Memorial
Alma Lucille Vangsnes, 93, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died Friday, March 20, 2015, at Meadowview Memory Care Village in Cedar Rapids. Celebration of Life: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home.
Alma Lucille Vangsnes was born on May 22, 1921, on a farm near Howard, South Dakota, to Amund and Ingeborg (Arntson) Vangsnes. She moved as a young child to Sioux Falls, where she attended kindergarten. She moved briefly to the town of Baltic, until the family settled on a farm near there. She attended grade school at the Thompson Country School #3 and graduated from Baltic High School in 1939. She earned her teaching degree from General Beadle in Madison, and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree by attending colleges in Aberdeen, Boulder, CO, Brooking, and Vermillion. She taught high school history in Huron. Alma taught for a total of 45 years, before retiring in 1986. Following her retirement she moved to Sioux Falls. She was a member of Delta Kappa Kamma, the Sons of Norway, and East Side Lutheran Church.
After retirement, Alma volunteered in the gift shop at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, as well as compiling a family history. She also worked on the Minnehaha Century Book. Alma enjoyed traveling, and along with her sister, Myrtle, took their nieces and nephews on many summer vacations.
In September of 2014, Alma moved to Cedar Rapids to be closer to her family. She was grateful for having shared her life with her sisters; Myrtle Vangsnes of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Clara Ackerman of Cedar Rapids; nephews, Terry (Janell) Ackerman of Center Point, David (Karen) Ackerman of Cedar Rapids; nieces; Dixie (Rod) Newbigging of Spokane, WA, Ethel (Dennis) Winger of Cedar Rapids; as well as many great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Amund and Ingeborg Vangsnes; and brother-in-law, Harry Ackerman.
Memorials may be directed to Baltic Lutheran Church of Baltic, SD; East Nidaros Lutheran Church of Baltic, SD or East Side Lutheran Church of Sioux Falls, SD in Alma’s memory.