William J Stokes

Lake Crystal Mortuary
648 S. Main Street, P.O. Box 297
Lake Crystal, MN 56055
(507) 726-6161

William J. Stokes, age 80 of Lake Crystal, died Friday, March 29, 2013, at Crystal Seasons in Lake Crystal.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Lake Crystal, with Rev. John Wilmot officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Madelia. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday. Lake Crystal Mortuary handled the arrangements.

William was born on March 4, 1933, in Madelia. He was the son of Edmond and Agnes (Stephens) Stokes. William was a 1951 graduate of Madelia High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955 during the Korean War. Following his discharge, William was united in marriage to Arlene Becker on September 6, 1958. They later divorced. He married Alice Anderson on May 7, 1988, in Madelia. They made their home in Lake Crystal.

William ran the family farm, was employed with Tony Downs in Madelia, and later worked for Van Den Bergh Foods in Madelia for 28 years. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Lake Crystal, Lake Crystal American Legion Post 294, and Mankato VFW Post 950. William enjoyed reading, camping with Alice, and getting together with family and friends.

William is survived by his daughter, Cynthia (Jim) Lawrence of Mankato; three step-children, Dennis "Butch" (Pam) Anderson of Mankato, Lee (Jeff) Ludvik of Mankato, and LeRoy (Wanda) Anderson of Good Thunder; also many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Alice in 2011; one grandson; three brothers and three sisters.