The funeral service for Pierce Spain will be 2 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Wayne Halvorson will officiate. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, and one hour before the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea Veterans organizations.

Pierce died on Wednesday, April 24, 2002, at Thorne Crest North Retirement Center Health Care Wing. He was 85 years old.

Pierce was born in Obion, Tenn., on Dec. 24, 1916, the son of Nap and Effie (Tanner) Spain. During World War II he served with the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943-46.

On Oct. 17, 1942, Pierce was united in marriage with Violet Moller at Cape Girardeau, Mo. They have made their home in Albert Lea since 1946 and were members of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Pierce worked for Rilco Rafter Co. and Hemingway Concrete in Albert Lea for a short time and then for Rock Island Railroad for 23 years. He was a member of the Albert Lea American Legion. His interests included fishing, camping, and collecting miniature horse and wagon teams.

Pierce is survived by his wife, Violet of Albert Lea; four children: Fred Spain, Debra Leidal and her husband Steven, Susan Beighley and her husband Steven, and Daniel Spain and his wife Kari, all of Albert Lea; three grandchildren: Jennifer and Joshua Spain and Stepanie Beighley; two step grandchildren: Dalynn and Samuel Beighley; two sisters: Lucille Walker and Lorene Berrie of Hayti, Mo.; two brothers-in-law: Pete Smotherman of Waynesboro, Tenn., and Clinton Olson of Battle Lake, Minn.; two sisters-in-law: Cleone Moller of Galesville, Wis., and Nadine Moller of Albert Lea; and many nieces and nephews.

Pierce was preceded in death by his parents; two infant children; one brother, Buck Spain; two sisters: Pearlie Spain and Mozell Smotherman; mother- and father-in-law, Rev. Emil and Mrs. Petra Moller; two sisters-in-law: Mildred Furgeson and Charlotte Olson; and four brothers-in-law: Fritz and Reuben Moller, Walter Walker and Jens Furgeson.