Luther 'Lu' Lafayette Heller

April 8, 1921 — February 18, 2010

Luther Heller, 88, of Worthington, Minnesota, formerly of Royal, Iowa died February 18, 2010 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, MN. Born April 8, 1921 in Council Bluffs, IA he was the son of Luther and Belle Heller. He married Bonnie Bruce on September 5, 1948 in Fremont, NE. She died on November 2, 2000. He was raised through elementary school in west Point, NE. Then the family moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa where he graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School. During WW II, he served with the 182nd Infantry of the American Division in the Solomon Islands and the Philippines, plus occupation duty in Japan. He received a bachelor degree from Midland College in Fremont, NE and a master's degree from Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. He was a sports editor on the Fremont (NE) Guide and Tribune (1947-1949) following graduation from Midland. He taught in Norfolk, NE one year and then spent two years moving around as a newspaperman before teaching a year in Wolbach, NE. After that he went to Torrington, WY where he spent 12 years (1953-1965) teaching history, English and journalism and coaching in the junior and senior high school. In the fall of 1965 he moved to Rossie, Iowa and worked nine months as sports editor on the Spencer Daily Reporter. Then he went back into teaching and coaching with two years in Primghar, IA and 16 years in Royal, IA before retiring in 1986. He lived in Worthington, MN for several years prior to moving to the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, MN in 2006. He was a member of the Clay County VFW #3159 in Spencer, IA, the American Legion #0248 in Royal, IA and Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal, IA. Survivors include two sons: Luther (Connie) Heller of Montevideo, MN and Greg (Sue) Heller of Mt. Home, ID; two daughters: Gigi (Chuck) Pina of Aptos, CA and Sandy (Stan) Dopheide of Worthington, MN; 10 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, two brothers, one sister, and two nieces.

SERVICES

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M, Monday, February 22 at the Warner Chapel in Spencer.

OFFICIATING

Pastor Deb Mechler

CASKET BEARERS

Barry Shelton Luther Heller Brad Dekker Joe Hasse Kyle Dopheide Shane VanderVeen

VISITATION

Visitation will begin 1:00 P.M., Sunday,with the family present from 1 to 3:00 P.M., Sunday Evening at the Warner Funeral Home in Spencer.

MUSIC

"How Great Thou Art" "In The Garden" ORGANIST: Anna Gibson

INTERMENT

Willow Creek Cemetery Royal, Iowa A Military Flag presentation be conducted by VFW Post #3159 of Spencer, Iowa following the services at the chapel.

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