Belva Sunne

Making music and sewing quilt tops brought out the smile that characterized Belva Sunne. Always willing to share her talents, Belva worked with her St. John's Lutheran Bradley - Crocker quilting group and made hundreds of quilt tops over the years. At Faye Wookey Memorial Assisted Living Center where she lived with her husband Norman for the past year, Belva entertained the residents with piano music before meals and accompanied hymn singing when called upon. Belva, 87, passed away September 27 after a short stay at the Clark Golden Living Center. Belva Fausch Sunne was born March 2, 1925 in Merrill, Wisconsin, daughter of Fredrick and Mable Stewart Fausch. Belva was the youngest and last living of the five Fausch children: Violette, Marshall, Flossie, and Stewart. The Fausch family moved to Bradley in June of 1926 and joined the Baptist Church where Belva was baptized. She was later confirmed at the St. Pauli Lutheran Church near Wallace. Belva attended the Bradley schools, graduating in 1943. She earned her rural school teaching certificate at Northern State Teacher's College and taught at Cottonwood #58 and the Hart school. On November 11, 1944 Belva married Norman Sunne of Wallace. The wedding was held in the Lutheran Parsonage in Florence. Last November (11-11-11) Norman and Belva celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. The couple resided on their farm east of Bradley for 58 years. Belva was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church, serving as organist for many years. She was a 25 year member of the neighborhood Coffee Cup Extension Club. Belva is survived by her husband Norman: two daughters, Dorothy Jean Sunne (Bill McElrath) of Forest Lake, MN and Norma Caroline Sunne Street (Lynn) of Rye, Colorado: three grandchildren, Crystal Rae Coddington, Scottsdale, AZ; Russell Kerber (Cerise Anderson), Waconia, MN; and Vance Kerber (Lucy) Sartell, MN: and eight great grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Monday, October 1, 2012 from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home Chapel in Clark and will continue after 9AM Tuesday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bradley. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 in the St. John's Lutheran Church at Bradley with Minister Marion Grimes officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie Hill Cemetery at Bradley. Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com