It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Cheryl Rae (Smith) Halleron, formerly of Litchfield and Willmar, who passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at the age of 73. Cheryl was born on December 29, 1950, in Wadena 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 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 17, 1973, at United Methodist Church in Willmar.
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. For 10 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 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-inlaw Mike Nelson. A Celebration Of Life will be held on July 13, 2024, at Westfield Golf Course at 1 p.m., 1460 W. Fifth St., Winona. Cards may be sent to Greg Halleron, 166 W Broadway St. #308, Winona MN 55987. Memorials to Food Shelf, Humane Society and Homeless shelters.
