Annie R. Maier retired R.N., age 92, formerly of Leola, S.D. and Wells, died Sunday April 13, 2003 at the Albert Lea Medical Center in Albert Lea.

Memorial Services will be 11 a.m. on Saturday April 26 2003 at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells. Rev. Eugene Stenzel will officiate. Visitation and Rosary will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday, April 26 2003.

Annie was born Oct. 21, 1910, in Leola, S.D. the daughter of John and Edith (Dexter) Lapka.

Annie attended Koto Township School and Leola High School, leaving in her junior year to enter nurses training at Britton Clinic and Hospital, Britton, S.D. Graduating in 1932, she worked at the Britton Hospital for two years and then attended a postgraduate course In pediatrics at Ripley Memorial, Minneapolis. She later moved to Rapid City, S.D., to do private duty nursing. She was married in 1934 and was blessed with three children; twin sons, LaRue and LaVoid and one daughter, LaDell.

After returning to Leola, she worked at the Lundquist Hospital and was later married to Edwin R. Maier on July 19, 1942. In 1943 she worked at the state hospital in Sanator, S.D. Between 1944 and 1968, she worked at various hospitals, retiring in late 1968.

She is survived by her son; LaRue E. (wife Amber) Maier of Langley, Wash.; daughter: LaDell (husband Dr. Donald H.) Smieja of Wells;

five grandchildren; Rev. LaRoux A. (wife Kathy) Maier of Kettle Falls, Wash., Michael S. Smieja of Grand Forks, N.D., Michelle R. Smieja of Woodbury, Minn., Anthony B. (wife Denise) Smieja of Lake Elmo, Minn., Melanie R. (husband Michael) Gustafson of St. Michael, Minn.; eight great-grandchildren; two sisters: Annie’s twin sister; Mary Casper of Hecla, S.D. Delphy (Harlow) Palmer of Biggs, Calif.; one brother: Frank (wife Olive) Lapka of Leola, S.D.; one sister-in-law

Mrs. Annie Lapka of Leola, S.D.; treasured nieces and nephews, many grand-nieces and grand-nephews

Annie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant son LaVoid, six sisters: Loretta, Alice, May, Mabel, Eunice and Clara; and two brothers: Mark and William Lapka.

Memorial in lieu of flowers to Naeve Hospital Nursing Scholarship, Albert Lea Medical Center.