NEW HAMPTON - Lawrence Balk, Sr., 83; New Hampton, died Friday, Feb. 1, 2002 at Mercy Medical Center, New Hampton of natural causes.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, New Hampton with Reverend John Harpel presiding. Ann Bennett was the organist and accompanied the St. Mary's Church Choir and the cantor, Karen Schwickerath singing "Here I Am Lord", "Psalm 27", "Prayer of St. Francis", "Gift of Finest Wheat" and "On Eagle's Wings". The lector was Vern Balk. Eucharistic ministers were Terry, Gary and Mary Balk. Katie and Sarah Balk presented the offertory gifts.

Burial will be at a later date in St. Mary's Cemetery, Waucoma with Cyril Blong, Lawrence Blong, James Balk, Richard Balk, Joe Balk and Jack Lynch serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers will be his grandchildren: Katie and David Balk, Eric and Sarah Balk, Bryan, Kyle and Troy Bentz and Matthew and Joseph Balk.

Visitation was from 3 to 8 .m. Sunday, Feb. 3 at Conway-olbet Funeral Home, New Hampton, where there was a 4 p.m. combined Catholic Order of Foresters and a Knights of Columbus Rosary and a 7 p.m. Scripture Service. Visitation was also an hour prior to services at the church.

Lawrence Balk, Sr. was born Aug. 24, 1918 in Waucoma, the son of Joseph and Barbara (Rausch) Balk. He was united in marriage to Margaret Sa-belka on Nov. 7, 1939 at Reilly Ridge. Thev farmed in the Waucoma area until their retirement to New Hampton in 1981. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waucoma and New Hampton, Knights of Columbus #1697 in New Hampton and the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus (Davis Assembly) and the Catholic Order of Foresters Court #2100 of St. Lucas. Lawrence was very active in the Senior Citizens Centers in Waucoma and New Hampton.

Survivors include four sons, Lawrence Jr., New Hampton, Gary (Mary), Minneapolis, MN, Terry (Sharon), Waucoma and Ken (Julie), West Union; a daughter, Sue Balk Bentz, Burnsville, MN; nine grandchildren and a sister, Eleanor Lynch, New Hampton.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Margaret, in 1990; a son, Charles; a grandson, Michael Balk; three brothers, Herman, Hugo and Leo Balk and three sisters, Elizabeth Blong, Margaret Blong and Theresa Balk.

Source: New Hampton Tribune; Feb. 5, 2002 Page 4
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters