Alton Neve, 87, Albert Lea

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 10, 2007

The funeral service for Alton Valdo Neve will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Curtis Zieske will officiate. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea veterans organizations. Bonnerup Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Alton died on Monday, Oct. 8, 2007, at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis. He was 87 years old.

Alton was born in Beresford, S.D. on Aug. 15, 1920, the son of the Rev. A.V. and Dora (Larsen) Neve. He received a bachelor of arts degree in teaching from Dana College, Blaire, Neb., and an accounting degree from a business college in Iowa. During World War II he served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945.

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On July 2, 1943, he was united in marriage with Helen Rebecca Anderson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. They had three daughters: Martha, Lucy, and Andrea. Helen Rebecca preceded him in death in 1974.

On July 9, 1976, he was united in marriage with Marjorie Larson Woodis at Arlington Hills Lutheran Church, St. Paul. They are members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, where he had served as church treasurer, on the church council, senior club, choir, and they had taught Sunday School as a team. Alton was a booster of the Okoboji Bible Camp that his father had started.

Alton had taught English in Mable and had been a teacher and principal in Emmons. He was an accountant at Wilson & Co for 30 years. He was a member of Kiwanis Golden KII (where he was a charter member), Albert Lea Ostomy Group, American Legion, Grapevine Twist Square Dance Club, Cantori and Caryaires. Alton and Marjorie loved to travel and had traveled to Europe, Africa, Nepal, Brazil and in the United States. He was a Master Gardener and shared the magnificent vegetables he grew with many friends. He was a member of the Albert Lea Senior Citizens and had been elected senior citizen of the year in 1991. He was on the board of Salvation Army, Nepal Social Services, and Adult Literacy and also tutored.

Alton is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Albert Lea; three daughters:

Martha Neve of California, Lucy (Cliff) Larson of Edina and Andrea Neve of Minneapolis; three step sons:

Sam Woodis of St. Paul, David (Dodie) Woodis of St. Paul, Glen (Dee) Woodis of Shieldsville; two grandchildren:

Cliff Larson III, and Rebecca Larson; six step grandchildren: Ben, Grace, Betsy, Kacie, Nicole, and Christopher Woodis; three brothers:

Dr. Paul Neve of Blaire, Neb., the Rev. Lloyd (Muriel) Neve of Blaire, Neb., and the Rev. Reid (Eunice) Neve of Omaha, Neb.; sister-in-law, Ruth Neve of Minneapolis; and brother-in-law, Herb Anderson of Albert Lea.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Helen Rebecca in 1974; brother, Aster Neve; two sisters: Marilyn and Ruth.