Obituaries from the week of April 25, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Werner A. Kolbe, 80
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 2, 2001 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy, MN for Werner A. Kolbe. Mr. Kolbe passed away on Friday, April 20, 2001 at the Tracy Hospital.
Interment will be at the Tracy City Cemetery. Almlie Funeral Home, Tracy, is handling arrangements.
Alvin Liedtke, 76
Funeral services were held for Alvin Liedtke of Webster, SD on Friday, April 20, 2001 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Webster. The Rev. William Olsen officiated.
Alvin Ernest Liedtke was born May 8, 1924, to Ernest and Beulah (Clark) Liedtke in Glenham. When he was a small child, his family moved to Lemmon, where he attended school through his sophomore year. Because of the death of his parents he returned to Glenham to live with his mother's parents. He graduated from school there.
In February 1944 he entered the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After his discharge in 1946, he returned to Glenham. In September 1946 he began working for the Glenham Equity Exchange.
He married Viola Borth on June 22, 1947, in Herreid. They made their home in Glenham, and he continued to work for the Glenham Equity Exchange, where he was eventually promoted to assistant manager. In July 1956 they moved to Ipswich, where he was manager of Farmers Equity Elevator. In October 1958 they moved to Mobridge, where he worked for Farmland Industries as a territorial fieldman until September 1962. They then moved to Canton, where he was manager of Farmers Co-op Oil Company. In 1968 the couple moved to Webster, where he was manager of Community Oil Company for nine months and again worked with Farmland Industries as a territorial fieldman until his retirement in August 1986.
He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Webster, SD, where he served on the church council, was an usher and greeter. He was active in the scouting program, Lions Club, Herbert McKennett American Legion Post No. 40, where he was a past Commander, and also belonged to Webster Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4690.
He collected stamps and coins and gas pump globes. He loved to fish, hunt and travel and enjoyed sports.
Alvin died Tuesday, April 17, 2001 at his home.
Survivors include his wife of Webster; one son, Charles (Laura) Liedtke of Excelsior, MN; three daughters, Jan (Frank) Arvizu of Tracy, MN; Cynthia (Scott) Sikkink of Aberdeen and Cheryl (Howard) Miller of Marshall, MN and 11 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, one brother and one sister.
Burial was at the Webster Cemetery with military rites by Herbert McKennett American Legion Post No. 40 of Webster, SD. Fiksdal Funeral Service of Webster was in charge of arrangements.
Edna Medrud, 98
Funeral services were held on Friday, April 20, 2001 for Edna C. Medrud at the Tracy United Methodist Church in Tracy, MN. Pastor Alan Bolte officiated with Robin Medrud Thul as soloist, Allen Pierson, organist and Jolaine Price as pianist.
Casket bearers were her grandsons Andrew Medrud, Mark Medrud, Daniel Main, Jerry Blakesley, Jeffrey Blakesley, Wayne Medrud, Leonard Medrud, David Medrud and Doug Main.
Edna Caroline (Flickinger) Medrud was born December 28, 1902 to John and Suzie (Foulk) Flickinger in Freedom Township, Iowa. Shortly after her birth the family relocated to Tracy, Minnesota where Edna was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist Faith. She graduated from Tracy High School and attended one year of Normal School to become a teacher and taught in rural school.
On November 24, 1923 she married Nelder Medrud in Marshall, Minnesota and farmed in rural Tracy and Balaton area until 1958 when Nelder died. Edna then moved into Tracy and in September 1995 she entered the Tracy Nursing Home.
She was involved in the women's church circle, Service Club, and the VFW Auxiliary. Edna enjoyed growing roses, playing piano, reading and playing cards.
Edna died at the Tracy Nursing Home on April 17, 2001 at the age of 98.
She is survived by three sons; Nelder Jr. (Mariagnes) Medrud of Boulder, CO, Neil (Reta) Medrud of Milroy, MN, Steve (Janelle) Medrud of Redwood Falls, MN; one daughter, Lorraine (Boyden) Blakesley of McMinnville, OR; one son-in-law N. James Main of Orlando, FL.
Her husband, Nelder, daughter Elaine Main, two brothers, J.J. Flickinger, Clayton Flickinger, one sister, Alma (Flickinger) Sweeley and one grandson, Jay Blakesley preceded Edna in death.
Burial was at the Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.
Rose V. Swanson, 88
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 24, 2001 for Rose V. Swanson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton. Pastor Steven Quist officiated. Soloist was Michelle Wood with Lisa Lustfield as organist.
Casket bearers were Scott Swanson, Ryan Swanson, George Timmerman, Jessica Swanson, Chad Swanson, Kim Jennrich, Dale Schmidt and Nathan Swanson.
Honorary casket bearers were Maxine Timmerman, Esther Helmke, Mary Ahlschlager and Frankie Johnson.
Rose V. Swanson was born February 4, 1913 to Alfred and Signe (Wahlin) Sundquist in Lake Sarah Township, Lyon County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Bethany Lutheran Church in Lake Sarah Township. Rose attended country school until the 8th grade and then Balaton High School. Following high school she lived with her family on the farm in Lake Sarah Township.
On September 26, 1934 she married Fred Swanson and the couple made their home on a farm in Lake Sarah Township. In 1958 Rose and Fred bought a farm near Balaton where Rose resided until her death.
Rose was very active in many organizations, Christian Women, Ladies Aide, Meals on Wheels and various other volunteer activities. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening.
She died Saturday, April 21, 2001 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN at the age of 88.
Rose is survived by her two sons, Dennis (Virginia) of St. Paul, MN, Randy (Jane) of Cannon Falls, MN; one daughter-in-law, Kathy of Mahtomedi, MN; six grandchildren, Kim (Tom) Jennrich, Scott, Chad, Ryan, Nathan and Jessica; four great-grandchildren Matthew, Sarah, Iain and Noah; nieces, nephews and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Fred, son Gary, and brother, Arvid.
Interment was at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Balaton, MN with the Almlie Funeral of Balaton handling arrangements.
Russell Schmiesing, 70
Funeral services were held on Monday, April 23, 2001 for Russell G. Schmiesing at Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy, MN. Pastor Norman Madson officiated with Joanne Knott as organist.
Casket bearers were Brian Agather, John Houston, Randy Schmiesing, Gary Kramer, Bradley Schmiesing and Ken Agather.
Honorary casket bearers were Robert Struchen, Darrel Janssen, Bob Reiter, Curt Knapper, Melvin Koch, LaMoine Meyer, Ralph Hulke and Dick Bjerke.
Russell George Schmiesing was born August 24, 1930 to Harrison and Ida (Korschnick) Schmiesing in Redwood County, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He attended rural school and graduated from Walnut Grove High School, as a senior he went on to the state-wrestling tournament. He then continued to farm with his family near Lucan, MN.
On March 8, 1952 he married Fern Renneke in Redwood Falls, MN. The couple made their home on a farm near Lucan for 11 years. In 1964 they moved to a farm near Walnut Grove where they resided until his retirement in 1993, when they built their new home in Tracy, MN. Russell also was a DeKalb seed salesman for 25 years.
Russell was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy, MN. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, sports and playing cards.
Russell died April 20, 2001 at the Tracy Area Medical Services in Tracy at the age of 70.
He is survived by his wife, Fern; two sons, Doug and his wife, Becky of Walnut Grove, MN, Scott and his wife, Barb of Brodhead, WI; two daughters, Julie Schmiesing of Lake Elmo, MN, Sheri and her husband Doug Barber of Appleton, WI; one sister, Vila Kramer of Tracy, MN; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews and cousins.
Russell was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.
Interment was at the Johnsonville Township Cemetery, Lucan, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.
Ted Tietz, Jr., 70
Services for Ted Tietz Jr., of Walnut Grove were held on Wednesday, April 25, 2001 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove.
Ted was born Sept. 20, 1931 at Clements to Theadore and Lucy (Bierman) Tietz. The family moved to Walnut Grove when he was one year old, he was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. Jr. attended Red Rock District 45 Rural School. He farmed with his father until 1977 and he and his mother moved to Walnut Grove in 1978.
Jr. moved into the Walnut Grove Apartments in 1985 until 2000 when he entered the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy.
Jr. enjoyed cars, collecting pencils, caps and key chains. He loved to play cards and pool.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove.
Ted passed away on April 21, 2001 at the Tracy Hospital.
He is survived by two brothers: Leonard of Windom, Arnold of Kasson, MN; two sisters: Mrs. Ervin (Delores) Zimmer of Echo, MN, Mrs. Donald (Millie) West, Walnut Grove, MN; one sister-in-law, June Tietz, Walnut Grove, MN; 13 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother Kenny and one nephew.
Jacobson Funeral Home of Walnut Grove handled arrangements.