LOURETTA (ALICE) WELLS

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LOURETTA (ALICE) WELLS (nee HARRISON) Peacefully on Thursday, April 13, 2000, Mrs. Louretta Wells passed away at Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach, at the age of 90. Born in Luverne, Iowa, to George and Beatrice Harrison in July 1909, Louretta was one of eight grandchildren. She grew up in Iowa, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, eventually becoming a teacher in Otterbourne and, most notably, at Marchand for 18 and one half years. She is remembered fondly by her students at the one-room Cedar Grove School, many of whom joined her to mark her 90th birthday last summer and spoke of the strong impact "Mrs. Wells" made upon their lives. She married Robert Wells of Marchand in July 1939. For many years they together ran dairy, swine and large cattle operations under the Wells Brothers name. The Rural Municipality of LaBroquerie recently honoured this pioneering farm family, naming the road near their holdings Wells Road. Robert Wells predeceased Louretta in 1988. She is survived by sister Helen; brother Lloyd and wife Wilma; sister Mildred, sister Grace and husband Doug. Also grieving her loss are daughter Marilyn Gordon and husband Keith, daughter Roberta Wells; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild and countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Those who knew Louretta spoke of her energy, her optimism and her unsurpassed joy of life. She lived to the end on her farm, active in gardening, painting and keeping a small horde of animals fed. Family and friends may pay their respects at Loewen Funeral Home, Steinbach, starting at 1:30 p.m. Service will be held at 2:00 p.m.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 16, 2000