Funeral services for Alta Heath will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 10, 2009 at the Alcester United Church of Christ. Visitation will be from 4:30-8:00 p.m. Friday, January 9, 2009 with the family present from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at Wass Funeral Home in Alcester.

April 5, 1917 Alta Alvera Naeve was born to Alfred and Anna (Eggen) Naeve on a farmstead in Union County, South Dakota. She died January 7, 2009 in Alcester, SD at the age of 91 years, nine months and two days.

Alta attended Star, Todd and Normana country schools and Beresford town school. After she graduated from the 8th grade, she went to work cleaning houses for local residents in Alcester. She made enough money to buy a dress for her confirmation on June 3, 1934 at Nathanael Lutheran Church in Alcester.

Alta married Archie Cornish but was widowed after 10 years. She met Harrison Heath and they were married January 8, 1947. They moved to Alcester when Harrison bought a share in the Alcester Union in 1950. Alta worked for many years at Coil Craft in Hawarden, Iowa. She and Harrison were members of the Alcester United Church of Christ.

She liked to camp and fish, go bowling, play cards and travel with her best friend, Harrison. Alta also enjoyed embroidering. Because Alta and Harrison had no children of their own, they took care of their nieces and nephews for her sisters Lyda and LaVerne. Alta and Harrison were snowbirds; wintering in Weslaco, TX and returning to Alcester for the spring, summer and fall. Harrison passed away after 47½ years of marriage, but Alta continued going south on her own.

Alta's parents; three sisters, Jerri, LaVerne and Lyda; and her husband, Harrison preceded her in death.

Survivors include her nieces and nephews, Dennis (Marlys) Thompson of El Paso, TX, Gloria Thompson of Alcester, JoAnn (Art) Taylor of Seattle, WA, Janis (Mike) Gordon of Windom, MN, Dallas (Linda) Thompson of Alcester, Judy Steinfadt of Portland, OR, Joelle (Mike) Reynolds of Seattle, WA, Dale (Elizabeth) Thompson of Alcester, Julie (Jack) Fernstrum of Scottsdale, AZ and Jeanne (John) Marietta of Austin, TX; many great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.