Malinda Augusta Heaney

A longtime resident of the Kiester community, Malinda was born April 22, 1905 near Mansfield, the daughter of William and Louise Wacholz. After completing Normal Training in Blue Earth, she taught in local country schools until June 6, 1929, when she married Robert Heaney. They farmed northeast of Kiester for 30 years and then retired in Kiester, where they lived 30 years. Since Robert died in 1992, Malinda lived at Knutson Place in Albert Lea and then at St. John's Lutheran Home. Malinda and Robert had three sons and two daughters; Kenneth, who died at age 34 spouse Marjory Corbet of Bradley, IL, Ralph Mary of Kiester, Iris of Andover, MN, Avis who died at birth, and Dennis Beverly of Somonauk, IL. There are also ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Malinda found ways to use her teaching ability all through her life as a substitute in elementary schools, teaching Sunday school, tutoring, and working with Brownie troops. She especially enjoyed raising chickens, gardening, and crocheting, having made nearly 100 afghans for all of her family and friends. She was a leader in the women's group of Mansfield Lutheran Church, where she was a member until retirement. Then she continued to be active in Our Savior's Lutheran Church until moving to Albert Lea. Until the last few years when her health began to fail, she was a daily volunteer at St. John's Home, visiting and reading to residents. In addition to her husband and two children, Malinda was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers, George, William Jr., Walter and Elmer Wacholz and Donald Gries; two sisters, Huldina Wacholz and Martha Mattick. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to St. John's Lutheran Home.