Leota Stark

Leota (Lee) Stark, 91, of Staples passed away January 29, 2017, at Lakewood Health System Care Center, Staples, under the devoted care of Hospice.

A Celebration of Lee’s life will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Staples Assembly of God Church (corner of 9th St. NE/3rd Ave. NE), officiated by Pastor Roy Miles. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church.

Inurnment will be at Wildwood Cemetery, Pillager in the spring.

Arrangements are with the Brenny Funeral Chapel, Staples.

Lee was born Leota Annabelle Gerrels on December 2, 1925 in Sylvan Township, Cass County, Pillager, to William and Ethel (Bingman) Gerrels. Lee grew up and lived in Pillager until 1999 when she moved to Staples to be near her family. She attended and graduated from Pillager High School in 1943. She married Joseph Clarine in 1949 in Pillager. They had one daughter, Kathleen. Joe passed away in 1960. In 1962 Lee went to work at Security State Bank in Pillager, retiring from the bank in 1997. In 1967 she married Walt Stark. He passed away in 1997.

Lee was a member of the Pillager Assembly of God Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years, served as church Treasurer, board member and church pianist and organist. In 1999 she transfered her church membership to the Staples Assembly of God Church. She was a member of the Pillager American Legion Auxiliary for more than 50 years.

Lee enjoyed listening to gospel music, bird watching and picking agates north of Pillager. She enjoyed so much of her time spent with her granddaughters and great-grandchildren.

Lee is survived by one daughter, Kathy (Rick) Odden, Staples; three granddaughters, Kyra (Blaine) Quast and Bobbe (Brad) Anderson, both of Staples and Claudia Stefanoli, Uruguay South America; two great-granddaughters, Aryn and Emily Ladd; three great-grandsons, Keller Anderson, Brad (Emily) Quast and baby Bennett and Kyle Quast; one sister, Audrey (Robert) Weber, Fort Ripley; two sisters-in-law, Elaine (Clarine) Bowen of Baxter and Millie Clarine of Duluth; one aunt, Viola Gerrels, Brainerd and many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; one brother, Wilbur (Bud) Gerrels; one sister, Beatrice Cole; maternal grandparents Murray Quinn and Leota Bingman; paternal grandparents Herman and Anna Gerrels.

Memorials are preferred to the Staples Assembly of God Church or Lakewood Health System’s Hospice.