Lucille Alger

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Lucille A. Alger, 90, of Huron and formerly of Highmore, passed away Monday, November 26, 2012 after a short stay at SunQuest Healthcare Center, Huron.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 1, 2012 at the United Methodist Church, Highmore with Pastor Kori Lehrkamp officiating.  Burial followed at the Highmore Cemetery.  Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, November 30, 2012 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at Luze Funeral Home, Highmore.

Lucille Adah Alger was born on February 13, 1922 at her home in Round Prairie Township, Todd County Minnesota, the only child of Henry and Hedwig “Hattie” (Kassube) Rander.  She was baptized at Long Bridge Lutheran Church and grew up near Round Prairie.  She was confirmed in 1934 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Little Sauk.  She attended the Long Prairie schools and graduated from Long Prairie High School in 1939.  After high school she worked for one year at the Ben Franklin store in Long Prairie and then moved to St. Cloud where she attended Drew’s Business College.  Following her graduation she moved to Minneapolis where she worked as a bookkeeper for Bautels and Northwestern Bank.  Later, she worked as a teller at Twin City Federal, eventually being promoted to head bookkeeper.

She married Noyes W. “Ford” Alger on November 6, 1948.  In January 1950, they moved to Highmore, South Dakota where he established his law practice.  While in Highmore they had two children, Karen and Barry.

She was a member of Highmore Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School, served as an MYF leader and was a member of the United Methodist Women.  She was also part of the PTA at the Highmore School.  While in Highmore she was active in Rebekkahs and Eastern Star. 

In 2005, she moved from Highmore to The Huron Towers where she was welcomed into a new community of wonderful friends.  “The Girls” shared afternoon coffee, birthdays, evening card games, holiday celebrations, potlucks and helped each other through day to day life. 

Lucille loved to cook and read cookbooks like others read novels.  Her cookbook collection numbered in the hundreds.  Everyone who knew Lucille knew that she loved to be in her kitchen making special things for loved ones, or cutting out and reading recipes to share with us all.  Isn’t it fitting that the refrigerator in her apartment should tell such a wonderful story about her?  The fridge door held many reminders of what was important…phone numbers of family and friends, upcoming appointments, photos of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and little magnets that were reminders of her philosophy of life.

1.      The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to

Accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

2.        Proverbs 17:22

      A cheerful heart is good medicine,

3.      Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  Plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

4.      Love makes the world go round.

5.      John 16:13

He will guide you into all truth.

6.      Matthew 24:35

Heaven and Earth will pass away

But my words will never pass away.

7.      And finally, a name plaque:

Lucille…Bringer of light

Fear not, for I am with you.

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you.

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

                                                Isaiah 41:10

Her memory will be cherished by her children: Karen (Don) Rinke of Willmar, MN and Barry (Mary) Alger of Highmore; thirteen grandchildren: Jodie (David) Douglas, Jennie (Todd) Lee, Nathan Rinke, Nathan Albrecht, Rachael (Ryan) Loney, Jacalyn (Sam) Dalton, Todd Neuharth, Coty Wind, Donald (Ashley) Alger, Christina (Micky) Brehe, Karren Iron Heart, Theresa Alger-Wind, Treymaine Eagle Thunder-Alger; eighteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; infant son (to be named Terry); stepson, Wood E. Alger; son-in-law, Dennis Albrecht; and granddaughter, Jeni Albrecht. 

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Lucille’s arrangements.