Therese "Tess" J. Lanie

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Therese (Tess) Jeanette Lanie, our loving and devoted 90-year-old mother and grandmother. She passed away on Monday, April 20, 2020, with her family beside her in Maple Grove, MN.

A celebration of Therese's life will be held at Graceville Holy Rosary Church on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. There will be a Wake in Beardsley at St. Mary's Church on Friday, August 14, 2020, with Visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and followed by the rosary at 7:00 p.m.

Tess was born February 02, 1930, in Bottineau, ND, to Walter and Angeline (Winters) Hein.  Tess grew up in Graceville, MN, and graduated from Holy Rosary Academy in 1948.  Her strong faith started at a young age and was witnessed often throughout her life. Saying her daily prayers along with her rosary were very important to her in her final years.

Tess shared many fond memories of growing up in Graceville, including doing dishes at eight years old, living with her six sisters and helping at her mother's restaurant on Main Street. One day, Bernard "Tip" Lanie came into the restaurant and it was love at first sight! They were married in Graceville on Saturday, November 14, 1953. They enjoyed their time together and made fond memories of riding back and forth in Tip's "cow truck" to St. Benedict's College, also a time or two to the St. Paul Stockyards and enjoying a quick bite to eat at the White Castle in Minneapolis on their way back home.

Tess graduated from the Minneapolis School of Business and worked as a bank teller in Graceville for ten years.  She also worked in the Beardsley Security State Bank from 1967-1977. Tess's additional jobs in business include the position of county clerk and treasurer for the American Legion Women's Auxiliary both in Beardsley. Tess always liked "numbers'' and loved balancing her checkbook well into her later years at home. She finished her working career at the Browns Valley Nursing home in 1985.

Tess had a wonderful sense of humor and often we'd enter the living room hearing the laughter from watching "Married with Children" with Tip.  She loved her sitcoms "Three's Company," "Golden Girls," and "Friends."  In recent years, Tess found comfort in sitting in her chair in the kitchen watching her playful kitties Ginger, Cuddles and Tippy, enjoying old westerns, the Hallmark Channel and Turner Classic Movies. You may even have shared one of her favorite desserts, buttered pancakes with sugar or Angel food confetti cake topped with Cool Whip. Some of Tess's other favorites included yellow roses, wearing green and enjoying music from Elvis Presley or Liberace.

Tess lived a full life as a wonderful mother to Jerome "Jerry" Lanie of Minneapolis; Christi (Gary) Boots of Maple Grove and Philip Lanie (Diane Moore) of Beardsley.  She was a proud Grandmother of Jessica (Lanie) and Bob Barthel of CA, Nicole (Lanie) and Judson Fonger of Syracuse, NY, Christopher Lanie of Alexandria, MN, Garrison Boots and Gavin Boots of Maple Grove, MN, and Alexandria Rose Lanie of Beardsley. Most recently Tess was told she would again be a great-grandmother, adding another sibling for big brothers Everett and Marshall Fonger. Tess is also survived by two beautiful sisters, Delores "Lorie" Wennblom of Graceville, MN, and Anna Marie (Elton) Jones of Hoffman Estates, IL, and brother-in-law, Jim Harrington of Denver, CO.

Tess was preceded in death by Bernard "Tip" Lanie, her husband of 54 years; sisters, Marie (Roy) Nelson, Angeline Harrington, and Phyllis Campbell; brother-in-law, Bob Wennblom; niece, Linda Chandler; and nephews, Guy Wennblom and Duane Nelson.