1917
Cora
2008
Cora DeVaal
September 22, 1917 — November 13, 2008
Cora Elnora Berg was the third of five children born to Albert “AS” and Emma (Kottwitz) Berg on September 22, 1917 in Ortonville. She attended school in Ortonville and during the Depression she worked for the WPA to help support her family.
After graduating high school in 1938, she began working for the USPS and in 1945; Cora was united in marriage to Cornelius “Cap” DeVaal. After the birth of her second child, she “retired” temporarily from the post office and concentrated on being a homemaker and raising her family.
Cora and Cap had three children: Duane, Cheryl and Leigh. Cora enjoyed being a homemaker and tending to her large vegetable garden. To help make ends meet, Cora worked off and on for the Big Stone Canning Factory. Cora eventually returned to work at the post office as a letter carrier and then as a clerk, where she worked until her retirement.
Cora was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was confirmed in 1932 and taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible school for many years. Cora was always an avid reader and she also kept in touch with her friends by writing letters.
After the 1997 flood, Cora moved to the Leisure Living Apartments where she continued her practice of going for long daily walks for exercise. In August of 2008, she moved to Fairway View Assisted Living where she lived until her death.
Cora died on Thursday, November 13, 2008, at the Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown, SD having lived to reach the age of 91 years.
Cora is survived by her son, Duane DeVaal of Minneapolis, MN; daughter Cheryl DeVaal of St. Louis Park, MN; brother Darwin “Bill” (Bobbi) Berg of Virginia; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cora is preceded in death by her parents; husband Cornelius; son Leigh DeVaal, and brothers: Leonard Berg, Henry Berg and Howard Berg; and sister Berniece Hintz.
After graduating high school in 1938, she began working for the USPS and in 1945; Cora was united in marriage to Cornelius “Cap” DeVaal. After the birth of her second child, she “retired” temporarily from the post office and concentrated on being a homemaker and raising her family.
Cora and Cap had three children: Duane, Cheryl and Leigh. Cora enjoyed being a homemaker and tending to her large vegetable garden. To help make ends meet, Cora worked off and on for the Big Stone Canning Factory. Cora eventually returned to work at the post office as a letter carrier and then as a clerk, where she worked until her retirement.
Cora was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She was confirmed in 1932 and taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible school for many years. Cora was always an avid reader and she also kept in touch with her friends by writing letters.
After the 1997 flood, Cora moved to the Leisure Living Apartments where she continued her practice of going for long daily walks for exercise. In August of 2008, she moved to Fairway View Assisted Living where she lived until her death.
Cora died on Thursday, November 13, 2008, at the Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown, SD having lived to reach the age of 91 years.
Cora is survived by her son, Duane DeVaal of Minneapolis, MN; daughter Cheryl DeVaal of St. Louis Park, MN; brother Darwin “Bill” (Bobbi) Berg of Virginia; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cora is preceded in death by her parents; husband Cornelius; son Leigh DeVaal, and brothers: Leonard Berg, Henry Berg and Howard Berg; and sister Berniece Hintz.