MARIE L. HALMSTAD, age 86, died Saturday morning, September 12, 1998 at Dove Health Care Center. She was formerly a charter resident at St. Francis Apts. in Eau Claire. Marie was born March 3, 1912 in Stanley,Wisc., to Joe and Lizzie (Possley) Walsdorf. She attended St. Annes School and graduated from Stanley High School in 1929. After receiving her teaching certificate she taught country school in the Stanley area. Marie married Edwin "Eddie" Halmstad in Stanley on Sept. 5, 1934, they lived in Boyd before moving to Stanley. They owned and operated a tavern there until Eddie passed away in 1954. She then returned to teaching country school in the Town of Wilson at Progress School. In 1956, Marie moved to Eau Claire and attended the Eau Claire Technical College. She worked at the Midelfort Clinic in downtown Eau Claire, and later became an office manager for Dr. Robert E. Lee. She held a similar position for several years with the Eau Claire Anesthesiologists.\r\nAfter her retirement Marie traveled in Europe, Canada, and the United States. Her retirement was consumed by many interests that included reading and listening to her favorite music. She attended many of the UW-EC's Artist Series presentations and enjoyed forum speakers on any thought provoking topic. In her later years the visitors from the local library programs and volunteers from Meals on Wheels found her to be well read and often spent time with her discussing a variety of human interest issues.Marie was an accomplished artist. Her most cherished pastime was hand stitching quilts. Her very first quilt completed in 1931 called "French Basket" is currently hanging in the Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee, as part of the Wisconsin Quilt History Project in conjunction with the Wisconsin State Sesquicentennial celebration. After retirement she completed over 20 quilts, of which some have been published in the quilting books, while others won awards at quilting shows. She made many of these quilts for her children and grandchildren. Marie was a charter member of the Clearwater Quilters group.\r\nSurvivors include a daughter, Betty (Joe) Swanson of Kansas City,KS,; two sons, Richard (Gail) of Eau Claire and Terrence (Mary Karen) of Brookfield; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Evelyn and Angeline Halmstad both of Chippewa Falls, and Marian Halmstad of Wauwatosa; and several nieces and nephews. Marie felt blessed to have had so many friends, including her quilter friends, neighbors at St. Francis Apts., special friends Sally and Tom Thompson and Susan Thompson. A fervent bond existed between Marie and her grandson Zach. He was always there to console, touch, and care for her.\r\nShe was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin; her parents; six brothers, Chester, Isadore, Arthur, Arnie, Norbert, and Robert; and a sister Irene.\r\nFuneral Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Family Catholic Church in Stanley with Father Robert W. Nelson officiating. Friends may call 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Lenmark-Gomsrud Funeral Home and an hour prior to services Wednesday at the church. There will be a 7:30 p.m. public prayer service Tuesday evening at the funeral home.\r\nIn lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Stanley Area Historical Society.

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