Laura Welle

Laura Welle, age 64, loving wife, grandmother, and well-known local artist died Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at her Eagle Lake home, surrounded by her family. Her death was from cancer, a disease she dealt with for 23 years.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, May 24, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar. Visitation with the family will be held at Bethel beginning at 9:30 AM. Memorials are preferred to the Willmar Area Arts Council.
Laura Lynn Hoiland was born August 15, 1949, in Luverne, Minnesota, the daughter of Selmer and Martha Hoiland. She graduated from Luverne High School, before attending the University of Minnesota and graduating with a degree in Studio Arts in 1971.
During her time at the University, she met the love of her life, Alan Welle. They were married on September 4, 1971. Laura worked for Osbourne Picture Framing and Gallery on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, before moving to Willmar in 1975 after Alan took a job as a business instructor at Willmar Technical College. Laura worked for First Bank for a number of years before returning to school to receive an art education degree at St. Cloud State University. She later received a Master's Degree in Education from St. Mary's College. Laura brought her love of the arts to her students as a long-time teacher at Willmar Junior High School, Willmar Senior High School, and as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Morris. She retired in 2011 and was beloved by her students.
Next to her family, her love of art dominated her life. She was a participant in Plein Aire, a group of artists from Russia, Israel, Japan, Spain, and Germany, attending workshops and putting on shows in Germany, Russia, and Israel. She was active in the local arts community, helping found the Willmar Area Arts Council and serving on its board of directors, serving on the board of Citizens for the Arts, participating in Celebrate Art Celebrate Coffee, Studio Hop, and other art shows. Her art legacy will live on in many ways. She designed the Willmar City flag and the logo for the Willmar Design Center which is displayed on signs entering historical downtown Willmar. Her art is displayed in many private and public buildings, and many, many, private homes. As a popular and creative art teacher, she inspired the creativity in many young people, some of whom have gone to be accomplished artists. In addition, she was an artist in the Kaleidoscope art cooperative in New London for the past two years.
She was a long-time member of Bethel Lutheran Church, serving on the church council, various committees, and teaching Sunday School. Laura loved her home and family, welcoming all to Eagle Lake for deep hugs, wonderfully cooked meals, lots of laughter, and comfortable surroundings. She also enjoyed her time visiting family and friends in her hometown, Luverne. She and Alan shared many hours of the golf course at Eagle Creek and in Arizona.
She is lovingly remembered by husband, Alan; and two sons, Ben (friend Veronica) of Washington, D.C., and Adam (Anne Applebaum) of Minneapolis, Minnesota; one grandchild, Alice, age 9 months; brother, Stephen (Sharon) of Apple Valley, Minnesota; and sister, Alice Larson of Bloomington, Minnesota.