Sheila Hess

Sheila J. Hess, age 77, of Atwater and formerly of Willmar, died Sunday morning, April 8, at Sunnyview Assisted Living in Atwater.


A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. www.petersonbrothers.com


Sheila Joanne Hess was born on April 13, 1940, in Renville County, Minnesota, the daughter of Harry and Evelyn (Dodge) Laffen. She grew up in the rural Lake Lillian community and graduated from Atwater High School in 1958. In 1960, Sheila was married to Aldon Christianson. They lived and farmed in the Bird Island area and were later divorced. Sheila worked primarily in health care and was most recently employed at Jackpot Junction. Since 2016, she has resided at Sunnyview Assisted Living in Atwater.


She is survived by four children, Steven Christianson and Michael Christianson, both of Willmar, Susan Christianson of Bristol, PA and Douglas (and Tina) Christianson of Hermantown; seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Also surviving are six siblings, Donna Broderius of Hector, Keith (and Sandee) Laffen of Bird Island, Cynthia (and Dennis) Meyer of Avon, Richard Laffen of Litchfield, Bruce (and Linda) Laffen of Willmar and Timothy (and Maggie) Laffen of Lake Lillian, besides other relatives and friends.


She was preceded in death by her parents and one daughter, Victoria in 2005.

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