Mavis O. Biltz

Mavis Olene Biltz, 98, of Red Wing, died Sunday, June 29, 2008 at the Fairview Red Wing Seminary Home. She was born April 30, 1910 in Devil's Lake, North Dakota to Albert and Olene (Landsverk) Tennis. In 1928 she graduated from Albert Lea High School and then attended St. John's Nursing School in St. Paul, graduating in 1931 as a Registered Nurse. Her first job after college was at Hamm's Brewing Company in St. Paul, where she was the company's first nurse. On November 16, 1935, she married Francis Biltz in Minneapolis. During WWII, they moved to New Jersey, where she worked as an ambulance nurse. In 1946 they returned to Minnesota, living in the Glen Lake of Minnetonka, where she worked at the city Sanatorium. They moved to Welch in 1975, and she worked at Haven Homes Nursing Home, retiring at age 75. Francis died on November 17, 1993. Mavis was also an artist, and enjoyed painting as well as gardening and sewing. A horse lover, she took her last horse ride at the Horse Expo in the state fairgrounds this April. She was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church and the Sons of Norway.

She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn (Howard) Poylio of Welch; daughter-in-law, Hannelore MacKinney of Hager City; 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; 2 sons, John and Paul Biltz and 2 brothers, Lowell Tennis and an infant brother.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Concordia Lutheran Church with Reverend Ron Stehr officiating. Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Hay Creek. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and for one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials preferred to the Church.