Pauline Elizabeth "Polly" (Houk) Pallas (1930-2012)

PALLAS, HOUK, SIMONSON, NAY, KATZ

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 10/20/2012 at 10:57:18

From Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel obituary, Richfield, Minnesota:

Pauline Elizabeth Houk Pallas "Polly", age 82, passed away on Tuesday, October 9th, 2012 at Heritage of Edina. Born on March 16, 1930, in Ames, Iowa, she was the first child of Sadie J. (Simonson) Houk and William E. Houk Jr. Her brother, William "Bill" Houk III, was the second of their two children. Her father was Comptroller for the Ames Reliable Feed Co. and Doughboy Industries in Ames, and their family had a wide circle of friends, which they entertained in their splendid house on Duff Avenue. Pauline graduated from Ames High School with the Class of 1948. She had considerable artistic talent and thought of attending Art College before deciding on Bible College. After her freshman year she took a secretarial position at Iowa State College. She was a valued employee at the College and enjoyed her contribution to the professors' endeavors. She maintained her connection to her Beta Sigma Phi sorority throughout her life.

She met her husband-to-be Charles Edward Pallas at a fraternity party at the College. She and "Chuck" were married in 1952, shortly before the Korean War, when Chuck went off to be an enlisted man in the Army. Upon his return in 1954, they moved to a little apartment in Highland Park, Minnesota, and Chuck took a job at an engineering research company. Their first child Sarah was born in 1955. They moved to a house in Highland Park, after which their son Mark was born. They moved to their home in Richfield, Minnesota when Pauline was pregnant with son Gregory. Daughter Rebecca arrived several years later. The marriage ended in divorce, but Pauline took great satisfaction from being a mother to her four children. She was known by her friends as a caring person who always had the needs of others in mind. She was very compassionate toward people and animals, and had a special interest in elephants because of a childhood visit to the zoo.

Pauline took her trip of a lifetime to Asia in 1995, visiting Japan and China with a senior citizens group. She had a fascination with Asia, in particular the art and culture, and collected a large variety of artifacts.

Pauline is predeceased by her parents, her brother Bill, and her son Gregory Pallas. Survivors include three children: Sarah Pallas (Paul Katz) of Atlanta, GA, Mark Pallas of St. Louis Park, MN, and Rebecca Nay (Richard) of Shorewood, MN and grandchildren Daniel Pallas Katz and Marisa Katz Pallas.

Funeral Information

Memorial service Thursday ( October 18, 2012 ) 6:00 P.M. at Morris Nilsen Funeral Chapel, 6527 Portland Ave. S., Richfield. Visitation two hours prior to service. Interment Friday, October 19th, 3:00 P.M. at Ames Iowa Municipal Cemetery.
Donations Information

Donations in memory of Polly may be made to the World Wildlife Fund or the Alzheimer's Research Center in St. Paul, MN.

http://www.morrisnilsen.com/
 

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