Lyle G. Schei, 74, Wanda, formerly of Magnolia, died Thursday, May 23, 2002, at Springfield Medical Center Hospital in Springfield.
Services were Monday, May 27, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Redwood Falls. The Revs. Scott Grorud and Joy Eckstedt officiated. Burial was in Wanda City Cemetery, Wanda.
Lyle Schei was born to Albert and Nellie (Olson) Schei on July 29, 1927, in Lismore Twp., Nobles County. He attended country school near Adrian. He worked on the family farm, leaving home at an early age to work at various other farms as a young man.
He married Mary Ann Krenzien on April 13 1947, at Zion Lutheran Church in Adrian. Following their marriage the couple farmed near Kanaranzi for seven years, moving back to Adrian, and later to Magnolia where he began his career as a chef for Magnolia Steak House. He cooked there until 1966 when they moved to Redwood Falls where he became chef at the original Valley Supper Club and also to design the new kitchen. He continued his work there until a fire destroyed the Club in 1972. He worked at Blossom Town until the rebuilding process was completed and he returned to the Valley Supper Club. He later became chef at DonovanÕs in Redwood Falls. He and his wife purchased Wanda Country Steak and Drink and opened their own business on April 13, 1984. By 1986 his reputation for cooking became so widespread he and his wife started Wanda Catering which continues to operate today.
He was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls. He was active in the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association and the Redwood Area Retail Liquor Association. He coached Junior League Fast Pitch softball, sponsored the Wanda Girls' fast-pitch team for many years and was a very active member of the Wanda Centennial Committee. He enjoyed bird watching, gardening, making lefse, creative recipe writing and his dogs. During the Comfrey tornado clean-up they donated meals to the workers and community residents.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Schei, Wanda; three sons, Rick (Jan) Schei, Redwood Falls, Gordon (Christine) Schei, Albuquerque, N.M., and Scot (Melanie) Schei, Wanda; three daughters, Deb. (Roy) Kramer, Redwood Falls, Sheryl (George) Steinfurth, San Ramon, Calif., and Wendy (Mark) Siebenahler, Luverne; 22 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law, Virginia Schei, Luverne, Don Marr, Blanche Schei, both of Magnolia, Ivadell Primrose, Fredericksburg, Iowa, and Annabelle Frakes, Luverne.
Mr. Schei was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Clifford and Alfred, and two sisters, Evelyn Honermann and Eileen Marr.
Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield, was in charge of arrangements.