Obituaries from the week of February 16, 2000Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Charles L. Brakke, 86

Charles L. Brakke, age 86, of rural Milroy, passed away at the Wabasso Health Care Center in Wabasso, Minnesota on Saturday, February 12, 2000. Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Milroy. Officiant was Reverend Jeffrey M. Engholm with Dona Petersen as organist.

Casket bearers were Lee Davis, Marvin Davis, Richard Norcutt, Richard Peters, Greg Brakke and Ronald Foster. Military Honors were furnished by American Legion Post #274 of Milroy.

Charles Lowell Brakke was born to Alfred and Madge (Davis) Brakke on July 3, 1913 in Westline Township, Redwood County, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Milroy. He graduated from the Milroy High School in 1932. He worked on the family farm until he joined the Army in January of 1942. He served his country during World War II and was honorably discharged in June of 1945.

On September 22, 1945, Charles was united in marriage to Evelyn Peterson in Pekin, North Dakota. They farmed in Westline Township. Charles was a member of the Milroy Elevator Board for many years, was a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church Council (serving in various offices) and was a member of the American Legion Post of Milroy.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, John and Julie Brakke of Milroy; two grandchildren, Shirley (Dean) Fischer of Crooks, South Dakota and David Brakke of Milroy; a sister, Lucille “Buster,” Mrs. Ralph Raveling of Lucan; a brother, Allen and his wife, Pat Brakke of Somerset, WI; also many relative and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Evelyn; and a brother, Lynn Brakke.

Charles enjoyments in life were fishing, hunting and horseback riding.

Interment was at Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery in Milroy, MN with Hamilton-Birk Funeral Home of Marshall handling arrangements.

Minnie Drever, 76

Minnie Drever, longtime Walnut Grove resident, passed away Monday, Feb. 14, 2000 at her home from complications of leukemia. Services will be Friday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove, MN. No visitation is scheduled.

Minnie Drever was born on April 25, 1923, in Edgeley, ND, the daughter of Hattie Rienke and Louis Missine. She attended Russell #4 country school through 8th grade and graduated from Edgeley High School in 1941. She attended Valley City Teacher's College, Business College, and served on the Draft Board.

In the fall of 1942 she moved to Minnesota and married Leonard Drever. She worked at Bartholomew Drug and JC Penney in Tracy, MN for several years after that. In 1950 they joined the Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy, MN and following an 18 month stay in St. James, MN, moved to Walnut Grove, MN to open the Drever's Clover Farm grocery store.

Minnie taught Sunday School, enjoyed quilting and was active in the church council and the ladies organization at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church in Walnut Grove, MN.

Minnie is survived by a daughter Linda of Walnut Grove, and three sons, Gary and wife Mary of Redwood Falls, and Larry and Terry of Minneapolis; two granddaughters, Kelly and Liz; three grandsons, David, Chad and Michael; five great-grandsons, John, Brett, Zach, Scott and Nick; one great-granddaughter, Kaylee; two sisters, Harriette of Spirit Lake, IA and Clara of Lake Placid, FL; two brothers, Joe and Henry of Edgeley, ND; several nieces and nephews and many friends.

Minnie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Leonard; brothers, John, Alfred, Charley and one infant brother; sisters, Mary, Emma, Edith and a special friend Morris Johnson.

Alice Castle, 93

Funeral services for Alice Castle, 93, were conducted in Marshall Jan. 27. The former rural Milroy resident, who lived for many years on a farm four miles west of Milroy, died Jan. 23.

Alice Louella Wick was born Oct. 25, 1906, in Minneapolis, to Rev. Armond and Louise Wick. She was graduated from South High School in Minneapolis and attended Normal Teachers College before teaching school in rural Lyon County.

She married Paul Castle on June 27, 1928, in Minneapolis. They returned to Lyon County to farm.

After her husband died in 1986, Mrs. Castle moved into the Windsong Apartments in Marshall. She lived in a nursing home since 1993.

She is survived by four children: Vernon (Donna) Castle of Bloomington; Norman (Justina) Castle of Cade, WI; Allen (Ruth) Castle of Marshall; and Linda (Jerry) Nussbaumer of Lake Crystal and her son-in-law, David Cook of Coon Rapids; and eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one daughter (Esther), three brothers, one sister and one-great-grandson.