Funeral services for Alvina J. Giese will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Timothy Reker will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea and again one hour prior to the service at the church. Graveside services and interment will be in Willamette Memorial Park, in Albany, Ore.

Alvina Giese passed away on Thursday at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea. She was 81 years old.

Alvina was born Oct. 11, 1931, to Stephan and Balbina Evan. She was born and raised in Minnesota Lake, where she attended and graduated from Minnesota Lake High School. After graduation, Alvina married Roger Giese on Jan. 24, 1950, in Minnesota Lake. The couple later moved to Albany, Ore., where Roger owned his own business. They later returned back to the area they both grew up in and eventually settled in Albert Lea.

Alvina enjoyed the outdoors. Some of her fondest memories were the time she spent outdoors picking fresh cherries in Oregon. She enjoyed camping, fishing and spending time in her garden. Alvina was also a very good cook. Alvina worked at American Distributing, in the jewelry department where she gained a love, and quite a collection, of jewelry. In her free time, Alvina enjoyed working with her hands by doing various arts and crafts projects. Alvina will be remembered for being a giving, caring, loving person who always had a smile on her face. She was very compassionate, and always willing to lend a helping hand.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Roger Giese; brother, David (Ann) Evan; sister in-laws, Irene Evan and Joyce Evan; special cousin, Lyle (Lois) Bluhm; as well as many nieces, nephews, relatives and other loving special friends.

Alvina was preceded in death by her parents; children, Kathleen Kirkpatrick, Bonnie Giese, Robert Giese, Paul Giese, and David Giese; brothers, James Evan and Eugene Evan; sister in-law, Ardella (Norman) Hosley; mother in-law, Elda Giese; father in-law, Paul Giese; and step father in-law, Frank Radke.

Alvina was loved by many people and will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends.