Mrs. Luella Persons, 81, of Rochester died Sunday, Feb 5 ^th , 2012 at after battling Alzheimer's disease for many years.

Luella Jane Wagner was born November 27, 1930 in New Ulm, Minnesota to Frank and Clara (Kienlen) Wagner. She grew up on a farm near Fairfax, Minnesota, and attended St. Andrews grade school, and Fairfax High School, where she was the class valedictorian and homecoming queen.  During High School she was active in the 4H program and raised cattle for state competition.  In 1951 she received her B.S. degree in Nursing from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota and then completed graduate coursework at Margaret Hague Medical Center in Jersey City, New Jersey.  She worked as a Registered Nurse at St. Mary's Hospital in Minneapolis, and then St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

In 1954 she married Benjamin Persons and they moved to the East Coast, where Ben worked for IBM.  There they raised five children, and lived in Massachusetts, Ottawa, Maryland, and New York before moving to Rochester, Minnesota in 1969. In Rochester she worked as a Registered Nurse at Methodist Hospital for 10 years, and retired from nursing in 1986.

Luella was a member of St. John Catholic Church where she helped with the religious education program. She enjoyed playing tennis, bridge, and was a Girl Scout leader.  Luella and Ben frequently went to the lake in the summer months to relax. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grand children, and reading poetry and books to them. Lou loved the outdoors, and was an avid birdwatcher.

Survivors include her husband Ben, son, Kenneth (Rosemary) of Rochester, and four daughters; Ann (Bob) Abolt of Elgin, Minnesota, Theresa Ross of Wayzata, Minnesota, Barbara (Cliff) Jack of Rochester, Minnesota, and Sharon (Tom) Kellogg of Falcon Heights, Minnesota. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, a brother, Carl (Eloise) Wagner of Modesto, California, and a sister Mary (Jerry) Lipetzky of Springfield, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother (John Wagner), sister (Alice Wagner), and an infant granddaughter.

Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer's research at Mayo Clinic or Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth in Rochester, Minnesota. Our family is very grateful to all of the staff at Samaritan Bethany for the excellent care they provided to Luella during her time there.

A funeral mass to celebrate Luella's life will be held Friday, Feb. 10 ^th at 2:00 PM at St. John Catholic Church in Rochester, Minnesota. There will be a visitation from 1:00 to 2:00 PM prior to the funeral at St. John Church. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com .