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Obituaries from the week of October 11, 2000 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Ireta Nielsen, 83

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Walnut Grove, MN for Ireta “Grace” Nielsen. Pastor Paul Carlson officiated.

Casket bearers were Leasa Bakken, Mary Harper, Barb Frank, Wendy Knakmuhs, Melanie Hanneman and Michael Nielsen.

Honorary casket bearers were great grandchildren, Brad, Kirk and Scott Molitor.

Grace was born September 12, 1917 in Redwood County to Philip and Mary (Van Hecke) DeJaeger. She attended school in rural Walnut Grove.

On October 20, 1935 Grace married Clarence Nielsen in Lamberton, MN. After marriage Clarence and Grace lived in Vesta until 1940 when they moved to Revere where they made their home until 1994, when she entered Valley View Manor.

Grace was a member of Revere Lutheran Church until it closed. She then became a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church. Grace was also a member of the Revere Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, playing cards, board games and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her son Harold and his wife Bonnie Nielsen of Lamberton; daughters Marleen and her husband Maynard Molitor of Coon Rapids, MN and Sharon and John Bakken of Walnut Grove, MN; 10 grandchildren 17 great grandchildren; sister Sadie Foley of Heron Lake, MN; sister-in-law Elizabeth Nielsen of Revere.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Clarence; two brothers and one sister.

Interment was at Lamberton Cemetery, Lamberton, MN with Sturm Funeral Home of Lamberton in charge of arrangements.

Lyle Rasmussen, 83

Lyle Rasmussen of Luverne Veterans Home, formerly of Redwood Falls, Lamberton, Tracy and Walnut Grove, died on Tuesday, October 3, 2000 in the Veterans Home in Luverne where he had resided since July of 1996.

Lyle was born Tuesday, August 7, 1917 in Lamberton, MN to Carl Frederick and Mary Maria (Smith) Rasmussen. He was the first of four children and attended Lamberton Public Schools. In 1942 Lyle entered the U.S. Army serving as a medic with the 45th Thunderbird Division in the European and earned the Good Conduct and Bronze Star Medals. After Lyle returned from service, he worked for a while buying and selling furs. He eventually moved to St. Paul where he worked for a lumberyard for many years before retiring. He lived in retirement in Redwood Falls, Lamberton, Tracy and Walnut Grove before entering the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne in October of 1996.

Lyle's passion was playing softball. He was an excellent pitcher known for his fastball and recognized throughout the State of Minnesota for his pitching abilities. He pitched for Lucan softball team and helped them to win many championships. He also was an avid hunter and fisherman and often spent time at Lake Shetek and on the Minnesota River. Lyle always enjoyed visiting with people, especially children.

Lyle is survived by a sister, Eldonna Kruger of Rosepine, Louisiana; two brothers, Carl Maynard Rasmussen and wife Grace of Buffalo, MN and Byron Rasmussen and wife Betty of Madison, WI; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne. The Sunset Funeral Home of Echo is handling the arrangements.