Alta Mae Morris passed away on February 8, 2024.
She was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to Lloyd and Marie (Pew) Ring on May 1, 1926. She lived in Ipswich, South Dakota, until she was 10 years old when her family relocated to the Cokato area. She attended school in Waverly, Howard Lake, and Cokato. After graduating from Cokato High School in 1944, she worked at Sears Roebuck in Minneapolis and at the Minnesota Valley Canning Company, the Northland Canning Company, and the Cokato Creamery, all in Cokato. She married Virgil Morris, a Cokato native, on May 9, 1946. She was married to Virgil for 67 years; he passed away in 2014. After a two-year stint in Tacoma, Washington, where Virgil was stationed at Ft Lewis, the couple moved to Waukegan, Illinois, where Virgil worked for American Can Company. Their two daughters, Phyllis Mae and Joanne Marie, were born in Waukegan. Tragically, Joanne passed away when she was five years old. In Waukegan, Alta Mae worked at American Can and American Steel Wire Companies before attending Mueller School of Beauty. She set up a beauty shop in her home in Waukegan and continued to work as a beautician after Virgil was transferred to Austin, Minnesota, in 1968. The family returned to Cokato in 1981 after Virgil’s retirement.
Alta Mae was a member of First Baptist Church in Ipswich, South Dakota, Trinity Lutheran Church in Waukegan, Illinois, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin, Minnesota, and Evangelical and Good Shepard Lutheran Churches in Cokato. She was active in the church, teaching Sunday School, preparing church bulletins mailings, and leading a group of volunteers in the church kitchen. In Cokato, she and Virgil participated in Community Chest, Meals on Wheels, and the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Drive. She also kept a beautician’s chair in her home in Cokato, dressing hair for friends. In her retirement, one of her favorite activities was visiting Jackpot Junction in Morton, Minnesota.
Alta Mae will be remembered by many friends for her positive attitude, boundless energy, and upbeat demeanor.
In addition to her husband and daughter, Alta Mae was predeceased by two brothers, Wallace Ring and Gene Ring. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Teryl Frey of Gainsville, Georgia, her grandson, Benjamin Frey and his wife Ashlee of Soldotna Alaska, sister Lois Hansen of Hutchinson.
Services will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday, February 18, 2024 at the Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church in Cokato. Visitation will take place from 4-7 PM on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home in Cokato and continue 1 hour prior to services at church.
The family wants to thank the community who have been so supportive.
www.swansopeterson.com 320-286-2534
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