Laura Mcconnell

Laura (Otto) McConnell, age 95, passed away on January 16, 2022  from cancer and pneumonia. Funeral services will be at 11a.m. on Monday, January 24, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Belle Plaine, MN with Rev. Martin Bentz, officiating.  Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church Monday morning.  Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Belle Plaine.

Laura was born in Blakeley Township on February 16, 1926 to John and Emma (Sandmann) Otto.  She was 3rd of 5 children.  Laura attended country schools, but was fortunate to have attended seventh and eighth grades at Belle Plaine Public Schools, as many of those from country schools had to drop out of high school in the first six-weeks because they were not prepared.  She graduated from Jordan High School, Class of 1944.  Back then you did not have to apply for jobs, because employers were calling you.  Laura worked in the office at Jordan Public Schools, as a waitress at The Broadway Eat Shop ,as a receptionist at the doctor's office, as a telephone operator, and then to Mpls at Northwestern Bell Telephone Co as final billing typist.

Laura met Oliver McConnell at an anniversary dance at the Mertz Hall in Jordan.  They married June 10, 1949. They were blessed with seven children:  Joanne McConnell, Dave (Joleen), Ronald (Lynn), Bonni, Keith (sp friend Kate) twins, Lee (Sheila) and James. They made their home in Belle Plaine, living in the same house for over 60 years.  After the dishwashers moved out, an automatic dishwater was installed and a second bathroom added. Laura and Oliver belonged to the Po.L.K.A Dancing Club and traveled all over to the Polka Fests, even to Billings, Mont.  Oliver loved to travel, so they made every state except Alaska.  They started out pitching a tent with three kids in the Black Hills to Mackinaw Bridge with a few more kids.  With the kids grown up, they graduated to motels. Laura was preceded by her husband, Oliver, of 68 years, in Oct, 2017; parents; sister Adeline (Arthur) Heller; brothers Raymond (age 12) and Elmer, sister-in-law Yoshiko Otto;

survived by children; brother Edwin; nine grandchildren: Jonathan and Joel Brenke, Elizabeth McConnell, Mark and John McConnell, Tyler and Sarah McConnell and Christopher and Justin McConnell;  thirteen great grandchildren: Chase, Electra, Sierra, Dietrick, PenniJo, Matthew, Kaleigh, Helena, Rosa, Ethan, Catalina, Elizabeth, Liliana, Carson, and Robyn; two step grandchildren and spouses and six step great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Oliver and Laura are together again to kick up their heels and dance!