Alberta Heiny, 1936-2016

Published 9:57 am Monday, April 11, 2016

Alberta L. Heiny, 79, of Lake Mills died Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at her home.

A funeral service was at 10:30 a.m. today at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 E. Main St. in Lake Mills. The Rev. Bill Peters officiated. Burial will be in Concordia Lutheran Cemetery of Pickerel Lake in rural Albert Lea. Visitation was from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Mittelstadt Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service.

Alberta Louise (Pestorious) Severson Heiny was born on July 25, 1936, in Albert Lea, to parents Warren and Roselyn (Drommerhausen) Pestorious. She was baptized and confirmed at Concordia Lutheran Church of Pickerel Lake in rural Albert Lea. Alberta attended and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1954. Following graduation, Alberta began working for Wilson & Co. in Albert Lea.

In 1956, Alberta married George Arthur Severson, and the couple made their home in Albert Lea. Alberta stayed at home to raise their children, while George worked at Wilson & Co.  George passed away in 1967.

In 1969, Alberta and Dean Heiny were united in marriage. Shortly after, the couple moved to Lake Mills. Dean passed away in 2004.

Alberta had enrolled in secretarial school and began working for Streater, after which she was employed by ALTEC, now Riverland Community College, where she worked in the financial aid office. She retired 10 years ago.

Alberta’s hobbies and passions were vegetable and flower gardening, collecting recipes even though not all turned out as planned and hunting and fishing always in search of the next big pheasant or trout. She also enjoyed traveling — Mexico and the Black Hills being two favorites, collecting antique crocks and dolls, attending auctions and supporting Ducks Unlimited.

She will be remembered for her banana bread, fried chicken and rolls, which were always delicious. Her family will miss her infectious smile, hearty laugh, and all the tall tales she loved sharing.

In more recent years, Alberta was Granny the Nanny to her great-granddaughter, Sammy, in Albert Lea.  She cherished every moment she was able to attend to Sammy’s needs.

She is lovingly survived by her four daughters, Debra (Zane) Merriman of Yale, Oklahoma, Susan (Ray Pederson) Kiel of Grand Marais, Patricia Severson of Rochester and Mary Ellen (Neil) Warns-Anderson of Waubay, South Dakota. She is also survived by grandchildren Jeff (Kari) Severson, Sarah (Eric) Oppedal, Bobbie Merriman, Nicole (Steve) Ambrose, Brooke Merriman, Emily Merriman, Melissa (Chris) Bertelson, Carrie (Joe) Rossing, Amie Petersen, John Kiel, Brendon Colby, Mitchell (Amy) Warns, Bradley (Libby) Warns, Bryan Warns and Minda Warns; and numerous great-grandchildren, extended relatives and friends.

Alberta was preceded in death by her parents Warren and Roselyn; husbands George and Dean;  son, Jeff Severson; grandson-in-law, Jason Johnson; and two brothers, Marvin Pestorious and Kenneth Pestorious.