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Obituaries from the week of September 20, 2000 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Iolean Jensen, 86

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, September 19, 2000 for Iolean Jensen at the Tracy United Methodist Church. Rev. Alan Bolte officiated with organist Cindy Bolte and soloist Dave Mix providing music.

Casket bearers were Gaylord Peterson, Jr., George Quigley, Kevin Peterson, Eric Jensen, Arvil Peterson and Wade Jensen.

Iolean Cordelia Jensen was born October 23, 1913 on a farm in Nordland Twp. near Ghent, MN the daughter of Andrew and Emma (Myhre) Peterson. Iolean grew up on a farm near Ghent and was baptized and confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church in Minneota. She attended rural schools and graduated from Minneota High School. Later she graduated from Teachers College at Mankato. She taught rural school and 2nd grade at Lynd for 21 years.

On April 21, 1944 she was united in marriage to Clarence Jensen in Marshall, MN. They farmed near Amiret until 1982 when they retired to Tracy. Clarence passed away in 1988.

She was a member of the Tracy United Methodist Church and served on the Mary Circle, she enjoyed gardening and her neighbors.

She is survived by four sons, Loren of Willmar, MN, Owen and his wife Darlene of Brooklyn Park, MN, Neil and his wife Karen of Brooklyn Park, MN, Dennis of Vadnais Heights, MN; two grandsons and two granddaughters, Wade, Lisa, Eric and Tara; two brothers Arvil Peterson of Northrup, MN and Willard Peterson of Ghent, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and an infant son Marcus.

Interment was at Bethel (Custer) Cemetery near Garvin, MN with Jacobson Funeral Service of Tracy handling arrangements.

Gladys E. Jensen, 95

Funeral services were held Thursday, September 14, 2000, in Evansville, WI, United Methodist Church for Gladys E. Jensen, sister of Bill and Art Drackley and aunt of Harold Drackley, all of Tracy. Gladys died September 9 at Evansville Manor. She was 95. The Rev. Mike White officiated. Burial was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Evansville, WI.

She was born October 6, 1904, at Rippey, IA, daughter of Arthur and Nellie (Sindel) Drackley. She attended grade school in Rippey and later, high school at Menominie, WI and graduated in 1923. In 1926 she moved with her parents to Tracy, MN and in 1937 married Morris Jensen of Albertville, WI, at the home of her parents in Tracy. Mr. Jensen died in January of 1973.

Gladys was a member of the Evansville United Methodist Church, active in the United Methodist Women and Mary Circle for many years, had served as a church trustee, and a board member. She was a member of Senior Citizens, was a volunteer at the nutrition site, and a member of Evansville Manor Auxiliary. She was a wife, mother and grandmother.

Gladys is survived by her son Robert (Kathy) Jensen of Cadiz, KY; a daughter, Lorna Spinherne of Evansville, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, two brothers, Bill and Art of Tracy, MN, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two grandsons, Scott Jensen and Mike Spinherne, a brother Ted who had lived in Tracy, two sisters also of Tracy.

Ward Funeral Home of Evansville was in charge of arrangements.

Elverta Lessman, 77

Funeral services were held today, September 20, 2000, for Elverta Lessman at Tracy Lutheran Church, Tracy, MN. Rev. Stephen Olson and Rev. Marlene Elmstrom officiated. Organist was Richard Stelter.

Casket bearers were Thad Lessman, Rod Lof, Steven Lof, Brett Lessman, Chuck Muller and Ron Holmbeck.

Elverta Myrtle “Trip” Lessman was born November 6, 1922 in Lake Sarah Township near Garvin, Minnesota to Mark and Augusta (Frisvold) Triplett. She attended Garvin and Tracy public schools and graduated from Tracy High School in 1940.

Trip worked as a licensed practical nurse at the Tracy Hospital and Tracy Nursing Home for many years.

On November 3, 1950, she and Frank Lessman were married at the Congregational Church in Kinbrae, MN. They made their home on a farm 7-1/2 miles north of Tracy.

Trip was baptized on September 4, 1926 at Lake Crystal, MN and affirmed her baptismal covenant on May 31, 1936 at Modum Lutheran Church rural Garvin. She was an active member of Tracy Lutheran Church and the women's organizations of the church and delivered bulletins to the shut-ins. She had served as a Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible School teacher. Trip was also active in the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum.

Her hobbies included crocheting, ceramics and walking. Trip will be remembered as a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

She died on Sunday, September 17, 2000, at the McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 77 years.

Survivors include her husband, Frank; two sons and their wives, Jon and Deb Lessman of Clear Lake, SD and Randy and Patty Lessman of Tracy, MN; one daughter and her husband, Jackie and Chuck Bartels of Minnetonka, MN; eight grandchildren, Cari Jackson, Stephanie Jackson, Justin Lessman, Tigh Lessman, Robb Jackson, Kayce Lessman, Becky Lessman and Kyle Lessman; one brother and sister-in-law, Marlo and Martha Triplett of Tracy, MN; one sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Harry Belcher of Winterhaven, FL; nieces and nephews.

Her parents preceded her in death.

Interment was at Bethel Cemetery, Custer Township, Garvin, Minnesota with Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.

Beatrice Stefanick, 73

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, September 16, 2000 for Beatrice M. Stefanick at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy, MN. Rev. Father Brian Mandel officiated with Carla VanDeWiele as song leader and Richard Stelter as organist.

Offertory gift carriers were Krista Voelker, Ann Stefanick, Bobbie Jo Anderson and Stacy Stefanick. Honorary casket bearers were Mikayla Voelker, Andrew Anderson, Michael Anderson, Erin Story, Marcus Stefanick, Shawn Stefanick, Shane Stefanick, Kenneth Wakefield and Kyle Gilbertson.

Active casket bearers were Brian Humiston, Andrew Humiston, Lucas Stefanick, Joseph Stefanick, James Wakefield, Robert Wakefield, Eric Stefanick and Jacob Humiston.

Beatrice was born on December 6, 1926 in Murray Twp., Murray Co., MN to George and Justina (Ziemet) Kreucher. She graduated from I.H.M. Catholic School in Currie, MN in May of 1944. On August 30, 1947 she was united in marriage to James Walter Stefanick. She has resided in Tracy for 45 years.

Beatrice was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy where she taught religious education for many years. She was also a member of the St. Joseph CCW Guild. She was employed by the Tracy Public School system in the food service dept. for many years and also worked for Western Community Action, Schwan's in Marshall. In 1997 she retired as a nursing assistant from the Tracy Nursing Home. Mrs. Stefanick enjoyed many hobbies including cooking, sewing, family history, gardening and especially her grandchildren.

Beatrice passed away suddenly on Tuesday, September 12, 2000 at the Tracy Hospital.

She is survived by her children Margaret (Laurance) Wakefield of Honolulu, Hawaii, Loretta (Michael) Humiston, Champlin, MN, Joseph (Paulette) Stefanick of Garvin, Gerard Stefanick of Waite Park, MN, Richard (Ric) (Veronica) Stefanick of Tracy; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sisters Regina Hilgesen, San Jose, CA, Isabel Bibby, English Town, NJ, Rosalia Baskin, Lakeport, CA, Florence Cecree, Edina, MN, Helen Jones, Kansas City, MO, Elaine Gorshe, Mpls., MN, Lorraine Kreucher, Mpls.; a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one son, James Edward Stefanick and one granddaughter Donna Stefanick Story.

Interment was at St. Mary's Calvary Cemetery, Tracy, MN with Jacobson Funeral Service of Tracy handling arrangements.