Cleo M Sowers

Cleo May Sowers, age 93, of Vernon Center, died Sunday, September 17, 2006 at Oaklawn Health Care Center, Mankato.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 22, 2006 at Grace United Methodist Church, Vernon Center, with Rev. Wanda Kothlow, officiating. Burial will be in Vernon Center Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Lake Crystal Mortuary and will continue one hour before service at church on Friday. Memorials are preferred to Grace United Methodist Church.

Cleo was born February 25, 1913 to Frank E. and Zada (Furrow) Sayre in St. Charles, IA. She graduated from Redwood Falls High School in 1931 and was united in marriage to R. Sumner Sowers on March 14, 1932 in St. Paul. Cleo was a farm wife and homemaker for her family and was a Stanley Home Products dealer for 45 years. Cleo was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, where she was former president of the WSCS and church circle. She served for 25 years as a leader of the Riverside 4-H Club and was a member of the Blue Earth County Extension Club. She enjoyed spending winters in Arizona, dancing, sewing, cooking, making wedding cakes, and making scrapbooks for her grandchildren.

Cleo is survived by six children, David (Bettie) Sowers of Valencia, CA, Dan (Harriet) Sowers of Vernon Center, Marilyn Vialle of Maple Plain, Zada (Lee) Belgard of Madelia, Jim (Lucy) Sowers of Minneapolis, Julie (Tom) Keller of Slayton; fourteen grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Cleo was preceded in death by her husband, R. Sumner in 1994; two grandchildren; and a sister, Chloris Weir.