Milton Theodor Balzen, son of George Balzen and wife Lena (Weiblen) Balzen, was born April 3, 1914, in Castroville. On Oct. 29, 1935, he was married to Nora Katharina Emilie Leinweber in St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hondo. Milton was called to Our Lord in heaven June 27, 2006, in Hondo. Milton and Nora were long-time residents of the Quihi area and remained members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Quihi, even after moving to Hondo in 1996. Milton is survived by his wife of 71 years, Nora; sister, Ida Saathoff of Hondo; brothers-in-law, Eddie Leinweber and wife LaVelle, Hilmer Leinweber and wife JoNell, Elton "Tony" Leinweber and wife Darlene, all of San Antonio; and numerous nephews and nieces. Milton was a lifelong, active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and served as councilman several times. He was always willing to volunteer and work for the church. He was active in farming and ranching all his life. He especially loved cattle, as he started out early in life by feeding and showing the Reserve Grand Champion Hereford calf at the Medina County Livestock Show. He raised cattle and started with Hereford cattle from the W. T. Montgomery Ranch of San Antonio. He was on cattle tours with the Montgomery Ranch cattle to three state fairs-in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. In later years, he sold club calves to girls and boys of Medina County, and they had several Grand Champions. Milton was a member of the Hermann Sons Lodge and Quihi Gun Club. Visitation will be Thursday, June 29, 7 to 9 p.m., at Guinn-Horger Funeral Home, Hondo. Funeral service will be at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Quihi, on Friday, June 30, at 10 a.m. The casketcarriers were Don Leinweber, Michael Leinweber, Michael Weiblen, Duane Jungman, Harold Leinweber, Neil Owens. Burial will be at Hondo Cemetery, Oakwood Section, Hondo.