamma and had been nominated for Teacher Of The Year for Dist. #241. She was a member of a craft club, a card club, Teams of Our Lady, and enjoyed biking, reading, walking, and especially camping with her family.

Leah is survived by her husband, Mark of Albert Lea; three daughters: Sydney Staloch of Duluth, Emily Staloch of Vermillion, S.D., and Kirsten Staloch of Albert Lea; parents: Harlan and Glennys Pederson of Yankton, S.D.; one brother, Lennis (Gloria) Pederson of Omaha, Neb., Leanne (John) Patterson of Gillette, Wyo.; father-in-law, Edward Staloch of Albert Lea; brothers- and sisters-in-law:

Jim (Judy) Staloch of Littleton, Colo., Robert (Sue) Staloch of Albert Lea, Michael (Susie) Staloch of Midland, Mich., David (Janet) Staloch of Rochester, Barb (Randy) Haukoos of Forest City, Iowa, Joanne (Ross) Knutson of Albert Lea, Mary (Butch) Nelson of Rochester, Theresa (Tim) Jensen of Albert Lea, Kathleen (Ron) Tustin of Houston, Texas; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Duane Pederson; brother-in-law, John F. Staloch; sister-in-law, Ann M. Staloch; and mother-in-law, Marjorie Staloch.