Ries, Alvina D.

Alvina D. Ries, 92, of Dyersville, passed away at her residence on Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012. Friends may call Thursday from 2 to 9 p.m. at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where a parish vigil service will be held at 4 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Francis Xavier Basilica on Friday, Sept. 28, at 10:30 a.m., with Father Dennis Quint and Father Carl Ries presiding. Burial will be in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Dyersville.

On June 27, 1920, in Bloomington, Wis., Alvina was born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Crubel) Sabers. She attended school in New Vienna and worked as a hired hand for several families in the area until her marriage to Herbert N. Ries on Jan. 2, 1940, in New Vienna. She and her husband lived in a few small towns until settling on a farm south of Greeley, Iowa, where they lived for 53 years until moving to Dyersville in 1997. Herbert preceded Alvina in death on Sept. 25, 2006.

Alvina is survived by eight children, Lou Ann Hutchinson of Georgetown, Ky., Gerald (Betty) Ries of Earlville, Ethel Tholander of Norfolk, Va., Harold (Dianna) Ries of Earlville, Gladys (Dennis) Felton of Dyersville, Sharon (Bruce) Besler of Dyersville, Karon (Joe) DeMar of North Liberty and Jane (Kevin) Linebaugh of Broken Arrow, Okla. Granny is also survived by 22 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Laverne (Ida Rose) Sabers of Earlville; one sister, Velma Frericks of Dyersville; and five sisters-in-law, Loretta Brunsmann of Dyersville, Alma Brunsmann of Manchester, Berniece Gassman of Manchester, Esther Steffen of Edgewood, and Louise Ries of New Vienna.

Alvina was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Herbert; a son-in-law, Eugene Rodney Hutchinson; one great-grandchild, Ian Joseph Felton; five sisters, Abigail Krapfl, Mary (Gilbert, Verdon) Funke Gavin, Isabel (Joseph) Rubner, Olive (Leo) White, and Melania (Walter) Krapfl; three brothers, Lloyd Sabers, Clarence (Delores) Sabers and Alfred Sabers; one sister-in-law, Dorothy (Ray) Biermann; and nine brothers-in-law, Vincent (Mercedes) Ries, Clarence Ries, Alphonse (Gertrude) Ries, Arthur Ries, Clete Brunsmann, Elmer Brunsmann, Elmer Frericks, Francis Gassman, and Arthur Steffen.

Online condolences can be entered at .

Memorials are preferred.

Published Sept. 27, 2012 in The Gazette