Alberta Yinger Brant Des Moines Alberta Yinger Brant died on the Eve of New Year 2012, 40 days before her 106th birthday. She lived her last few months, well cared-for, at Legacy House, a residential care facility half-hour away from the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Vincent and Susan Yinger, Des Moines, IA. For 13 1/2 years prior, Alberta had lived at Illahee Hills Retirement Community in nearby Urbandale, IA. A memorial will be held at Lake Louise, Boyne Falls, MI, in mid-summer. In addition to her son and daughter-in-law, Alberta is survived by: granddaughter, Elizabeth Carrasco (Franklin) of Raleigh, NC; grandson, David Theiss of Long Beach, CA; step-grandson, David Eick (Maria Fidalgo-Eick) of Grand Rapids, MI; step-granddaughter, Jennifer Eick-Magan (Jose Magan) and step-great-granddaughters, Sofia and Lucia Magan of Homewood, IL; granddaughters Rebecca Gougis of Wilmington, NC & Barbara Currie of Raleigh, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by: her parents, A. A. and Nellie Porter (1959); her husband (1932-72), Rev. Homer V. Yinger; husband Bronson Brant (1982-86); her daughters, Emelyn Y. Theiss (1992) (Robert, 2000) and Karen E. Yinger (2001); grandson, Stephen Theiss (1990); her four siblings, Dwight Porter, Clyde Porter, Wilma Griffin, Allegra Nielsen Hagans; all two dozen sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law on both the Yinger and Porter sides of the family; and others. Alberta was a cottager of Lake Louise Christian Community for more than 70 years, beginning her Pioneer Trail trek in the 1930's with many others of the Yinger clan. She managed to ride along on 1400-mile road-trips to and from her cottage as late as 2008, when she was 102. Alberta was born in Illinois, and grew up in South Haven, MI. She received a B. A. in Education from Western Michigan University. She also lived in Constantine and St. Joseph, MI; Minneapolis, MN; LaCrosse, WI; Claremont, CA; Akron, OH; and Carlsbad, CA. Alberta will be remembered for many talents and traits: As minister's wife in Akron, she developed a pre-school program sponsored by Fairlawn Community Church. She was a mother, school teacher, singer, pianist, seamstress, and prolific artist. Just ten days before this Christmas, as carols were sung to Alberta, she briskly sang along. Many friends and family still cherish the paintings they have by Alberta. Athletic all her lifesprinting, ice skating, tennis in her youthshe could still throw a softball overhand at age 95; she enjoyed playing pool in her 90's and beanbag baseball after 100. She danced on her 105th birthday. To the very end, Alberta was always concerned for the well-being of others. Memorial gifts may be sent to Lake Louise Christian Community, 11037 Thumb Lake Rd, Boyne Falls, MI 49713: designate Maryanna's Place (an early childhood natural fitness playground).