Gretchen "Fred" Valla Obituary (1963 - 2014)

Gretchen "Fred" M. Valla, age 50, of Menomonie, WI passed away Thursday, April 10, 2014 at her home. Gretchen Marie White was born September 23, 1963 in Limestone, Maine to Lawrence E. and Mary S. (Smith) White. Family was very important to Gretchen, she loved babysitting her grandchildren and spending time with her family. She enjoyed the simple things in life, sitting around a bonfire, cookouts (especially making the beans), going on road trips and all kinds of music, her favorite being 70's music. Gretchen was also a Detroit Red Wings hockey fan and a Minnesota Vikings football fan. Gretchen is survived by her husband, Scott of Menomonie; daughter, Paige (Bryan Heitkamp) Valla of Menomonie; son Dustin Valla of Eau Claire; grandchildren, Elizabetha and Annabelle Heitkamp and Grant and Maleko Valla; her father, Lawrence White Sr. of Menomonie; two sisters both of Menomonie, Becky (Bill) Rieger and Patty (Steve) Duch; a brother, Larry Jr. (Jennifer Null) White of Knapp. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by grandparents and her mother, Mary "Blanche" White. Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie. There will be visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Ford Cemetery in the Town of Menomonie, Dunn Co. WI.