Obituaries from the week of September 12, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Oliver Albee, 83
Funeral services were held on Monday, September 10, 2001 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Marshall for Oliver W. Albee, age 83, of Amiret.
Oliver Wesley Albee was born to Annabell (Killius) and John Henry Albee on August 8, 1918 in Sodus Township, Lyon County, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist faith. He attended country school. He entered military service the 30th day of May 1942, serving in the Army-Air Corps. He was honorably discharged on November 10, 1945, (3 years, 6 & 1/2 months).
On February 17, 1948, Oliver married Carrie Menuey Prescott in the Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, SD. They farmed in Sodus Township until he retired in 1985, but remained on the farm and spending many winters in Apache Junction, AZ.
He enjoyed playing cards, old time music, dancing, fishing and just visiting with friends. Also watering John's calves and playing with the dogs. He was a gentle man - slow to anger, with a love for the outdoors and he always had a smile.
Oliver passed away at the Veterans Home in Luverne on Wednesday, September 5, 2001. He had reached the age of 83 years and 27 days.
He is survived by his wife, Carrie of Tracy; sons, Floyd & Betty (Paxton) of Rochester, Jim and Monica (Lipinski) of Marshall; and John of Tracy; daughters, Linda Shaw of Helena, Montana and Susan Schmidt of Hudson, Wisconsin; a sister, Mildred Wendorff of Tracy; foster children Gene and Elsa Wilson of Fort Leonardwood, Missouri and Ronnie Wilson of Colorado Springs, CO; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and five foster grandchildren.
Oliver was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lloyd and sisters, Viola Wendorff, June McDaniel and an infant sister.
Eileen Bisgaard, 73
Eileen Marion Bisgaard was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.
She was born on April 7, 1928 and passed away August 25, 2001 in Riverside, CA. She was the daughter of Leo and Lucy Klein.
Eileen is survived by four children, Russel, Kathy, Karen and Randy and 12 grandchildren and 2 in-laws, Donna Gullickson of Walnut Grove, MN and Bobby Bisgaard of Detroit, MI.
Her parents, her husband, Lyle and a granddaughter, Colleen preceded her in death.
Colette Gifford, 55
Services for Colette K. Gifford, 55, of Wessington Springs, SD, formerly of Balaton, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, 2001 at the United Methodist Church in Balaton. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Balaton, with a 7 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will continue Thursday, one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Balaton.
Pastor Thomas Booker will officiate the service with Peggy Bundy as soloist.
Casket bearers are Staci Terwilliger, Tiffany Ahlers, Scott Bosacker, Travis Bosacker, Leah Gifford and Julie Gifford.
Colette Kay Gifford was born October 23, 1945 in Tyler, Minnesota to Clair and Jane Gifford. She grew up in the Balaton area and graduated from Balaton High School in 1963. Colette then attended and graduated from Mankato State College in 1967 with a degree in Home Economics. She taught in Minneota, MN and St. Anthony High School in Minneapolis, MN.
In 1976, Colette and Tom Smolen were married at the Fort Snelling chapel in Minneapolis. They lived in various areas before moving to LeSueur, MN. Colette continued to do substitute teaching after her marriage. In 2000, she moved back to Balaton and most recently had moved to Wessington Springs, SD.
She had worked with the Boy Scouts for many years and was active in the preparation of the Balaton School Centennial and the 1985 Balaton Fashion Show. Colette had also served as a Sunday School teacher in the Methodist Church.
Colette was a very good interior decorator and enjoyed antiques and crafts.
Colette died Sunday, Sept. 9, 2001 at the Avera Weskota Memorial Center in Wessington Springs.
She is survived by her two sons, Nic Smolen of Minneapolis, MN and Ben Smolen of Kansas City, MO; her sons' father, Tom Smolen of Temple, TX; her mother, Jane Gifford of Balaton, MN; one brother, Craig Gifford of Balaton, MN; one sister Carol Swope of Marshall, MN; special friend, Larry Lang of Wessington Springs, SD; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her grandparents, father and an infant sister preceded her in death.
Cards and memorials may be directed to Craig Gifford, 1338 Lisa Lane, Balaton, MN 56115.
Patricia Stoneberg, 65
Mass of Christian burial was held for Patricia Stoneberg on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2001 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy, MN. Fr. Brian Mandel officiated with Carla VanDeWiele as cantor and Maydra Maas as organist.
Casket bearers were Mike Stimpert, Dean Stimpert, Mike Apitz, John Apitz, Tim Fromm and Bryan Apitz.
Patricia Ann Stoneberg was born June 28, 1936 to Arnold and Margaret (Ubl) Stimpert at Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. She grew up in Sleepy Eye and attended schools there, graduating from St. Mary's High School. Pat had been a member of the Sleepy Eye Drum and Bugle Corp, double quartet, choir and glee club during her high school years.
On October 9, 1954, Pat and Jerome Stoneberg were married at St. Mary's Church in Sleepy Eye. They made their home in Sleepy Eye and Redwood Falls before moving to Tracy in 1961.
Pat had worked as a secretary of St. Mary's School and helped out in the gym during school hours and was also a past employee of Minntronix, Inc. of Tracy.
Pat was a member of St. Mary's Church, St. Mary's CCW and the Tracy American Legion Auxiliary.
Pat enjoyed cooking, crossword puzzles, reading, playing the organ and spending time with her grandchildren.
Pat died on Tuesday, September 4, 2001 at Tracy Area Medical Services.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Bradley and Brenda Stoneberg of Tracy; one daughter and son-in-law, Deb and Mark Boulton of Porter, MN; five grandchildren; one sister, Joan Apitz of New Ulm, MN; two brothers and their wives, Merton “Bud” and Lillian Stimpert and Gerald and Rosie Stimpert all of Sleepy Eye, MN; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her parents, husband, Jerome; two daughters, Lori and Terese, and one sister, Jean preceded her in death.
Burial was at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Sleepy Eye, MN with arrangements handled by Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy.
Lois M. Anderson, 77
Mass of Christian Burial was held for Lois Anderson on Friday, Sept. 7, 2001 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Walnut Grove, MN. Father Brian Mandel officiated.
Honorary pall bearers were Kate Gregg, Trish Anderson and Angie Anderson.
Pall bearers were Mike Anderson, Tim Anderson, Danny Anderson, Dean Anderson, Tom Gregg and Doug Hanson.
Lois M. Anderson was born on January 31, 1924 the daughter of Guy & Esther (Myers) Hanson at Heron Lake, MN. She attended school at Heron Lake then moved to Tracy to work at the Old Hospital as a nurse's aid, she also helped her aunt and uncle in their restaurant called “The Eat Shop” where she met her husband Vince Anderson. They were married on August 27, 1946. After they were married they moved to Walnut Grove and to this union three children were born.
Lois was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, the circles and the American Legion Auxiliary. Lois could always be counted on to lend a helping hand where ever needed in the community. One of her fondest memories involved camping and traveling in the motor home. Lois loved to fish and often took her grandsons to Lake Laura for bullhead fishing. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and was always interested in what they were doing and would surprise them with presents. Christmas was her favorite time of the year, the cooking and decorating of the real tree and shopping were things she enjoyed. She loved all kinds of crafts and was well known for her butter cream mints, and there was a great demand for them for weddings. She loved to watch the birds, play card games and was very lucky at Bingo.
Lois passed away on Monday, September 3, 2001.
Lois is survived by her husband, Vince; two sons Gary of Lafayette, CO, Larry and wife, Kathy of Brandon, SD, daughter Julie and husband Larry Gregg of Marshall, MN and a stepson Bruce Mix of Rochester, MN; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; three brothers and one sister.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings.
Interment was at Calvary Cemetery, Walnut Grove, MN. Jacobson Funeral Service of Walnut Grove handled arrangements.