Obituaries from the week of April 18, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Harris Christians, 73

Services were held on Friday, April 13, 2001 for Harris Christians at Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton.

Harris Jean Christians was born October 28, 1927 to Cornelius and Wenalena (Odens) Christians in Little Rock, Iowa. He attended school near Sibley, Iowa and was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Harris joined the military in January of 1945 and was stationed in Japan until January of 1947.

On September 27, 1947 he married Mavis J. Johnson in Sibley, Iowa. The couple farmed by Little Rock and Ocheydan, Iowa until 1959, when they moved to Balaton, Minnesota. Harris drove school bus for 25 years, farmed and worked for Johnson's Electric Motor Repair. In 1980 he started his own electric repair business and worked it to the present time.

Harris was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Balaton, MN. His hobbies included fishing, playing cards and woodworking. He was especially fond of spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Harris died April 8, 2001 at the Weiner Memorial Hospital at the age of 73 years.

He is survived by his wife, Mavis; two sons, Lyle of Loveland, CO, Jerry (Deb) of Bonsall, CA; three daughters; Mary (Anders) Arvidson of Bonsall, CA; Lena (Paul) Plesnicher of Balaton, MN; Darnell of Fort Collins, CO; 10 grandchildren, Stacie (John) Hann of Fort Collins, CO, Kyl of Loveland, CO, Jessica of Bend, OR, Nathan of Bend, OR, Dana of Marshall, MN, Sonja of Eugene, OR, Travis of Balaton, Britten, Canton and Chaunti Shea of Fort Collins, CO; three great-grandchildren, Iain of Bend, OR, Noah of Bend, OR, Taylor of Marshall, MN; one brother, Elmer of George, IA.

He is preceded in death by his parents, six brothers and one son, Marvin Dale.

Almlie Funeral home of Balaton handled arrangements.

Carolyn Marti, 79

Carolyn (Casey) Victoria Marti (nee Case) of New Ulm, died Sunday, April 15, 2001 at the New Ulm Medical Center. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in New Ulm with burial to follow in the New Ulm City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the Firle Funeral Home in New Ulm, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Orient Chapter #60, Order of the Eastern Star service will be 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Carolyn Marti was born July 22, 1922 in New Ulm to Carl and Marie (Christensen) Case. She graduated from New Ulm High School in 1940 and was married to past president of the August Schell Brewing Company, Warren Alfred Marti on July 20, 1947. She was employed by the City of New Ulm and later the August Schell Brewing Company where she worked until retirement in 1987.

Carolyn was a member of Orient Chapter #60 Order of the Eastern Star and Past Matron's Club, Turner Ladies; Shrine Auxiliary; Brown County Historical Society; Humane Society; New Ulm Country Club; and very active in numerous bridge clubs.

She is survived by three sons and their families: Georg A. Marti and wife Paula (St. John) of Cambria, and children G. Adam, Frieda, John, Benjamin; Theodore W. Marti and wife Jodi (Evans) of Cambria, and children Jace, Kyle, Franz; Charles J. Marti and wife Gloria (Punchard) of Ostrander, Ohio and children Molly Hastings and Marcie and husband Paul Pfeiffer and their child Jeanette; and one great-grandchild, Toni Tauer; sister, Betty Norton of Lubbock, TX; sister-in-law, Carol (Marti) Langsjoen of Temple, TX and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Carl and Marie Case; husband, Warren A. Marti in 1993; sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Howard Schnobrich; sister-in-law and her husband, Cleo (Marti) and Harold (Brady) Bieraugel; nephew Tom Bieraugel; and brothers-in-law, Frank Marti, Richard Norton and Per Langsjoen.

Helen McClellan, 84

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 17, 2001 for Helen McClellan at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy, MN. Father Brian Mandel officiated with Richard Stelter as organist.

Casket bearers were Ric McClellan, Jason McClellan, Nate McClellan, Brian McClellan, Phil McClellan and Matt McClellan.

Helen Margaret McClellan was born on April 29, 1916 to Roney and Margaret (Illg) Thilges in West Bend, IA, Kossuth County. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith. She attended school in West Bend, IA and later in Currie at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School.

On October 18, 1936, Helen married Dale McClellan in Brookings, SD. They made their home in Tracy, MN. Helen and her husband owned and operated “Helen and Dale's Cafe” on main street in Tracy. She later worked for the Ben Franklin store and Ken's Super Valu.

She was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church and has been a member of the women's guilds. She enjoyed bird watching, flowers, gardening and cooking, but especially time spent with her family. Helen entered the Tracy Nursing Home in January of 2000, where she was a resident until her death on Saturday, April 14, 2001, at the age of 84.

Helen is survived by three sons, Dave and his wife Jan of New Ulm, MN, Brian and his wife Karen and Ric and his wife Mary Jo both of Fargo, ND; 10 grandchildren, Cathy, Jayne, Barb, Jason, Phil, Nate, Matt, Jessica, Patrick and Christie; six great-grandchildren; one son-in-law, Dave Thraen of Waynesville, NC; three sisters, Susie Knutson of Mesa, AZ, Margaret Haugen and Marie Thompson both of Hemet, CA; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her husband, parents, one daughter, Connie Thraen and three brothers, Albert, Robert and Edward preceded her in death.

Burial was at Calvary Cemetery, Tracy, MN with Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.

Luella Odden, 84

Services for Luella Odden were held on Monday, April 16, 2001 in Rock Valley Lutheran Church, rural Echo. Reverend Lowell H. Asplund officiated with Joan Johnson as organist and a vocal trio of Jeanne, Joe and Nick Vogel.

Pallbearers were Harry Iverson, David Pederson, Scott Pederson, Phillip Rachie, James Iverson and Paul Ims.

Luella Augusta Odden was born Monday, June 26, 1916 in Wood Lake, MN to William and Mabel (Batcher) Warnke. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Wood Lake. Luella attended Wood Lake Public School graduating in 1934. She then attended Mankato and Montevideo Teachers Training. She taught school for one year in Lewisville, MN and then returned to Wood Lake teaching in country schools near Wood Lake and Echo for 11 years.

On June 27, 1948 Luella was united in marriage to Alfred Odden at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They settled on the Odden family farm in Sioux Agency Township where she has lived since. She continued to substitute teach for over 20 years in the Echo School. Alfred died on May 2, 1981 and she continued to live on the farm and spent the last six winters in Tracy near her family.

She was a member of Rock Valley Lutheran Church, the W.E.L.C.A. at Rock Valley Church and had been active in the Ladies Aid. She also was a 4-H leader for a number of years. Luella enjoyed traveling, cooking, sewing, gardening, reading, and especially loved her grandchildren and spending time with them.

Luella died on Wednesday, April 11, 2001 at Weiner Memorial Hospital in Marshall at the age of 84 years, 9 months and 15 days.

She is survived by her daughter Muriel and son-in-law John Coulter of Tracy; four grandchildren, Emily, Andrew and twins Jackie and Jessica and two sisters-in-law, Frida Gunderson and Berdie Gniffke both of Bloomington.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Alfred and twin daughters, Frances and Faith.

Burial was at the Rock Valley Lutheran Cemetery with arrangements handled by the Sunset Funeral Home of Echo.

Mathilda A. Egle, 88

Funeral services were held at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Wabasso for Mathilda Egle. Father John Richter officiated with music by the St. Anne's Church Choir. Sherry Plaetz was organist.

Casket bearers were Dennis Zwach, Robert Sykora, Francis Goblirsch, John Zwach, Glen Soupir and Jeff Halfmann.

Mathilda “Tillie” Ann (Schueller) Egle was born February 26, 1913 to Mathias and Barbara (Dietz) Schueller in Wabasso, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and graduated from Wabasso High School in 1931. She was employed as clerk at Goblirsch's Store.

On July 5, 1950 Mathilda married Francis Egle at St. Mathias Catholic Church in Wanda, Minnesota. They made their home in the Wabasso area and she went to work as a postal clerk for Wabasso Post Office. She was a member of the Christian Mothers, St. Monica Society, St. Anne's Catholic Church Choir, church circle and the Wabasso American Legion Auxiliary. Mathilda enjoyed playing cards, gardening, sewing and various crafts.

She entered the Wabasso Nursing Home in April of 1997 and later entered Tracy Nursing Home in April of 1999, where she died Thursday, April 12, 2001 at the age of 88.

She is survived by her daughter, Theresa (Gary) Tholen; two granddaughters, Jenna and Krysta Tholen of Tracy, MN; one sister, Agnes Zwach of Marshall, MN; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Her husband, parents, and two sisters, Malanea and Mary preceded Mathilda in death.

Burial was at St. Anne's Catholic Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.