Obituaries from the week of April 11, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Harold Alexander, 79

Memorial services were held Wednesday, April 11, 2001 at the Johnson-Henry Funeral Home in Arlington, SD for Harold Alexander of Lake Preston, SD and a former Tracy, MN resident.

Harold Claude Alexander was born on January 20, 1922 at Tracy, MN to Claude and Hannah (Stafford) Alexander. He attended school in Tracy and graduated from Tracy High School. Harold served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He returned to the Tracy area and worked as a carpenter.

He was a member of the VFW and American Legion. Harold was also an avid fisherman.

Because of illness, Harold entered the Veterans Hospital eight months before becoming a resident of the Kingsbury Memorial Manor in February of 1999. It was there he died on Sunday, April 8, 2001 at the age of 79 years.

He is survived by a son Terry of Lake Preston and a daughter Pat Murphy of Orange, CA; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; brother Howard in California.

Harris Christians, 73

Services are set for Friday, April 13, 2001 at 2 p.m. for Harris Christians, Balaton. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, April 12, 2001 at the Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton.

Mr. Harris died Sunday, April 8, 2001 at Weiner Memorial Hospital in Marshall, MN.

Arrangements are being handled by Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton. A complete obituary will be published next week.

Mildred Garvin, 81

Mass of Christian Burial was held for Mildred Garvin of Tracy, on Saturday, April 7, 2001 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy. Father Brian Mandel officiated with Richard Stelter as organist and Art Rogers as cantor.

Mildred Irene Garvin was born November 19, 1919 to Stephen and Alma (Runge) Pool at Lake Wilson, MN. She received her formal education in the Lake Wilson area.

She was united in marriage to Gerald P. Garvin on December 19, 1945 at Omaha, Nebraska. The couple lived on a farm near Tracy until 1948 when they moved to Pickstown, SD where Gerald worked on the Ft. Randall Dam until 1952. The couple returned to the Garvin/Balaton area where they farmed together.

In her spare time Mildred enjoyed reading, crocheting and quilting. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy.

Mildred passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2001 at Avera-McKennen Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 81 years.

She is survived by her son James and his wife Ellen of Tracy; two grandchildren, Beth and Patrick Garvin of Tracy; four sisters, Dorothy Rabe of Walnut Grove, MN, Etta Garvin of Tracy, Carol Grunwald of Walnut Grove, MN and Amy Koepke of South Dakota; two brothers Herb Pool of Milroy, MN and Bob Pool of Minneapolis, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband on April 24, 1984, four brothers and one sister.

Burial was at the Calvary Cemetery, Tracy, with Jacobson Funeral Home handling arrangements.

Ronald Holmbeck, 61

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 7, 2001 at Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin, MN for Ronald E. Holmbeck. Officiants were Pastor Bruce Carlson and Pastor Homer Dobson. Organist was Lois Robinson with special music by Brenda Holmbeck, David Holmbeck and Peter Holmbeck.

Honorary casket bearers were Tracy Equipment, Inc. Employees and the Roaring Lyons Club.

Active casket bearers were Lee Triplett, Jay Triplett, Dean Triplett, Marc Triplett, David Holmbeck, Peter Holmbeck, Loren Holmbeck, Verlen Holmbeck, Danny Holmbeck, Kerry Midtling, Darry Midtling and Steven Stoterau.

Ronald Eugene Holmbeck was born July 11, 1939 to Lawrence and Elizabeth (Bose) Knee in Murray County, Slayton, Minnesota and later adopted by Alfred Holmbeck. He was baptized into the Lutheran faith at Sillerud Lutheran Church and later confirmed there. Ron received his education attending country school near Lake Wilson, later attending Lake Wilson Public School.

On March 6, 1959, he and Patricia Triplett were married at Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin, MN. They made their home in Tracy following their marriage. In 1980 they moved into their new home on Lake Sarah, near Garvin, MN.

Ron was employed for 42 years with Tracy Equipment, Inc. In addition to being a mechanic, he was also the Service Manager. From his home, he ran his own shop, where he worked evenings and weekends.

His love of mechanics played an important part of his leisure time, as he rebuilt old tractors and collected John Deere toys. Ron was an active member of the Roaring Lyons Motorcycle Club and the Buffalo Ridge Two Cylinder Club. Other interests included old time dancing, motorcycling and boating with his grandchildren.

At the time of his death, he was a member of Lake Sarah Lutheran Church. Ron died unexpectedly on April 2, 2001. He was 61 years old.

He is survived by his wife Pat, Garvin, MN; his adoptive family, Judy and Dennis Alexander, grandchildren, Chris and Brandon Alexander, Tracy, MN; his mother, Elizabeth Holmbeck, Plato, MN; three sisters, June Stoterau, Glencoe, MN; Karen Nelsen, Hutchinson, MN; Carol Cliff, Blue River, WI; three brothers, Dick Holmbeck, Chaska, MN; Mel Holmbeck, Sioux Falls, SD; Bob Holmbeck, Gaylord, MN; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Marlo and Martha Triplett, Tracy, MN; his biological father, Lawrence Knee of Illinois; nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, and his son, Little Ronnie.

Interment was at the Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home handling arrangements.

Beverly Knakmuhs, 64

Funeral services were held on Friday, April 6, 2001 at Tracy Lutheran Church for Beverly J. Knakmuhs. Officiants were Rev. Marlene Elmstrom and Rev. Stephen Olson. Organist was Richard Stelter with Bonnie Kor as soloist.

Casket bearers were Tacy Knoblauch, Loren Knoblauch, Lynn Pauly, Marcy Fedde, Dennis Kor and Dale Kor.

Beverly Jean Knakmuhs was born May 24, 1936 to Jerry and Grace (Visker) Kor on the family farm in Shetek Township, Murray County, Minnesota. She lived most of her life in the Tracy area. Bev received her education attending Tracy Public School, graduating in the class of 1954.

On January 8, 1955, she and Howard E. Knakmuhs were married at Trinity Lutheran Church, Tracy, Minnesota. They first lived on a farm near Garvin, Minnesota before moving to a farm near Amiret, Minnesota during the mid-sixties. After a brief stay in Redwood Falls, MN, they moved into Amiret in 1982. Her husband, Howard, died in December of 1995. Bev continued to make her home in Amiret.

During her lifetime, she was employed by the City of Tracy, the Tracy Nursing Home, the Marshall Hospital and she also helped out at the Tracy Eagle's Club. Favorite leisure time activities included gardening, visiting the casinos, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Bev was a member of Tracy Lutheran Church and also a member of the Tracy Eagle's Club Aerie #3918.

Bev passed away April 2, 2001 at the age of 64 years.

Survivors include her daughter, Rose (Myron) Schulte of Amiret, MN; 4 grandchildren, Douglas Schulte, Amiret, MN; Jeremy (Carrie) Schulte, Wabasso, MN; Benjamin, (Teresa) Schulte, Wabasso, MN; Michelle Schulte, Amiret, MN; two-great-grandchildren, Chad and Jayden of Wabasso, MN; three brothers, Lewis (Muriel) Kor, Tracy, MN; Gerald (Marge) Kor, Amiret, MN; Rev. Henry (Bonnie) Kor, Mitchell, SD; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, Howard, and three brothers, Bud, Hap and Penny.

Interment was at Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home handling arrangements.