Cheryl Rae Smith Halleron

It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Cheryl Rae

(Smith) Halleron, formally of Litchfield and Willlmar who passed

away on Sunday, January 14, 2024 at the age of 73. Cheryl was

born on December, 29th 1950 in Wadena, Minnesota to Warren

and Betty (Modrow) Smith.

Cheryl was the second of five daughters and was raised in

Wadena before moving to Willmar. She graduated Willmar Sr.

High School in 1968 and moved to Minneapolis to attend Patricia

Steven’s Finishing School before Working at the University of

Minnesota.

While living in Minneapolis she met the love of her Life Michael

William Halleron. Cheryl and Mike were united in Marriage

November, 17th 1973 at the United Methodist Church in Willmar,

Minnesota. Cheryl and Mike built a life together in Litchfield

where she went to work for Anderson Insurance Agency.

Cheryl became a stepmother to Mike’s daughter Dawn from a

previous marriage. Their son Gregory Smith Halleron was born in

November 1981. The Hallerons were graced with joy raising their

son, Gregory.

In 1985 after the loss of her mother and father, sister and brother

in-law, the Hallerons welcomed Steve and Sherida’s daughter

Sarah into their home with open arms. Cheryl and Mike loved

their unique family, they meant so much to them. The house was

full of family pictures and of every event they were in. Marching

band was a highlight.

Cheryl had a heart of Gold! She was a friend to all and saw the

positive or potential in everyone she met. Cheryl always enjoyed

a good conversation with a cup of Joe or an ice cold Coke with

her friends and family.

After Cheryl’s husband Mike passed in 1997, she went to work

for Rare Earth Coatings in Litchfield. Her favorite pastimes were

watching her children participate in their sports and marching

band, or having long phone conversations with her sisters,

“smoking and joking”.

Her door was always open to everyone. She welcomed friends

from the Litchfield Rescue Squad and Fire Department who

would stop in for a laugh or two with her. She also enjoyed the

company of Greg and Sarah’s friends who would happily stop by

for a chat. She treated friends like family, and on certain

weekends her house resembled a hotel, a camp ground or music

festival, with tents in the yard and people sleeping everywhere.

The more friends and family that surrounded her, the happier she

was. She always had open arms, a shoulder to lean on and a big

heart. You’d better believe that Cheryl would do anything

necessary to be at a family gathering.

After an early diagnosis of Dementia, Cheryl left her home in

Litchfield to live with her son Greg in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

For ten years Greg took great care of Cheryl through her battle

with this terrible disease . Keeping her safe, keeping her healthy

and making sure she laughed and knew how much she was

loved. Cheryl trusted Greg to help her, and he showed

tremendous patience and love through difficult times. They spent

the last five years living in Winona, Minnesota where Cheryl could

be closer to family. They, along with the rest of the family, will

surely miss hearing her laughter and seeing the twinkle in her

eyes.

Cheryl is survived by her Fam-Damily: her son, Greg Halleron,

and daughters, Sarah Fuecker (Anton) Medved, and Dawn

Halleron (Terry) Erickson, Grandchildren Maks, Ziva and Vida

Medved, Morgan and Matthew Erickson, Sisters Trudy Nelson,

Becky Johnson and Kathy (Terry) Lane, brother-in-law Denny

(Julie) Halleron, along with many nieces and nephews.

Cheryl is preceded in death by her husband Mike, her parents,

Warren and Betty Smith, her sister Sherida and brother-in- law

Steve Fuecker, her, and her brother-in-law Mike Nelson.

A Celebration Of Life will be held on July, 13th 2024 at Westfield

Golf Course at 1 pm, 1460 W. Fifth St. Winona Minnesota.

Cards may be sent to Greg Halleron, 166 W Broadway St.

#308.Winona MN 55987.

Memorials to Food Shelf, Humane Society and Homeless

shelters.