Memorial services for Margella L. Besser of Waterville, formerly of New Richland and Albert Lea, will be at 2 p.m. Friday at LeSueur River Lutheran Church in rural New Richland. The Rev. Brian Gegel will officiate. Interment will be in LeSueur River Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.

Margella died Tuesday at Traditions Assisted Living in Waterville. She was 86.

She was born June 15, 1932, in Waseca County, the daughter of Lewis and Alice (Halvorson) Bakken. She grew up on the farm, helped with farm chores and was the only girl in the family who learned to drive the tractor.

She married Ralph E. Besser on Oct. 6, 1950, at The Little Brown Church in Myrtle. The couple lived in the New Richland area and she worked for a short time at EF Johnson and Land O’Lakes.

Margella loved being a homemaker and a mom, and was awesome at crocheting, baking and gardening.

In later years, Margella and Ralph spent many enjoyable hours having coffee with friends.

Margella is survived by daughter, Susan (Michael) Pfeffer, of New Richland; son, Allen (Halane) Besser, of Alden; grandchildren Jim Pfeffer, Jill (Jerry) Johnson, Jamie (Matt) Holm, Jared Besser and Jeremy (Rachel) Besser; great-grandchildren Michael and Benjamin Pfeffer, Brandon (Liz) Johnson, Dakota and Cami Johnson, Jackson Besser, and KyAnna and Kinley Besser; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Nathalie Besser, Sylvia and William Berg, Lorna and Ray Motley, and Lorraine and Gary Berg; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph Besser; son, Todd Besser; daughter, Shirley Burton; granddaughter, Jessica Burton; brothers and sisters Glen Bakken, Lowell Bakken, Harold Bakken, Doris Heckes and Rosie Chadderdon; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Robert and Rosella Besser, Richard and Joan Besser and Sylvester Besser.