Lera Minnie Connell
ST. IGNATIUS — Lera Minnie Connell died Monday, Aug. 16, at the Mill Pond Home in St. Ignatius. She was just over a century old, and much admired throughout her long life for her graciousness, appreciation of beauty, loyalty to friends and family and kindness to generations of canine companions.
Lera was born April 25, 1910, in Fredericksburg, Iowa, to Julia Sophia and Louis Leo Bittner, the third of four children. She was married to Robert E. Connell, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, from 1940 until his death in 1979. They lived in Japan, England and Riverside, Calif.
Lera moved to Charlo in 1992 to be near her son, Stephen, and his family. She was an avid golfer, a Charlo Vikings fan and showed up each week for several years to help local third graders learn to read. She was also a member of the Charlo Garden Club and Charlo Senior Citizens, which named her Senior Citizen of the Year in 2006.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bob, her two sisters, Margaret and Viola, and her brother, Woodrow. Survivors include her son, Stephen Connell, daughter-in-law, Kristi Niemeyer, and grandsons, Oren and Robin Connell.
The family will host a celebration of Lera’s life from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, at the Charlo Park (or the Senior Citizens Center, in case of inclement weather.)
