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

Donald Busch, 92

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 10, 2001 at 10:30 a.m. for Donald Peter Busch at St. Ann's Church in Slayton. Fr. Mark McNea officiated. Organist was Judy Andrews with Linnea Surprenant as song leader.

Pallbearers were Robert Mickelson, Greg Davis, Matthew Surprenant, Scott Woitaszewski, Randy Schmitz and Gary Eich.

Don Busch was born on July 30, 1908 at Paxton, IL to Andrew and Louise Bongartz Busch. The family moved to Minnesota in 1912 and Don grew up on various farms in the Reading, Wilmont and Slayton areas. He attended Reading Public School. He farmed with his father until he was married.

On February 8, 1937 he and Laura Schaffer were married at IHM Church in Currie, MN. Following their marriage they farmed in Leeds Township, Murray County near Hadley, MN for 48 years.

Don also worked for the ASCS office in Slayton, was a township assessor for Murray County and sold Jacques Seed Corn for many years.

They retired in 1973 and moved to Slayton in 1985. In 1997 they moved to the Sunrise Terrace Apartments. Don was a resident of the Slayton Manor for six months and in January 2001, he became a resident of Our House hospice home in Slayton and passed away there on July 7, 2001 at the age of 92.

He was a member of St. Ann's Church in Slayton and the Knights of Columbus, where he had served as financial secretary for many years. He also was a member of the Hadley Sportsmen's Club and Hadley Creamery Board and AMPI. He umpired semi-pro baseball in southwestern Minnesota during the 1940's and 50's. Don enjoyed playing cards, bingo, baseball, pool, doing puzzles, dancing and spending time with his family, friends and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Laura Busch of Slayton; six children and their spouses, Marilyn and Hilary Barry of Lake Wilson, MN, Maxine Davis of Mankato, MN, Myrna and Ralph Surprenant of Tracy, MN, Nancy and Allen Woitaszewski of Worthington, MN, Arlene and Don Schmitz of Slayton, MN, Jim Busch of Bedford, TX; nephew Bill Pniak and his wife Deb of Crystal, MN; two grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren and one brother Earl Busch and his wife Aggie of Tracy, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Mildred Sieve, Dorothy Pniak and Kathryn Eich; brother, Walter Busch; grandson Jay Davis; and son-in-law Charles Mickelson.

Interment was at St. Ann's Cemetery in Slayton, MN with the Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton handling arrangements

Dennis B. Jenson, 71

Dennis B. JensOn, age 71 of Westbrook, MN, died Monday, July 9, 2001 at the Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, MN.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 12, 2001 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wed., July 11 with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at the Almlie Funeral Home in Westbrook.

The Almlie Funeral Home of Westbrook is handling arrangements.

Florence E. Ries, 85

Florence E. Ries, 85, of Edina, MN passed away on July 7, 2001 at N.C. Little Hospice in Edina.

Visitation and memorial services were held on July 18 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Edina. Internment will be held on Fri., July 20 at Immaculate Conception (Oakridge) Church in Rollingstone, MN.

She was born on Feb. 24, 1916 in Tracy, MN to Thomas and Abigail Erickson.

Florence and Adrian P. Ries were married on May 24, 1938. He died on Oct. 22, 1982.

As a young adult, she was active in 4-H and in 1936 received the National Achievement Award from President Roosevelt. She attended the University of Minnesota and was a charter member of Clovia Society.

In 1952, Florence won the top prize in the Pillsbury Bake-Off for desserts.

Florence and Adrian lived in Sleepy Eye until 1965 when they moved to Edina. She retired from the Henkel Corporation after 17 years.

She was a very active member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and was an avid antique spoon collector.

She is survived by one daughter, Adrianne (Steve) Bertrand; three sons, Thomas (Marcia) of Edina, James (Corky) of Jackson, MN and Kevin (Dede Darling) of Edina; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild.

Joseph Fred West, 71
Joseph Fred West was born March 25, 1930 to Fred and Julia (Boyle) West at Slayton, MN. The family moved to Tracy and he attended Tracy Public Schools and graduated from Tracy High School in 1948.

He joined the Marine Corps in 1949 and served two years in Korea and was honorably discharged in 1956.
Joe and Arlene Cooreman were married on April 27, 1957 at St. Mary’s Church in Tracy. They made their home in Tracy for a short time and then moved to Pipestone where they lived until 1963. In 1963, they returned to Tracy to make their home.

Joe began working for Northern States Power Company in 1953 and spent 37 years in their employ until retiring in 1990.
Joe was a member of St. Mary’s Church, the Tracy American Legion and the Tracy Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He enjoyed fishing and playing cards.

He died suddenly on Sunday, July 8, 2001 at the Murray County Memorial Hospital at the age of 71 years.

Joe is survived by his wife, Arlene; six daughters and their husbands, Deb & Craig Zens of Lowry, MN, Becky & Tim Ryan of Falcon Heights, Lori & David Amundson of Dovray, Julie & Paul Thelen of Chaska, Pam & Chad Osland of Bingham Lake, Jill & Cory Johnson of Nicollet; one son Jim of Mesa, AZ; seven sisters, Mary Curtis, Carmel Brouillet & Alyce Miller all of Slayton, Pat Knuth & Joan Walters both of Tracy, Jerry Milewski of Mpls. and Theresa Tomsche of Melrose; 10 grandchildren, Joey & Paul Zens, Maggie & Molly Ryan, Manda, Shanell & Garett Amundson, Weston Osland, Hunter & Halle Johnson; nieces, nephews and many other relatives.

His parents and one sister, Betty preceded him in death.

Blessed be his memory.