Obituaries from the week of September 13, 2000 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Ella Ruppert, 80

Mass of Christian Burial was held at Thursday, September 7, 2000 for Ella Arlene Ruppert of Currie. Msgr. Paul Evers officiated with Frank Gardner as organist and Kayo Silvernale as song leader. Pallbearers were Scott Shea, Kurt Shea, Tim Shea, Lee Gordon, John Olivier and Kirby Cohrs.

Ella Ruppert was born on February 29, 1920 at Brooten, Minnesota to John and Meta Cohrs Nelson. The family moved to a farm near Westbrook when Ella was a young girl and she attended country school. She did housekeeping for several area families.

On June 21, 1938, she and Aloysius Ruppert were married at St. Ann's Church in Slayton. They farmed the Ruppert family farm near Currie until 1948 and moved into Currie. Aloy died on July 4, 1995 and Ella continued living in Currie. She passed away unexpectedly at her home on September 1, 2000 at the age of 80.

She was a member of IHM Church since the time of her marriage and belonged to the W.C.C.W. She was a volunteer at the Slayton Manor and Tracy Nursing Homes many years and was very faithful about helping residents several times a week. She was very involved with Slayton Meal Site and served as an officer. Ella enjoyed volunteer work, playing cards, and spending time with her family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and many friends.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Muriel and Leroy Shea of Woodbury, MN; three grandsons Scott, Kurt and his wife, Tracy, and Tim Shea; and two great-grandsons; Jacob and Nicholas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Aloysius, brothers, Roy, Richard and Ben, and sisters, Lilly and Mabel Nelson and twin sister, Della.

Interment was held in Calvary Cemetery in Currie with Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton in charge of arrangements.

Marcella Walling, 67

Memorial services for Marcella Elaine Walling of Lucan were held on Monday, September 11, 2000 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lucan. A second memorial services was held on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Osage, Iowa with burial in the Orchard Cemetery in Orchard, Iowa.

Marcella Elaine Walling was born December 10, 1932, to Jacob and Amelia (Schwab) Schleuger at Britt, Iowa. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith in May 3, 1933 at Woden Lutheran Church in Woden, Iowa at 10 a.m. Her god parents were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tanner. She was confirmed on June 9, 1946 at Britt Lutheran Church in Britt, Iowa.

Marcella Schleuger was married to Darrold Walling on June 13, 1965 at Osage, Iowa. The couple farmed near Orchard, Iowa before moving to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1985 where Marce worked as a nurse and Darrold worked for the telephone company. Marce served for over 44 years in the nursing profession in Iowa and Nebraska. In 1993, they moved to Lucan, Minnesota to be closer to their son, Lon and to help on the farm. They became members of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lucan, Minnesota where Marce had served as president of W.E.L.C.A. In 1999, she was diagnosed with lung cancer which she battled with a constant smile and her strong faith.

On September 7, 2000 Marcella Walling died at her home in Lucan, Minnesota at the age of 67 years, 8 months and 27 days.

Marce is survived by her husband, Darrold; two sons, Kenyon and wife Marilyn of Kennebec, SD and Lon and wife Jean Walling of Milroy, MN; two daughters, Sheila and husband Marty Couchman of Lawrence, KS and Darla and husband Jack Goodale of Stacyville, IA and adopted daughter, Mary and husband Jim Spitz of Osage, IA; six grandsons: Erik Goodale, Aaron Walling, Lucas Walling, Tom Walling, Robby Plummer and Kevin Plummer; five granddaughters: Nikki May, Alison Walling, April Goodale, Abby Goodale, and Kendra Walling; two adopted grandsons: Garret and Wyatt Spitz and one great-granddaughter, Corey May. She is also survived by one sister, Dorothy Sprau of Nora Springs IA; one sister-in-law, Clarice Schleuger of Britt, IA and one nephew, Dean Schleuger of Luverne, IA in addition to many friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ludwig and Katarina Schleuger and Frederick and Elizabeth Schwab, her parents, Jacob and Amelia Schleuger, one son, Dan Garret Walling, one brother Donald Schleuger and a niece, Diana Schleuger in addition to many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Arrangements were handled by Kulow Funeral Service of Echo, MN.

Death notice

Funeral services are tentatively set for Saturday, Sept. 16 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Church for Beatrice Stefanick. Beatrice passed away suddenly at Tracy Hospital on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

Jacobson Funeral Home is handling arrangements. A complete obituary will be published next week.

Stacy L. Halfmann, 19

Funeral services were held for Stacy L. Halfmann, age 19, on Mon., Sept. 11 at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Wabasso, MN. Fr. John Richter officiated with Sherry Plaetz as organist.

Casket bearers were Stacy Jenniges, Lynne Adams, Rachel Guetter, Sherry Knott, Terrica Baune, Stacy Mathiowetz, Emma Jensen, Traci Goblirsch, Kathey Beerman, Randee Boerboom and Paula Sobocinski.

Stacy Lynda Halfmann was born February 27, 1981 to Jeff and Tammy (Bruss) Halfmann in Lyon County, Tracy, Minnesota. She was baptized at St. Mary's in Tracy. As an infant she moved with her family to Wabasso, Minnesota where she attended elementary school at St. Anne's and was a 1999 graduate of Wabasso High School.

Following graduation, she attended Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minnesota for one year. She then moved to Tracy to live with her grandmother. Stacy had recently accepted employment in the Tracy area. During high school she worked at a number of fast food restaurants and as an Activity Aide at the Wabasso Healthcare Center.

Stacy was a volleyball player for four years during high school, and also sang in the school choir. Her special interests included choir, singing, reading and spending time with friends. She was a member of St. Anne's Catholic Church in Wabasso where she had been confirmed.

Stacy died at her grandmother's home in Tracy on September 7, 2000 at the age of 19.

She is survived by her parents, two sisters, Kristy and Laura; maternal grandmother Theresa Johnson, Tracy, MN; maternal great-grandmother, Frances Weinberg, Tracy, MN; paternal grandfather Harold Halfmann, Tracy, MN; paternal great-grandmother Elmira Jaeger, Tracy, MN; special friends, Robert Sands, Willmar, MN; and Randee Boerboom, Minneapolis, MN; many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Preceding her in death were her maternal great-grandfather, her paternal grandmother, great-grandfather and one uncle Art Newberg.

Interment was at Calvary Cemetery, Tracy, Minnesota with Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy in charge of arrangements.