Lauretta Henrietta (Haag) Vance, 93, of Topeka, KS, passed away Sunday, January 5, 2014 at her home. Born to Henry John and Laura Susanna (Schirmer) Haag, she, along with her twin brother, Lloyd Henry Haag, was born April 3, 1920 on the family farm northeast of Holton, KS. The twins arrived during a Kansas snow blizzard. A storm so bad that the Doctor did not get there and they were delivered by their father with Lauretta arriving first, feet first.

Growing up, she attended Bateman, a one-room country school, and graduated in 1934 after eight years. In 1938, she graduated from Holton High School.

She was a long time member of Evangel United Methodist Church and King's Daughter Sunday school class in Holton, KS. At the time of her death, she was a member of First United Methodist Church in Topeka, KS.

She married Chester Lee Vance on May 3, 1943 and like most war brides followed him from station to station. Even after the war, she followed him around to various jobs.
In 1952 they were blessed with a chosen child, Racinda, and again in 1955 with a chosen child, Laura Jane.

While in Holton, she worked for Slimaker Dress Factory as a billing clerk. In 1974, Lauretta and her husband moved to Lenexa, KS. While there, she worked for Continental Telephone Company. She retired in 1992 and moved to Topeka to be close to family.

Her husband preceded her in death on March 23, 1978. She is also preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Louise Messner and Kathryn Eastham; brothers, Franklin, Milton, and her twin, Lloyd Haag; and one beloved nephew, Gale Haag.

She leaves her two daughters, Racinda Ross (Steve) of Oklahoma City, OK and Laura Jane Vance-Butler of Topeka, KS; a sister, Corrine Burnett of Prairie Village, KS; 6 grandchildren, Jeremy and Nathan Cody of Oklahoma City, OK, Brynn and Brogan Ross of Oklahoma City, OK, and Bailey and Madison Butler of Topeka, KS; and a sister-in-law, Jean Marie Haag of Hays, KS, her twin brother's wife. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews whom she adored, Carl Messner, LeAne Story, Venita Fieldler, Bill Eastham, Mickey Abel, Lloydeen Wolfe, Dale Haag, Sue Wheeler, and Jeannine Sue Haag.

Lauretta was a good mother and Nanny who dearly loved her family. They will all miss her love to them and her humor.

Funeral Services will be 1:00pm, Saturday, January 11, 2014 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton with Rev. Dr. Bruce Emmert officiating. Burial will be in the Holton Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 5:30 – 7:00pm, Friday evening at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Evangel United Methodist Church c/o Mercer Funeral Home P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.