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Obituaries from the week of July 26, 2000 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

William Minnig, 61

William Minnig age 61 rural Milroy, died Saturday, July 22, 2000 in the McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Services were held on Wednesday, July 26, in the Bethany Lutheran Church in Wabasso with burial at the Tracy City Cemetery. Pastor Jeffrey Schultz officiated with Megan Baumann as organist.

Pallbearers were David Zwach, John Brakke, Ron Wixon, Phil McCollar, Steve Barker and Silas Raddatz.

William Charles Minnig was born Tuesday, September 20, 1938 in Heron Lake, Jackson County, Minnesota to Joseph William and Catherine Mae (Hornickel) Minnig. He was baptized in October of 1938 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Heron Lake and confirmed in Bethany Lutheran Church in Wabasso on December 20, 1987. Bill attended country school near Heron Lake and Windom High School. He moved to a farm near Milroy in 1959 with his parents where he still lived. In 1961 he entered the U.S. Army serving at Ft. Carson, CO, Ft. Sill, OK, Ft. Bliss, TX and Ft. Chafee, AK working with the Honest John Missiles during the Cuban Crisis.

Bill returned to the family farm near Milroy and farmed in partnership with his father until his dad retired in the 1970's. He also worked for Dave Hicks and other area farmers, worked with construction in the winter in later years.

On April 6, 1974 he was united in marriage to Sandra Averill, Sandra died on January 24, 1983 and he was united in marriage to Ardyce (Werner) Balko on May 10, 1986. Bill served on the Gales Township Board for a number of years, the board of directors for the Tracy Ambulance Service, as Treasurer of Bethany Lutheran Church where he was an active member and was an active volunteer with AAL. He loved nature, woodworking, photography, and camping with family.

He is survived by his wife, Ardyce, children Ryan of Palm Springs, CA, Jennifer of Duluth, John of St. Paul and Tanya of Mounds View, his mother Catherine Mae of Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy, a brother James Minnig and his wife Mary Jane of Sioux Falls, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Sandra and his father Joseph.

Mandrup Myhre, 84

Services were held at 11 A.M., Wednesday, July 26, 2000 at Sillerud Lutheran Church for Mandrup “Mindy” Myhre. Rev. Steven Quist officiated with soloists Raymond Nelson and Doug Swan.

Honorary groups were the American Legion Post #237, Disabled American Veterans, Balaton Sportsman Club, Balaton Rescue & Fire Dept.

Casket bearers were Todd Myhre, Jason Swan, Michael Lage, Eric Bacher, Matt Levisay and Harlan Ahlschlager.

Mandrup (Mindy) Vincent Myhre was born June 10, 1916 in Minneota, MN at the home of his parents, Thrond and Annie (Nelson) Myhre, where he joined his two brothers, Clarence and Nels and sister Ruth.

Mindy was baptized and confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church in Minneota.

He attended Minneota public schools and the Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis for plumbing and heating and later gained his Master Plumber's license.

On August 27, 1941, Mindy married Elienore Ahlschlager at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Balaton.

Mindy was drafted into the Army Air Corps on March 17, 1942 and served his country honorably as a member of the 312th Bomber Group 388th Squadron. His attack bombers moved often throughout the South Pacific to avoid detection. On one bombing raid they hit Japan three times from Luzon and the shipping area along the China coast. While in New Guinea he contracted malaria along with everyone else. S/Sgt. Myhre was honorably discharged on Halloween after serving 44 months.

Following his discharge, he and his family made their home in Balaton where he worked for Art Freter until he started Balaton Plumbing and Heating. Mindy retired in 1979.

Through the years Mindy served on the church council at St. Peter's Lutheran Church and was also a choir member. He was a faithful member of Sillerud Lutheran Church for the past 4 years. He was a member of the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans for over 50 years. Mindy was also an active member of the Balaton Sportsman Club and had served as president of the club. He was a pioneer in the aeriation of Lake Yankton, wild game feeds and the raising of pheasants.

He was a member of the Balaton Fire Dept. for over 20 years and had served as chief and assistant chief for 12 years. Mindy was instrumental in establishing the ambulance service in Balaton. It began out of need for medical care in the rural area. Mindy introduced many to the joys of being a sportsman with particular interest in fishing and hunting. He also enjoyed making fishing tackle.

Several people still recall when he played baseball in Minneota and they won the State Tournament. He enjoyed playing horsehoses and won several trophies. His Norwegian heritage was always evident and brought him joy.

Mindy died on Saturday, July 22, 2000, at the Weiner Memorial Medical Center in Marshall, at the age of 84 years.

He is survived by his wife, Elienore, daughters, Beth Hasert of Loveland, CO, Delores Swan and husband Doug of Balaton, Patricia Rogers and husband Jack of Cloudcroft, NM, and son Vincent Myhre of Baltic, SD; eight grandchildren and their spouses; four great-granddaughters; nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and five God children. His parents, brothers, sister and son-in-law preceded him in death.

Interment was at Sillerud Lutheran Cemetery with Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton handline arrangements.