Lyla J. Davies

Lyla J. Davies, age 90, of Hastings and formerly of Denmark Township, died Tuesday morning, March 27, 2018, at Regina Assisted Living in Hastings. Lyla Jane, the daughter of Otto and Ada (Woodward) Potratz, was born on October 22, 1927, in Leola, South Dakota. Following her education, Lyla was united in marriage to Burton Davies on April 17, 1944, in Mason City, Iowa. They were blessed with five children and forty-seven years of marriage before his passing on September 20, 1991. Lyla was a long-time employee at West Publishing in St. Paul, and retired in 1990 after twenty-eight years of employment. Following retirement, Lyla enjoyed keeping busy by volunteering hundreds of hours at Our Saviours Lutheran Church, Hastings Family Service, Just Friends, Hastings Area Grief Support, and the Denmark Township Historical Society where she was honored as Washington Countys Outstanding Senior Volunteer in 2011. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Burton; sister, Luverne; brothers, Don, Dick, and Larry; her daughter-in-law Pat Davies, and sons-in-law Robert Putzker and Joel Bexell. Lyla is survived by her five children, Donna Bexell, Carole (Roger) Helgerson, John (Sue) Davies, Robert (Jean) Davies, and Joanne Putzker; 16 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Nancy Potratz and Pat Potratz; and by many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 13, 2018, at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Hastings. Following a luncheon at church, interment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Denmark Township. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Caturia, Smidt Starkson Funeral Home Crematory of Hastings, and will continue for one hour prior to the service at church on Friday morning. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Denmark Township Historical Society, Hastings Family Service, Our Saviours Lutheran Church, or to the donors choice in memory of Lyla. Arrangements are being completed by Caturia, Smidt Starkson Funeral Home Crematory of Hastings.