Wanda E. Westin, 78, of Staples, died Feb. 25, 2010 at her home.

Funeral services were held March 1, at First Congregational Church in Staples with Pastor Muriel Hachfeld officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples.

Arrangements were with the Brenny Funeral Home, Staples.

Wanda was born in Wadena, Nov. 10, 1931 to Palmer and Carrie (Vanderhoef) Lindblom. She graduated from Verndale High School in 1949 and attended teacher’s training in Fergus Falls, graduating in 1950.

Wanda began her teaching

career in a one-room country school near Ottertail.

On March 18, 1951, she married Charles “Chuck” Westin in the Aldrich Congregational Church.

She taught Sunday school in Aldrich and Staples most of her adult life. Wanda was a teaching assistant at Lincoln Model School, Staples for many years and in 1982, finished her bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State University and taught special education at North Elementary School, Staples for 12 years. In her retirement, she continued to volunteer at North, assisting in the primary grades with her specialty, teaching reading. Wanda was a life-long member of the Congregational Church.

Wanda is survived by three daughters, Sandy (Terry) Wiczek of Apple Valley; Kris (Dick) Huebsch

of Staples; Cheri (Tod) Swenson of Minneapolis; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, one sister, Beverly (Clayton) Piepkorn; one brother, Rex (Ann) Lindblom, many family members and friends.

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