Alice E. Schwalbe

Obituary

Alice Elizabeth Schwalbe was born on November 13, 1928, at home in rural Biscay, MN. She was the ninth of ten children to parents Gottfried and Anna (Proefke) Karg. Alice was baptized and later confirmed in her faith as a youth at First Lutheran Church, Glencoe. She attended the First Lutheran School through the 8th grade, most of the subjects were taught in German. She had to walk miles to and from school. Her older brother would pull her along so she could keep up.

On December 5, 1953, Alice married Stanley H. Schwalbe at First Lutheran Church in Glencoe. This marriage was blessed with four children, Steven, Cindy, Laurie, and Kevin. Stanley passed away on February 3, 2013.

At age 18, Alice began her working career as a telephone operator in Glencoe and had to walk several miles to and from work until she found a place in town to live. A position she loved. During her early 20’s she loved to travel and traveled with her girlfriends to California and Yellowstone National Park. She was lucky enough to stay at the Yellowstone Lodge. In her middle years, she held several positions in retail in Glencoe and enjoyed working at all of them.

At the age of 40, Alice obtained her GED, an accomplishment that was very important to her.

Alice enjoyed cooking, baking, and canning. Her children and grandchildren loved her sugar cookies, pickles, coffeecake, cucumber salad, potato salad, creamed rice, and Thanksgiving dressing. None of her children and grandchildren have been able to “perfect” her recipes!
In her later years, she enjoyed quilting, reading, and solving word puzzles.

Alice was called home on December 1, 2021 at Glenfields Living with Care Facility. Blessed be her memory.

Alice is survived by her:
Children: Steven Schwalbe (Dawn) Dassel, MN, Cindy Gruhlke (Tom) Victoria, MN, Laurie Halligan (Tim) Carver, MN, Kevin Schwalbe (Christie) Denver, CO.
Grandchildren: Tiffany Rice (Peter) Rockford, MN, Jessica Larson (Aaron) Rockford, MN, Brad Gruhlke (Breanna) Chippewa Falls, WI, Anna Gruber (Nicholas) Sartell, MN, Leia Johnson (Guy) Richfield, MN, Bailey Halligan, Apple Valley, MN, and Tom Halligan (Brittany), Bloomington, MN.
Great-Grandchildren: Emily and Owen Rice, Aubrey and Olivia Larson, Harper, Bennett, Teddie, and Londyn Gruhlke, Jayce, Colsyn, and Ayleigh Gruber, Bray, Bryn, and Boden Johnson, Henry and Jameson Halligan.
Sisters-in-law: Alice Kaufmann, Ruth Karg, Alice (Mopsy) Karg.
Many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stanley, sisters and brothers; Ed (Verna) Karg, John (Margorie) Karg, Victor (Marianne) Karg, Albert Karg, Lydia (Jess) Thompson, Selma (Willard) Bielke, Esther (Allie) Witthus, Elmer Karg, and brother-in-law Maynard Kaufmann.