Alta Minerva (Sickle) Kruse, age 93, passed away on December 23, 2017, at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, Minn.
Alta was born at home on July 21, 1924, in Pilot Mound Township to Edwin and Susie (Thompson) Sickle. She attended country school through the eighth grade then graduated from Chatfield Public Schools. She was united in marriage with Wayne L. Kruse on October 3, 1941, at North Prairie Lutheran Church. Together they settled in Lanesboro, Minn., until his death in 1998. Alta served as Bethlehem Lutheran Church financial secretary for 15 years. She was also employed by Lanesboro Public Schools in the cafeteria, library, office and special education assistant. In 1998 she relocated to Rochester Fontaine Towers, where she worked in the Senior Citizen’s Center. In 2015 she moved to Chatfield Care Center, where she resided until her death.
She is survived by her sons, Gary (Laurie) Kruse of Rochester and Mark Kruse of Lonsdale; grandsons: Thomas, Mark Jr., and Toby; granddaughters: Katie, Nikki and Kelsie; greatgrandchildren: Allison, Chloe, Harry, Penny, Drew, Jake, and Abby; nephews: David (Janet) Sickle, Darrell (Edna) Sickle, Jon (Debbie) Aske and Alan Vogen. Alta was preceded in death by her husband Wayne, sisters Melva Aske and Agnes Vogen, and brothers Art, Hank and Earl Sickle.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Chosen Valley Care Center for their loving care of Alta. At Alta’s request, her body was donated to Mayo Clinic’s Department of Anatomy. A memorial service will be held at a later date with internment in the Lanesboro Community Cemetery.