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Obituaries from the week of November 3, 1999

LaVonnie A. Moon, 90

Memorial services were held on October 28, 1999 at the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel in Alexandria, MN for LaVonnie A. Moon. Rev. Merlin Bartelt officiated.

LaVonnie Atlanta (Johnson) Moon was born July 13, 1909 in Lamberton, MN the daughter of Joe and Margaret (Brewer) Johnson. At the age of 16, she was out on her own working as a waitress and kitchen helper in a restaurant in Tracy, MN. There, she met her future husband Millard Moon. They were married November 13, 1927 and farmed near Tracy until 1948 when the couple moved to the Nelson, MN area. In the early fifties, they moved to Minneapolis where LaVonnie worked for Donaldson's Department Store for many years. When LaVonnie and “Moonie” retired, they traveled throughout the United States, parts of Mexico and Canada, and spent the winters in Florida, Arizona, California and 20 years in Texas. In 1991, they permanently moved back to Minnesota and lived with their son Robert.

The couple celebrated 65 years together before “Moonie's” death in 1993. LaVonnie enjoyed sewing, needlework, card games especially bridge, gardening, reading and fishing.

LaVonnie died at the Knute Nelson Home, in Alexandria, on October 23, 1999.

She is survived by two sons: George (Joy O'Brien) Moon of Nelson and Robert Moon of rural Nelson; five grandchildren: David (Lana) of Sartell, MN; Dawnette Moon of Alexandria, MN; Donald (Jennifer) of Seattle, WA; Sally Moon of Yonkers, NY; and Janice Moon of Bainbridge Island, WA; three step-grandchildren: Mike (Dottie) Markuson of Fayetteville, AK; Jackie (Stuart) Workman of Hampton, MN and Paul Markuson of Dallas, TX; four step-great-grandchildren; Joy Noelle and Elliott Markuson and Evan and Nicholas Workman; four sisters Lollie of Santa Anna, CA; Natalia of Farmington, MN; and Peggy of Owatonna, MN; Donna Rose of Mountain Lake, MN and a brother Donald of Mountain Lake.

LaVonnie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Moonie, two brothers and one sister.

Nola Mae Murphy, 77

Graveside services were held on Thursday, October 28, 1999, at 2 p.m. for Nola Mae Ferguson Murphy, 77, of Plymouth, MN, formerly of Tracy. Burial was in the Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangements.

Mrs. Murphy died on Wednesday, October 27th at her home in Plymouth.

Nola Mae Ferguson Murphy was born July 8, 1922 in Tracy, Minnesota to David C. and Lydia (Johnson) Ferguson.

She grew up in Tracy and attended Tracy schools and graduated from Tracy High School. After graduation she attended one year at the Minneapolis Business College. She returned to Tracy and was employed as bookkeeper for the Garvin Elevator, and later as a bookkeeper in Minneapolis.

She was married to David John Murphy and they made their home in Detroit, Michigan. After her husband's death, she returned to Minneapolis to make her home.

Survivors include her daughter and husband, Erin and Jay Jonell of Plymouth, MN, three grandchildren, Alison, Randy and Sam Jonell of Plymouth; one sister, Carol Cook of Placerville, CA; nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husband and two brothers preceded her in death.

Memorials are to be designated for the Alzheimer's Association.

Juleen W. Paetzel, 79

Services were held on Friday, October 29, 1999 at 2 p.m. for Juleen W. Paetzel at the Tracy United Methodist Church.

Officiant was Rev. Wesley Gabel with eulogy given by Nigel Linssen. Organist was Allen Pierson with Deb Miller as soloist.

Casket bearers were Annette Paetzel, Michael Paetzel, Elizabeth Simons, Daniel Simons, Chad Shoeman, Jason Shoeman, Douglas Shoeman, Nigel Linssen and Neil Linssen.

Juleen W. Paetzel was born July 27, 1920 to Oscar and Esther (Krogh) Nelson in Westbrook, MN, Cottonwood County. She attended school in Westbrook, where she was a member of the school drill team. As the eldest of ten children, Juleen helped with the care of her brothers and sisters.

On March 18, 1939, she married Wilbur Paetzel in Redwood County. Juleen worked at Snow's Hatchery, the Red Owl grocery store and the Tracy Nursing Home, where she worked in the kitchen for many years.

She was a member of the Tracy United Methodist Church since 1959, when she was baptized there. She was a member and very active in the church circle and helped serve at many birthday luncheons, flower shows and funerals. Juleen delivered church bulletins to residents of the Tracy Nursing Home. In addition, she was a member of the Tracy Hospital Auxiliary.

Juleen's interests included gardening, making patchwork quilts for the family and friends, embroidering, traveling, playing cards and bowling. She also very much enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as with friends and neighbors.

She died on Monday, October 25, 1999, at the Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 79.

Juleen is survived by her son, Robert and wife Lynn of Loveland, CO, son, Duane and fiancee Maelene of St. Cloud, MN; daughter, Judy and husband Ted of Hutchinson, MN, daughter, Nancy and husband Stewart of Broomfield, CO and daughter, Linda of Henderson, NV; nine grandchildren, Annette and Michael Paetzel, Elizabeth and Daniel Simons, Chad, Jason and Douglas Shoeman and Nigel and Neil Linssen; two great-grandchildren, Joshua and Kylee Shoeman; four sisters, Ruth Detlefsen of Westbrook, MN, Jeanette Cunningham of Mt. Wolf, PA, Betty Meyer of Hillsdale, MI, and Janice Miller of Redwood Falls, MN; four brothers, Howard Nelson of Westbrook, MN, Richard Nelson of Plainview, MN, Bobby Nelson of Gibbon, MN and David Nelson of Harrison, MI; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband and one sister, Carol Einertson.

Interment was at Tracy City Cemetery with Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.

Jeanne Pommier, 69

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, November 2, 1999 for Jeanne Pommier at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie.

Officiants were Msgr. Paul Evers and Deacon Don Konkol. Organist was Patty LeClaire with special music by the IHM Choir. Lector was Jim Surprenant and gift bearers were Nancy, Dean, Anna, Nicki and Brenda Pommier. The pallbearers are grandchildren: Nathan Leysen, Katie Leysen, Christy Leysen, Carrie Leysen, Jeremy Pommier and Neil Pommier.

Jeanne Pommier was born on March 23, 1930 at New Ulm, MN to Francis and Dora Ruppert Boudreau. She grew up on a farm southeast of Currie, attended IHM School and graduated from IHM High School in 1947.

On August 29, 1950, she and Dale Pommier were married at IHM Church. Following their marriage they have lived in Currie and raised their five children. Due to failing health, she became a resident of Our House, hospice home in Slayton and passed away there on October 29, 1999 at the age of 69.

She was life member of IHM Church in Currie and belonged to the WCCW, sang in the IHM Choir, taught CCD and served on the parish council. She belonged to a card club. Jeanne's favorite pastimes included quilting, gardening, going to auctions and spending time with her family.

Survivors include her husband, Dale of Currie, four children and their spouses: Becky and Bill Leysen of Farmington, MN, Dean and Brenda Pommier of Currie, Marcie and Don Peshong of Greenwood, SC and Nancy Pommier of Apple Valley, MN; eight grandchildren: Nathan, Katie, Christy and Carrie Leysen, and Jeremy, Neil, Nicki and Anna Pommier; a brother, a sister and their spouses: Eugene and Kathryn Boudreau of Lakewood, CA and Darlene and Don McCoy of Sun City West, AZ.

She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Sandy, and sisters, Josephine Metty and Viola Luft, and brother, Duane Boudreau.

Doris Nelson Triplett, 79

Funeral services were held Wed., Nov. 3 at 10:30 a.m. for Doris M. Nelson Triplett at Old Westbrook Lutheran Church in rural Storden, Minnesota. Officiants were Rev. Michael K. Stangeland and Rev. Wesley Gabel. Organist was Shirley Iverson with Kelly Hoffman as pianist.

Honorary bearers were Jeff Harnack, Andy Nelson, Tim Nelson, Casey Nelson and Dan Nelson. Casket bearers were Steve Iverson, Greg Verly, Bruce Mathiason, Curt Nelson, Glen Mathiason and Mark Highby.

Doris Maureen Nelson Triplett was born August 27, 1920 to Alfred and Effie (Rongstad) Mathiason on a farm in the rural Storden, Minnesota area, Cottonwood County. She attended Sunnyside rural school and then later graduated from Storden High School in 1938. Doris then attended a year of school at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, MN.

On April 19, 1940, Doris married Nuel L. Nelson at the Old Westbrook Lutheran Church. They made their home on a farm in Ann Township that still remains within the family today. In 1981, Nuel died and Doris remained on the farm until 1985 when she married Kenneth Triplett from Tracy, MN, where she then moved and made their home.

Doris was a piano teacher on the farm and her interests included gardening, crafts, oil painting, and she was an avid reader, but her family was always very important. Later in life, she became a member of the Doris Club and enjoyed wintering in Arizona.

She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was a member of the Old Westbrook Lutheran Church, where she had been the church pianist for many years and had taught Sunday School in the past.

Doris died Saturday, October 30, 1999 at the Tracy Municipal Hospital in Tracy at the age of 79.

Doris is survived by her daughter, Judie and her husband, Darlo Harnack of Revere, MN; five sons, Dale and wife, Lynn of Revere, Lyle and wife, Mary of Savage, MN, Gary and wife, Julie of Minneapolis, MN, Bob and wife, Kathy of Vermillion, SD, and Rick of Revere; ten grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; three step daughters; five step grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; one brother, Alan Mathiason of Roseville, MN; one sister, Joyce Iverson of Lamberton, MN; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her parents, husbands, Nuel and Kenneth and one grandson, Brian, preceded her in death.

Interment was at Old Westbrook Lutheran Cemetery. Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handled arrangements.