Phyllis Holmberg, 80
Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 28, 2007 at Faith Lutheran Church in Avoca for Phyllis Holmberg. Rev. Ted Kunze officiated. Nancy Lee Pierson was organist with special music by Charity Helleson and Paul Holmberg.
Pallbearers were Lee Holmberg, Stan Larson, Rodney Wilkison, Randy Olson, Jerry Holmberg and Harvey Larson.
Phyllis Holmberg was born on July 9, 1926 in Worthington, Minnesota to Carl and Ann Lindberg Olson. She grew up on farms in the Worthington, Dundee, and Avoca areas. Phyllis graduated from Slayton High School in 1943. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.
On January 8, 1946 she and Leland Holmberg were married at Lime Lake Lutheran Church. Together they farmed in Lime Lake Twp. near Avoca for 53 years and raised their three children. Phyllis also was a Tupperware sales lady for 40 years. After they retired they remained on the farm until 1999 when they moved to Fulda. Leland passed away on December 26, 1999. Phyllis continued living in Fulda and later moved to Slayton, and then Tracy. In 2006 Phyllis moved to Walnut Grove, MN.
Phyllis passed away on April 24, 2007 at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 80.
She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Avoca and was active in many church activities including Sunday School Treasurer, Sunday School Teacher and the WELCA group. Phyllis was a 4-H leader, a member of the Extension Club, Murray County Pork Producers, and the Lime Lake Farm Bureau Unit. Phyllis enjoyed spending time with her family, knitting, and visiting with her many friends. Phyllis knitted many mementos for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include her three children and their spouses: Sheila and Richard Helleson of Tracy, MN, Michael and Sally Holmberg of Pleasant Hill, IA, and Gail and Tom Pecht of Des Moines, IA, five grandchildren, Cheryl and Denny McDonnell, Jennifer and John Anderson, Daniel and Joalle Holmberg, Wade and Charity Helleson and Michael James Holmberg and his partner, Trisha Grubb, seven great-grandchildren, Tyler, Cadence, David, Bridge, Alison, Sarah, and Samuel, four sisters, Kathleen Wilkison of Garvin, MN, Joyce Larson of Slayton, MN, Mariett Wahl of Burbank, CA, Donna Lange and her husband, Milen, of Slayton, MN, and one brother, Gary Olson and his wife, Lucille, of Slayton, MN.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Leland and one great-granddaughter, Hope.
Interment was at Slayton Memorial Gardens, Slayton, MN with the Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton handling the arrangements. Sign guestbook and send condolences online at totzkefuneralhome.com.

Pearl Ohman , 94
Pearl Marian Ohman age 94 of Tracy passed on to her Lord’s home on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 30, 2007 at the United Methodist Church in Tracy. Interment was in the Tracy Cemetery.
Casketbearers were David Ohman, Lance Moon, Brenden Klein, Matt Klein, Howard Walther and Duane Walther.
Pearl was born May 19, 1912 in Butterfield, MN to Charles and Josie (Jorsted) Klein. She was the oldest of five children. When Pearl was 11 years old, the family moved to Currie, MN where her father was employed by the railroad. Pearl started working at an early age, cleaning for several ladies and later working the soda fountain at the Currie Drug Store. At the age of 18, Pearl moved to Tracy and got a job at Trosin’s Restaurant across the alley from the Ohman Furniture Store. That is how she met and fell in love with Donald Ohman.
On January 11, 1932 Pearl and Donald were married. To this union, two children were born, Morris and Jean. Donald died in 1957. Pearl and Morris operated the furniture business until they closed the store and retired in 1988. Pearl was very active in her church and community. She belonged to the United Methodist Women, the Tracy Nursing Home Auxiliary, Prime Timers, The Golden Age Club and many different card clubs over the years. Playing cards was her favorite pastime. Pearl volunteered at Wheels Across the Prairie and at the local food shelf. She always enjoyed being at the senior center and volunteering there. Pearl also loved to travel, and made it to 48 of our United States. Most of her trips were with her very close sister in law Leona Ingalls. Pearl loved to bake and was known for her special Lemon Pie. She was also known as the “Banana Bread Lady” as she made and shared her bread with many people in town. Pearl was a very caring lady and will be missed by all that knew her.
Pearl Ohman is survived by her two children: Morris Ohman and wife Virginia of Redwood Falls, and Jean Moon and husband Dwight of St. Francis; four grandchildren: Maurel (Deb) Ohman of Tracy, David Ohman of Tracy, Lance (Michelle) Moon of Andover, and Karin Wald of Hinckley; five great granddaughters: Jacqueline Dyer, Jessica Wald, Stephanie and Elizabeth Moon, and Melissa Ohman; and a great great grandson Hyden Daniel Ohman. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Donald, brother Earl Klein, and sisters: Opal Swanbeck, Charlotte Walther and Gladys Scudder.
Memorials are requested to the Tracy United Methodist Church. Funeral arrangements are with the Tracy Area Funeral Home.

Mabel Naylor, 88
Mabel Jennie Naylor, age 88 of Morning Sun, IA died Saturday, April 28, 2007 at Morning Sun. The funeral service was held today, Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at the Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Ronald Good officiating.
The daughter of Peter and Annie (Loaf) Lingbeck, she was born January 10, 1919 at McCook County, South Dakota. She moved to Monroe, South Dakota with her family at the age of two. She was a graduate of the Monroe High School. She received her two year teaching degree in 1939 at Madison College, now known as Dakota State University. She taught in rural schools until she returned to college and received her four year BA degree in 1946.
She moved to Tracy, MN and taught elementary school for 34 years. In 1980, she married Rev. Harlan Henry Naylor at Morning Sun. Rev. Naylor died in October of 1999. She was a member of the Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church and a member of the Morning Sun Lioness Club.
She is survived by one brother Francis and one sister Esther; step sons, Harlan H. Naylor, Jr. and J. Timothy Naylor and his wife Wendy; one granddaughter Bethany; several nieces and nephews.
Interment was in the Elmwood Cemetery at Morning Sun with the Hagele and Honts Funeral Home of Morning Sun handling the arrangements.

Charles Mitchell, 72
Charles A. Mitchell age 72 of Manhattan, MT died Sunday, April 29, 2007 at his home. Services will be 1:00 PM Friday, May 4, 2007 at the Tracy United Methodist Church in Tracy, MN. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM Friday until the time of service at the church. Interment will be following the luncheon at the Amiret Township Cemetery, rural Amiret, MN. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements.
Charles Alton Mitchell was born October 29, 1934 to George and Hazel Mitchell in Tracy, Minnesota. He attended Tracy Public Schools and graduated from Tracy High School in 1952, where he was captain of his football team and two time runner-up state wrestling champion as a heavyweight. After high school Charles enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps in March of 1953. He served over seas in the Korean War and was honorably discharged in March of 1961.
On November 7, 1959 Charles married Alice Woods and they made their home in Tracy. Following his return from the military Charles began working for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. He held several positions within the railroad, such as, brakeman, train master and retired after forty years as a conductor. Over the years Charles and his family moved to many communities where the railroad sent him. Upon his retirement he settled in Manhattan, MT, where he lived until his death.
Charles was a past member of the Tracy American Legion and was a current member of the Manhattan American Legion. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, spending time with his family and friends, but really enjoyed his grandchildren and the neighborhood children where he lived.
On Sunday, April 29, 2007 Charles died at his home in Manhattan, MT at the age of 72.
Charles is survived by his three sons, Christopher (Yinara) Mitchell of Lakeville, MN, Thomas Mitchell of Manhattan, MT and Andrew (Debra) Mitchell of Belgrade, MT; one daughter, Molly (Mark) Gilbertson of Medford, MN; ten grandchildren; two sisters, Jean Hagen of Medford, MN and Shirley Matson of Currie, MN; and many friends.
His parents, one son, Michael, and one infant brother, Bobby, preceded him in death.

Cecil Wright, 89
Cecil Anthony Wright age 89, formerly of Tracy, MN died Thursday, March 22, 2007 at the Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes, MN. A memorial service will be held at 7:00 PM Friday, May 4, 2007 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM until the time of service on Friday evening. Interment will be at the Wright Cemetery near Buffalo, MN on Saturday, May 5, 2007. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements.
Cecil A. Wright was born September 2, 1918 to Clive and Julia (Bassett) Wright in Buffalo, MN, Wright County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended school in the Buffalo area. Cecil served in the U. S. Navy during World War II and after his honorable discharge, he returned to Minnesota.
On July 2, 1942 Cecil married Dorothy Almquist in Sisseton, SD. They made their home in several Minnesota communities over the years, such as, Buffalo, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Belle Plain, Delano and Elk River. He was employed as a welder and a metal fabricator for most of his life. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling, wood-working and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
After his wife’s death he became a resident of the Tracy Nursing Home and later moved to the Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes, MN, where he died Thursday, March 22, 2007 at the age of 89.
Cecil is survived by his one son, Roger and Sylvia (Radke) Wright of Detroit Lakes, MN; six grandchildren, Victoria Wright, Christine Wright, Catherine (Philip) Reiter, Cory (Melissa) Wright, Ronald (Sherry) Wright and Robert Wright; two great grandchildren, Kyle (Angie) Fjare and Nicole Reiter; one great great granddaughter, Alexa Fjare; one sister, Loretta Stiles; two brothers, Michael (Anita) Wright and Clive Wright Jr.; nieces, nephews and cousins.
His parents and his wife, Dorothy, preceded him in death.