Velda Mae Bircher

Velda Bircher, age 100 of Sandstone died on Sunday, April 20th, 2014.Velda Mae Land was born January 20, 1914 to Ralph and Lola Land on a farm near Artesian, South Dakota. In 1931 she married Carlos Bircher and had five children. One daughter Marlene passed away in 1934.In 1941 they moved with their four children to Alexandria, Minnesota. In 1954 she and her children moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. They also resided in the Hastings, Minnesota area for many years. She was employed for several years as a secretary at the University of Minnesota and later as an accountant at the Hennepin County Medical Center. She also had some rental property that she managed in Minneapolis. Velda moved to the Sandstone area in 2004 and lived there until her death.She leaves three children: Dean Bircher of Hinckley, James (Judy) Bircher of Montana, daughter Pauline Rutten of California,and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.Velda is preceded in death by her parents Ralph & Lola Land, daughter Marlene Bircher, son Robert "Bob" Bircher and her brother Dwayne Land.A funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Friday, April 25th at the Swanson Funeral Chapel of Pine City. A time of visitation will be one hour prior to the service at 1:30 p.m. also at the Swanson Funeral Chapel. Interment will be in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery of Artesian, South Dakota.Arrangements are with the Funeral and Cremation Service, Swanson Chapel of Pine City.www.funeralandcremationservice.com