Katherine Cornelius

Funeral services for Katherine Opal Cornelius will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, November 6, 2008 at the United Methodist Church in Geneva , MN . Pastor Gary Liker will officiate. Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 5, 2008 from 4 until 8 PM at the Bonnerup Funeral Service in Ellendale , MN , and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Geneva Cemetery .

Katherine died Monday morning, November 3, 2008 at the New Richland Care Center . She was 93 years of age.

Katherine was born October 5, 1915 in Jackson , MN , the daughter of Andrew and Mary Luella (McGhan) Smith. As a teen she moved with her family to Hollandale , MN . She was united in marriage to Loren Cornelius on March 17, 1932 at the United Methodist Church in Geneva and lived her married life on a farm in rural Blooming Prairie.

Katherine was a member of the United Methodist Church in Geneva . Her main focus was always her family. She enjoyed gardening, baking “especially her homemade bread and buns”, canning where she won an award for her homemade canned dill pickles. She also loved old time music “Lawrence Welk”.

Katherine is survived by her children; LaVonna and her husband Donald Ruhl of Ellendale, MN, Eugene and his wife Berniece Cornelius of Ellendale, MN, Eileen and her husband Elroy Utpadel of Owatonna, MN, Verna and her husband Richard Wise of Parkersburg, IA, Vernon and his wife Jennifer Cornelius of Geneva, MN, and Debra Hensrud of Owatonna, MN. Grandchildren include 24 grandchildren and many great and great great grandchildren.

Katherine was preceded in death by her parents, husband Loren, son and daughter in law; Melvin and Lyda Cornelius., eight brothers and sisters and numerous sisters and brothers in law.