Loretta Ackland, 79, Princeton, died on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, at Fairview Southdale Medical Center after suffering from failing health for the past year.

Loretta Theresa was born on Aug. 5, 1928, to Joseph John and Anna Gertrude (Marsolek) Von Ruden on their farm in Dodge County near Claremont. She grew up on the farm with her three older brothers, Raymond, Howard, and Norbert. As a small child, she became ill with polio which left her with a permanent disability in her right arm. The disability never seemed to keep her from doing what most other children and adults do: climb trees and haystacks, ride a bicycle or drive a car. She learned to do most things with one hand. Her children always heard, &8220;If I can do it with one hand, you certainly can do it with two!&8221;

Loretta graduated from Claremont High School, and from the Minneapolis School of Business with a degree in junior accounting. She met Edvin O. Ackland, her husband of 48 years, on a blind date. They were married on June 14, 1952, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Claremont. Together, they had seven children. They lived in Owatonna, Ellendale, Albert Lea area, Baudette, and Princeton, all in Minnesota. Loretta and Edvin worked the family farm by Manchester for more than 10 years, before moving to the Lerdal, also in Freeborn County, where she stayed at home caring for the family. When they lived in Baudette, Loretta worked for Trail&8217;s End Lodge. In the early 1980s, they moved to Princeton and until retiring, she worked many years in the accounting department at the Holiday Companies, Inc. Main Office in Bloomington. She had just recently moved to the Guardian Angels by the Lake Assisted Living facility in Elk River. Loretta loved bird watching and flower gardening. She had been a member of St. Edward&8217;s Catholic Church and the Princeton American Legion Auxiliary.

She is survived by her seven children: Kathleen (Arthur) Kopseng of Northfield, John (Marti) Ackland of Maple Grove, David Ackland of Maple Grove, Jeannette (Wayne) Haukaas of Baudette, Diane Ackland of Clitherall, Karen Ackland of Omaha, Neb., and Donald Ackland of Princeton. She is

survived by 11 grandchildren: Elizabeth Kopseng of Hopkins, Amanda (Daniel) Wright of Rochester, Alison Kopseng and Daniel Kopseng of Northfield; Ann, Alyssa, and Aaron Ackland of Maple Grove; Michael (Susan) Haukaas of Dubuque, Iowa; David Haukaas of St. Paul; and Thomas and Jeffrey Bird of Omaha. A brother Norbert (Jewell) of Claremont, and sister-in-law Delores Von Ruden of Owatonna, plus numerous nieces and nephews also survive her.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edvin, in 2000; a grandson, Andrew Ackland; her brothers Raymond and Howard; and sister-in-law, Ruth Ann Von Ruden.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Claremont with a two hour visitation prior to the service. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday at Williams-Hanson-Kaun Funeral Home in Princeton. Burial will be in St. Francis de Sales Catholic Cemetery in Claremont.