Loretta Davidson

Loretta Anne Davidson, age 101, of Storm Lake, Iowa died Monday, October 24, 2011 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Loretta Anne (VanAlst) Davidson was born October 11, 1910 to Lambert and Annie (Kelley) VanAlst on her parentsâ€™ farm near Altamont, Illinois. She was the first girl after three boys and was named for her mother and her Uncle Owenâ€™s fiancÃ©e, LaRetta. In December of 1918 her parents died in the flu epidemic and Loretta came to Storm Lake to live with her uncle and aunt, Owen and LaRetta Kelley. Even though she and her siblings lived in different locations from that time, they remained close and she enjoyed the summer vacations that they spent together. Loretta attended St. Maryâ€™s School and graduated from there in 1929. Loretta started to work at Coulson & Kelley when she was very young, working after school and during the summers. She collected the freight bills from businesses every day and often reminisced about the people whom she had met that had been so kind to her. Loretta began working full-time for Coulson & Kelley when she graduated from school, and she continued there after it became Thompson & Laird. She began working for Wisconsin Lumber in 1954 as a bookkeeper and continued in that capacity for the next owner, Wisconsin-Storm Lake Lumber. When it was sold to U.B.C. she continued with them for a time until retiring in 1978. Loretta then returned part-time at Thompson & Laird for several years. On November 27, 1933 Loretta was united in marriage to Carroll Davidson at St. Maryâ€™s Church in Storm Lake. This union was blessed with one daughter, Patricia. Carroll died in 1953. Loretta was a member of St. Maryâ€™s Parish and St. Maryâ€™s Guild where she chaired the St. Francis Society for many years. She was also a member of the Legion of Mary and a past member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Loretta received great strength from her faith. Survivors include her daughter, Patricia of Storm Lake, Iowa; sister-in-law, Beatrice Davidson of Madison, Wisconsin; many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lambert and Annie VanAlst; foster parents Owen and LaRetta Kelley; husband, Carroll; three brothers: Henry, Harry and Eugene; sisters: Margaret Schurr and Leila in childhood.

Loretta Davidson

October 11, 1910 - October 24, 2011