Lola Belle Gardner, 90 of Rochester, passed away on July 31, 2026 at Mayo Clinic Campus, Methodist Palliative Care.

Lola was born on March 2, 1936 in Austin, MN to Ted and Connie (Schumacher) Unruh. She attended Austin High School and soon thereafter met and married Forrest Gardner. The family moved to Rochester where Forrest worked for IBM. Together, the couple raised their four children in Rochester. Lola worked for Rochester Public Schools for a time helping special needs students. She was a wonderful mother and homemaker who was an avid golfer and loved to travel.

She is survived by her children Dr. Bradley (Sharon) Gardner of Apple Valley, MN, Cheri (Bruce) Miller of Rochester, Nancy (Steve) DeVinny of Rochester, Kathy (Tom) Mulvihill of Rochester, six grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Forrest, sister Lavonne Eastvold, and her brother Keith Unruh.

The Memorial Service for Lola will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026 at 11:00AM in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Pastor Linda Helberg officiating with a reception to follow. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the chapel. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Rochester.

Memorials are preferred to Season’s Hospice of Rochester.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com