Lucille Wilhemina Marie Albee

FUNERAL SERVICES: VISITATION: 5-7:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 13, 2008 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home INTERMENT: Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis on April 10, 2009 at 12:30 PM LUCILLE WILHEMINA MARIE ALBEE March 12, 1922 " January 11, 2009Lucille W. Albee was born on March 12, 1922 on the home farm in Franklin County, Iowa to Fred and Ella (Dohrman) Kragel. It was on this same area that she attended country school through the eighth grade. She went on to attend high school in Latimer, IA from where she graduated with the class of 1940. As a young woman, Lucille attended the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA where she earned her teaching degree. She taught grades first through sixth in a rural school near her hometown of Latimer. Later, she taught high school English in Shannon City, IA and also served as the women"s basketball coach. While there she met Harold L. Albee, a teaching colleague and the boy"s basketball coach. They were married on June 2, 1949 in Polk County, IA. This union was blessed with five children: Julie, Katy, Ellen, Buzz and David. The young couple made their home in Newton, IA where Lucille dedicated herself to making a warm and loving home for her husband and children. She was a wonderful cook who will long be remembered for her delicious homemade tarragon salad and chicken cordon bleu. She also taught school in Newton for several years. In 1958, the Albees ventured to Minnesota and settled in the Twin Cities where they made their home until 1963 when they moved to Overland Park, Kansas. In 1964, they moved to Old Greenwich, CT where they lived on the ocean. In 1966, the Albee family returned to Minnesota and settled in Minnetonka. In 1967, they purchased Albee"s Little Sand Resort near Park Rapids where Lucille handled the day-to-day operations each summer until they sold it in 1993. Meanwhile back in Minnetonka, Lucille did substitute teaching and also sold real estate for a number of years. In 1978, they moved to the resort on Little Sand northeast of Park Rapids, and in 1993, they moved to the city of Park Rapids. Lucille was blessed with much creative energy. She was a prolific writer, enjoyed painting, sewing clothes for her daughters, refurbishing and refinishing furniture, gardening and the great out of doors. She was very active in the work and ministry of Trinity Episcopal Church in Park Rapids. At the age of 60, she began running and disciplined herself to jog two miles each day. For 16 years, she and Harold wintered in California. Due to her failing health, Lucille became a resident of the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids in 2004. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband of 59 years, Harold who resides at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis; five children: Julie (Dale) Lusti of Buffalo, MN, Katy Harris and Ellen Albee both of Park Rapids, Buzz Albee of Park Rapids and David (Angela) Albee of St. Paul, MN; 5 grandsons: Rich Lusti, Chris Albee, Nathan Harris, Jim Harris &Patrick Albee; 1 granddaughter, Liz Lusti; 6 great grandchildren: Noah Lusti, Reed Lusti, Caleb Nack, Olivia Harris, Elliot Harris & Holden Harris; 1 sister, Bernadine Cherry of Benton, AR; 1 brother, Wendell Kragel of Newell, IA; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and special friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Roy. Funeral services will be held 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Park Rapids with Reverend Charles House officiating. The organist will be Jane Wolff. The congregational hymn will be "A Closer Walk With Thee". Dale Lusti will sing "How Great Thou Art". Chris Albee and Rich Lusti will sing "Amazing Grace". Casketbearers will be: Liz Lusti, Rich Lusti, Nate Harris, Jim Harris, Chris Albee, Dave Albee and Buzz Albee. A luncheon will be hosted at the church following the service for all to attend. Visitation will be held 5-7:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 13, 2008 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids. Interment will be made in the spring of 2009 in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Memorials preferred to the St. Joseph"s Area Health Services in Park Rapids.