Erma Lavina Hengel

Erma Hengel, 99, of San Diego, CA, formerly of Vesta, MN passed away on Friday, September 1, 2017 at her daughter’s home in San Diego. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM Saturday, September 23, 2017 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Seaforth. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 PM on Friday, September 22, 2017 at the Sunset Funeral Home in Echo and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Online condolences may be placed at www.sunsetfuneralassociation.com. Should family and friends desire, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Erma Hengel to: Mission Hospice, 2365 Northside Drive Ste. 100, San Diego, CA 92108 or the Vesta First Responders. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association is caring for the family.   Erma Lavina (Belshaw) Hengel was born on June 12, 1918 to Herbert and Edna (Chrisman) Belshaw in Montevello, Missouri and grew up on a farm near Vesta. As a child and teenager, she attended Ashford Presbyterian Church in Milroy and graduated from Milroy schools in 1936. On August 23, 1939, Erma was united in marriage to Frank Hengel in Lucan. They made their home on a farm near Vesta until 1949 when they moved into town and continued to live. Erma was a mother and homemaker who loved her family above all else and was a woman of strong Christian faith who believed that going to Sunday school and church was a privilege, not a duty. She was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church in Vesta and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Seaforth where she was active in the Christian Mothers Society, taught CCD and quilted for the missions. Erma loved to travel, earlier in life she and Frank traveled extensively in the United States and Canada. She also enjoyed music, theater, crafts, reading, crossword puzzles and living in Vesta. On Friday, September 1, 2017, Erma passed away at her daughter’s residence in San Diego, California at the age of 99, where she received Hospice care for the last 8 months. She is survived by her son-in-law William Wilson of Golden Valley; children JoAnn (Bob) Boushek of Nisswa, Patricia (Dave) Glockner of Lakeville, Crystal Hengel of San Diego, CA, Tom (Constance) Hengel of Kinston, NC; 14 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren; sister-in-law Erma Belshaw of Montevideo; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Frank, three children; an infant son, Kathleen Wilson and James Hengel, daughter-in-law Katherine Hengel, one granddaughter Lisa Wilson, three brothers; Frank, Ward and Wilbur Belshaw and two sisters; Lois Wilson and Lucile Chester. Should family and friends desire, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Erma Hengel to: Mission Hospice, 2365 Northside Drive Ste. 100, San Diego, CA 92108 or the Vesta First Responders.. Blessed be her memory.