Hilda J. Lacher

Hildegarde Julianna Gross was born in Lastrup, MN on November 15, 1923 to Theodore and Matilda Kapsner Gross. She attended Hillman and Onamia schools. She was very grateful for Christian parents who raised her to love the Lord Jesus, to love hard work, and to love having fun. She was an adventurous young woman, traveling across the state to find a job and the man of her dreams, Staff Sgt. Cornelius Van Ravenhorst. They were married June 6, 1944. After their army days, they rented a farm until they were able to purchase their own farm near Blooming Prairie, MN. Hilda's love of hard work was a great asset; she helped in the fields, maintained home and family, managed vegetable and flower gardens that were coveted by friends and neighbors, and wholeheartedly served the Lord she loved through her church. They were forced to sell the farm in 1973 due to Cornie's poor health, which led to his death in 1975. When they moved from the farm, they bought a home in Blooming Prairie, where Hilda lived until she moved to Clarks Grove in 1978. During her 10 years of widowhood, Hilda grew an entourage of friends through card clubs, birthday clubs, Homemaker's Club, Women's Missionary Fellowship, Mission Circle, and other events at First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove, where she was a member. She often blessed the sick and elderly with compassionate visits and love gifts. She was employed as a kitchen aide in the Albert Lea school district for many years. In 1985, Hilda married Howard Lacher, who died 18 months later of a massive heart attack. During their short, happy marriage, they enjoyed bus tours, camping, yardwork, helping others, and working together on "little" projects. Hilda remained a widow the remaining 22 years of her life. She thoroughly enjoyed family, was very creative, and was amazed by God's creation; especially the seasons, flowers and birds of every variety. Hilda also enjoyed many bus tours with friends, visiting every state in the union, except Alaska and Washington D.C. She enjoyed crocheting and embroidering, and gave away hundreds of crocheted afghans and embroidered dishtowels. She sold her home in Clarks Grove in 2005 when her health began to fail and then resided with her daughter Donna Steve Hensel in Aitkin for 2 years. She missed having her own home, and moved to the Heather Haus independent, assisted living in Blooming Prairie in 2007, where she resided until the present. Her legacy resounds with her testimony that "God is always with me, through every tragedy as well as every joyful occasion." Survivors include her sons, Jerry Deborah Van Ravenhorst, Dennis Debbie Van Ravenhorst, and Darryl Lisa Van Ravenhorst; daughters, Donna Steve Hensel, Gloria Vern Dennis, and Marilyn Scott Gullickson; stepsons, Eugene Jo Lacher and Bernard Sherry Lacher; stepdaughter, Marietta Proffitt; 20 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 8 step-grandchildren; 8 step-great-grandchildren; sisters, Martha Al Holly, Marie Ted Block, Eva Joe Tembreull, IreneWalter Schlegel and Delores Bill Rausch; brothers, Ben Ginny Gross and George Gross; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends. Hilda was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Cornie Van Ravenhorst and Howard Lacher; sisters, Cecelia Miers and Agnes Schommer; and grandchildren, Stephanie and Bobby Dennis.