Lillie Hinz, age 91, of Belle Plaine, formerly of Wood Lake, passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at The Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 22 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake.

Visitation is Sunday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of services at the church.  Interment is in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery.  Officiating will be Pastor Michael Berg.  Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Lillie Mae Pederson was born May 7, 1920 to Alfred and Helga (Aasen) Pederson in Swede Forest Township, Redwood County, Minnesota.  She was baptized May 30, 1920 and confirmed June 23, 1935 at Rock Dell Lutheran Church near Belview.  She attended country school in Swede Forest Township and high school in Belview, graduating in 1938.  Lillie was united in marriage to Norman Hinz of Wood Lake on June 21, 1939 also at Rock Dell Lutheran Church.  During the war Norman was drafted and Lillie moved to Wood Lake.  Following his discharge in 1946 she and Norman farmed near Cottonwood, and from 1952 to their retirement in 1983 in Posen Township.  She and Norman spent their winters in Rio Grande Valley of Texas from 1975 until 2000.  In February of 2000 they moved to Belle Plaine.  Lillie was an excellent seamstress, enjoyed gardening, and helping her husband with the farm.

Lillie is survived by her children: Gene (Mary) Hinz of Nashwauk, Jerry Hinz of Monticello, and Judy (Arvid) Schwartz of Green Isle; nine grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.  She is also survived by two sisters Lorraine (Paul) Eide of Brookings, OR and Avis Leupke of Eagan; sister-in-law Jeanette Pederson of Abbotsford, WI; and many nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband of 66 years Norman, daughter-in-law Sharon Hinz, brothers Tyler, Palmer, Harry, and Kenneth, and sisters Alma, Hilma, Ruth, June, Gena, and Doris.