Letha B. Conrad

LETHA BELLE CONRAD was born to Vernon and Josephine (Newell) Hess on August 14, 1924 in Conrad, Iowa. She was raised in Iowa until 1928 when she moved with her parents to a farm near Pipestone, Minnesota. She attended country school and then two years at Pipestone High School. Upon completion of her education, she helped on the family farm. On June 2, 1946, she was united in marriage to Marvin Conrad at Salem Methodist Church in rural Pipestone. Following their marriage, she lived with her parents until Marvin was discharged from the service two months later. They then lived on the Conrad family farm near Jasper, Minnesota where Letha was very busy raising seven children. In 1988, they semi-retired from farming and moved to Jasper. Marvin remained active helping farm until he fully retired in 1998. Marvin preceded her in death on August 20, 2010. On July 28, 2011, Letha became a resident at the Good Samaritan Communities in Pipestone, where on Saturday, September 24, 2011 she passed away peacefully at the age of 87 years, one month, and ten days.

Letha was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Jasper. She loved to knit and she made afghans and quilts for each of her grandchildren. While she was raising their seven children, she sewed many of their clothes. She always had a big vegetable garden and canned many vegetables and fruits. She enjoyed working crossword puzzles and playing the piano.

She is lovingly remembered by her children, Lloyd Conrad and his wife Kathy of Forest City, Iowa, Linda Shrewsbury of Liberty, Missouri, David Conrad and his wife Barbara of Springfield, Illinois, Karen Braaten and her husband Alan of Fargo, North Dakota, Alan Conrad and his wife Karla of Jasper, Minnesota, Marlyn Conrad and his wife Dawn of Garretson, South Dakota, Carol Van De Stroet and her husband Galen of Garretson, South Dakota; 18 grandchildren; 16 1/2 great-grandchildren; one brother, Leo Hess of Pipestone, Minnesota; and three sisters, Lois Benson of Wausau, Wisconsin, Dorothea Stratton of Ankeny, Iowa, and Donna Hoey and her husband Jim of Le Mars, Iowa; and many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; two brothers, Wayne Hess and Ralph Hess; and one sister, Ruth Rogen.