Neva Appel, 80, died Friday, May 27, 2011 at Sanford Medical Center, Thief River Falls, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at St. Bernards Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, MN with Father Rick Lambert presiding. Burial will follow in St. Bernards Cemetery, Thief River Falls, MN.

Visitation will be from 5-8 PM, Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, MN with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Wednesday.

Neva Olivia Langworthy was born on June 13, 1930 to Charley Joseph and Sarah Olivia (Bromely) Langworthy at Northfield, MN. At the age of two, she moved to a farm north of Shevlin, MN. She attended school for the first eight years in District 22, Clearwater County. She graduated from Bagley High School in 1949. She then attended the Bethesda School of Nursing in Crookston, MN. Her first job nursing was at Benson, MN, before coming to Thief River Falls in 1950.

Neva was united in marriage to Donald Jerome Appel on October 5, 1951. They moved to St. Hilaire, MN in 1956. Neva continued nursing in Thief River Falls at CNC and in Red Lake Falls at Hillcrest Nursing Home until 1989. She then took a secretarial course at the AVTI in Thief River Falls. She then worked for the Green Thumb Program, Tri Valley out of Crookston doing housekeeping. In the fall of 1996, Neva worked in the Foster Grandparent Program and then worked at Discovery Place since 2000. She really treasured the children that she got to work with.

Neva was active with the Cub Scout and Girl Scout Program as a leader and worked with 4-H. She helped teach Catechism at St. Bernards Catholic Church for nine years. She was also involved with the Catholic Daughters and later the Foresters. Neva enjoyed her children and grandchildren. She found time to work in the garden and flower gardens and do needlework.

She is survived by three sons, Steven (Vanessa) Appel, Thief River Falls, MN, Mark (Kristi) Appell, Moorhead, MN and Ray (Tracy) Appel, Bemidji, MN; three daughters, LaNea Appel, Thief River Falls, MN, Donna (Dennis) Iverson, Ellendale, MN and Danelle Appel, Grand Forks, ND; 14 grandchildren: Jesse (Andrea) Haugen, Josh Haugen, Joe Appel, Amber Appel, Andy (fiance Dani Huewe) Appel, Jessica (fiance Cody Booen) Appel, Cody Masterson, Cody Riske, Ashley Riske, Kyle and Kaitlin Appell, , Mike Iverson, Heather (Noah) Carlson, eight great grandchildren: Alex & Levi Iverson, Skylar Iverson, Jasmine Monley, Kaden Haugen, Brittin Haugen, Lilian Booen, Ben Carlson; one sister Nettie Knuston, Kenosha, WI; several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Donald in 2003, by a daughter in infancy; parents, grandson Matt Appel, two brothers Henry Langworthy and Orlie Langworthy.

SOLOIST: Jesse Haugen
SELECTIONS: The Old Rugged Cross
PALLBEARERS: Joe Appel, Josh Haugen, Mike Iverson, Andy Appel, Ashley Riske, Kyle Appell
HONORARY PALLBEARERS: All of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren