Frances’ Obituary Frances Mae Lyons, of Cleveland and formerly of North Mankato, age 92, passed away peacefully, Thursday, March 21, 2019 at her home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, North Mankato. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Tuesday at Mankato Mortuary and will continue one hour before service at church on Wednesday.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Mankato. Frances was born August 24, 1926 in Judson Township, Blue Earth County at home, to Frank and Leva (Calentine) Ruch. She grew up on the family farm and attended Carmel Country School, a one room school house through 8th grade.
She graduated from Lake Crystal High School in 1945 and went on to Mankato Business School. All through school she played her 12 base accordion that she paid for herself by picking strawberries at a young age. In 1940 her father bought her a 120 base Hohner accordion from Germany, which she played in a band, parades, dances, and for her kids.
Frances married Stanley A. Lyons on February 26, 1949 at St. John’s Parish House in Mankato. They lived in North Mankato until September 1973, when they moved to Lake Jefferson, Cleveland, MN. Of this union they had nine children.
Busy raising kids, Frances worked for the Boy Scouts of America and Willard Land Company. In 1965, Frances worked at the Circle Inn, North Mankato. After moving to Lake Jefferson in 1973, she worked at the Eagle Nest, Eagle Lake and ADC of St. Peter and Le Sueur until her retirement in 1989.
She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic and the Church of the Nativity in Cleveland. Frances enjoyed gardening, especially flower gardening, playing cards, and spending time with her grandkids. Frances was proud of her nine children, 22 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandsons.
Frances is survived by four sons and four daughters, Charles Lyons and partner, Jeanette Kromer of Burnsville, Kevin Lyons and partner, Renee Alland of Shakopee, Jeff Lyons, Dennis Lyons both of Cleveland, Karen (Greg) Krenik of Le Center, Jeanne (Andy) Queen, Debra (Scott) Schmidt all of Cleveland, and Margaret “Peg” (Lon) Ziesmer of Glenwood; and extended family. Frances was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stan on March 5, 2015; daughter, Theresa; granddaughter, Kalli Kliewer; daughter-in-law, Lorene Lyons; half-brother, Harry “Jack” Norris; five brothers, Orrin, Orville “Pete”, Paul, Merle, and Earl; two sisters, Lila and Mildred; father and mother-in-law, Andrew and Laura Lyons; sister-in-law, Helen Busby.
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