The funeral service for Lorene M. Behr, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at Concordia Lutheran Church of Pickerel Lake. The Rev. Wendy Anderson will officiate. Interment will be in Concordia Lutheran Cemetery Pickerel Lake. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 on Wednesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, and one hour before the service at the church.
Lorene died peacefully on Sunday, June 20, 2009, at St. John’s Lutheran Home. She was 87.
Lorene Marie (Heine) Behr was born Aug. 6, 1922, in Pickerel Lake Township, the daughter of Fred and Bertha C. (Lutteke) Heine. She attended elementary school in Conger and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1941.
She married to LeRoy J. Behr on Oct. 24, 1943, at Concordia Lutheran Church of Pickerel Lake. They farmed in rural Conger until 1950 when they purchased Bothum’s Grocery in Conger and renamed it Behr’s Store. They operated Behr’s Store until 1970 when the building was converted to the Conger Branch of the U.S. Post Office. Lorene was employed as Assistant Postmaster and later was Postmaster until her retirement in 1987.
Lorene was very active in her church, serving as Bible study leader, WELCA member and officer, choir member, Altar Guild member and in the quilting group.
She is survived by five daughters: LeAnn (Roger) Knutson of Albert Lea, Susan (Jerry) Clapsaddle of Littleton, Colo., Judy (Mike) Nelson of Brainerd, Debra of Shoreview and Lori (Paul) Williamson of Brainerd. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Amy (Jonathan) Zabel of Eagan, Jeffrey Knutson (fiancé Janine Papenfuss) of Mankato, Dr. Brady (Trisha) Clapsaddle of Littleton, Colo., Wendy (Tom) Pratte of Littleton, Colo., Tiffany Nelson of Waconia, Chad (Michelle) Nelson of Braham, and Rhett and Alex Williamson of Brainerd. Also surviving are great grandchildren: Jacob and Megan Zabel, Jack and Max Clapsaddle, Sophia Pratte and Finley Nelson.
Other survivors are sisters and brothers: Juliann (Ray) Riemer of Albert Lea, Marie Nelson of St. Petersburg, Fla.L, Kenneth (Sandra) Heine of Conger, Gerald Heine of Conger, Lois (John) Mortenson of Fayetteville, Ark., Shirley (Larry) Petersen of St. Joseph; sisters-in-law: Viola Johnson and Mary Behr of Albert Lea and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, LeRoy J. Behr; brothers: Clarence, Lawrence; and sister, Doris Larson as well as brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.