Rachelle Harder

Rachelle Ida Harder age 91 of Belle Plaine died on July 10, 2011 at the Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine, MN. Funeral Service will be 11:00 am Friday, July 15, 2011 at St. Paul's UCC in Henderson. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church on Friday. Pastor Brigit Stevens will officiate. Interment will be in the Mound Cemetery in LeSueur, MN. Rachelle "Rae" was born on December 16, 1919 to Louis and Margaret (Albers) Fabre in Waubun, MN. She grew up and attended schools in Waubun and graduated in 1937. Rae lived in Colorado for a time before moving to St. Paul, MN where she worked in the grocery business. She met Claude "Bud" Harder, the grocery store's owner, and the two of them married on September 3, 1941 in St. Paul, MN. Together they owned and operated grocery stores for many years in the St. Paul and Minneapolis area. With their two children, they raised and showed saddlebred horses. In 1976, they moved to a farm in Belle Plaine. In 1985, Bud passed away and Rachelle decided to move in town. Rachelle was active in the church, enjoyed gardening, volunteering, baking and cooking. She is preceded in death by her parents, 9 siblings, husband and a grandson Carl Hays. She is survived by her children, Henry (Karin) Harder of Little Canada and Rita Hays of Northfield; Grandchildren, Jennifer Harder of Fridley, Randy Harder of St. Paul and Bill (Bonnie) Hays of Chaska; Great Grandchildren, Nick and Carrie Hays and Connor Barron; Granddaughter in law, Shannon Hays; Sister, Minnie Borgrud of Waubun; and many nieces and nephews.