Obituaries from the week of September 19, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Evelyn Haney, 81
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 18, 2001 at the Hamilton-Birk Funeral Home for Evelyn M. Haney of Marshall. Evelyn passed away at the Weiner Memorial Medical Center on Saturday, Sept. 15. She reached the age of 81 years, 7 months and 21 days.
Evelyn Mae Haney was born to David and Ethel (Jones) Harris in Custer Township on January 25, 1920. She attended country school in Custer Township and Tracy High School, graduating in 1938.
On February 4, 1940, Evelyn was united in marriage to Joseph Haney in Worthington, MN. She was a former member of the Methodist Church in Tracy and Marshall and sang in the choir. During her life, she was employed as a clerk at Red and White Grocery in Tracy, the Marshall Produce and at F.W. Woolworths in Marshall for 18 years. She was an excellent seamstress and did alterations for many years. She touched many lives through her gift of sewing. Evelyn was also a member of the Eagles Auxiliary.
Evelyn's enjoyments in life were sewing, crocheting, cross-stitch and canning fruits and vegetables. She and Joe went to at least one dance every week for many years. They also enjoyed listening to country music. She was devoted to her family and loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Joseph of Marshall; two sons, Richard (Mary) and David (Lisa), both of Marshall, and one daughter, Darlys (Don) Brewers of Marshall; 6 grandchildren: Debbie Schraffran, Stacy Brewers, Denise Birman, Angela Hughes, Joseph Haney and Ed Haney; and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
The family prefers all Memorials be given to the “Hospice House” project of Prairie Home Hospice.
Burial was in the Custer Cemetery with the Hamilton-Birk Funeral Home of Marshall handling arrangements.
Roman G. Zwach, 87
Roman G. Zwach, age 87 of Wabasso, formerly of Milroy, died Sunday, September 16, 2001 in the Redwood Area Hospital in Redwood Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 21, 2001 in St. Michael's Catholic Church in Milroy with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday and continue Friday one hour prior to services at the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Milroy. There will be a parish prayer service Thursday evening at 7 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus Rosary in the church. Military rights will be conducted by the Milroy American Legion Post 274 at the cemetery.
The Sunset Funeral Home of Echo is handling the arrangements.
Gerald Rykhus, 77
Funeral services were held on Monday, September 17, 2001 for Gerald "Pat" Rykhus at the Church of Christ in Tracy, MN. Rev. Homer Dobson officiated with Eleanor Hewitt as organist.
Casket bearers were Dan McDonough, David Buysse, Harvey Rykhus, James Quigley, Eugene Olson and David Rykhus.
Gerald Oscar "Pat" Rykhus was born March 3, 1924 to Ole and Mabel (Drake) Rykhus in Holly Township of Murray County, Minnesota. He was baptized in the Christian faith and as a young boy attended country school in Holly Township.
Pat's first job was working on the railroad and then began farming with his father.
Pat was married to Luella Hay on December 21, 1943 and they made their home on various farms until 1967 when they moved to Custer Township. Pat farmed for many years and then worked as a mechanic in several different garages. He was employed at Rupp Construction in Slayton until he retired in 1987. In 1988, he and Luella raised vegetables and sold locally for about six years. In 1997, they moved to Belgrade to make their home.
Pat enjoyed gardening, farming, auctions, fishing, hunting, bird watching and visiting with family and friends. Pat always had a new joke to tell.
He died on Thursday, September 13, 2001, at St. Michael's Hospital in Sauk Centre, Minnesota, at the age of 77 years.
Pat is survived by his wife, Luella of Belgrade, MN; two sons, Ronald of New London, MN and Arnold and his wife, Kim of Belgrade, MN; one brother, Don and wife Vivian of Tracy, MN; one sister, Shirley "Dolly" Hall of Virginia, MN; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins.
His parents, one brother, Harold "Mike", two sisters, Ethel "Sis" Peterson and Mildred Sorbel preceded him in death.
Interment was at the Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.
John T. Ankrum, 62
John T. Ankrum of Redwood Falls died Tuesday, September 11, 2001 at his home. Funeral services were held at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls. Nelson-Martin Funeral Home in Redwood Falls is in charge of the arrangements.
John Thomas Ankrum was born April 22, 1939 in Lake Sara Township, Murray County to William and Stella (Smarzik) Ankrum. He resided with his family on a farm and attended Tracy schools, graduating from Tracy High School in 1956. John moved to Redwood Falls in 1968. John was once married to Kathy Ankrum. On November 24, 1982, John married Beverly Marie Gokey in Redwood Falls. John was employed at the Redwood Falls Farmers Elevator for 25 years, retiring from Meadowland Farmers Elevator in 1999. He had been employed at Jackpot Junction for the past 11 years; full-time since 1999. He was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. John was a volunteer fireman and ambulance driver from 1972 until 1989. He enjoyed bowling, pool and working with wood.
John is survived by his wife Beverly Marie Ankrum of Redwood Falls; and seven children Scott Ankrum and wife Deb of Minneapolis, Robert Skogstad of Kansas, Barbie Skogstad of Redwood Falls, Janay Nordby of Coon Rapids, Ann Brown of St. Peter and Scott Gokey of Chicago. Also surviving are 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by a sister Sylvia Keleher in 1993 and a step-son Ken Skogstad in 1996
Beulah Nelson, 88
Funeral services were held on Thurs., Sept. 6, 2001 for Beulah F. Nelson at Sillerud Lutheran Church in Balaton, MN. Pastor Steven Quist officiated with Raymond Nelson as soloist and Donna Swan as organist.
Casket bearers were Don Nelson, Bob Nelson, Gary Hansen, Larry Hansen, Roger Schave and Jerry Dean Miller. Honorary casket bearers were William Carlson, Vi Carlson, Leonard Lohre, Doris Lohre, Gilbert DeZeeuw and Elvina DeZeeuw.
Beulah F. Nelson was born September 4, 1912 to Willis and Bird (Drake) Greenman on a farm south of Garvin, MN in Murray County, Minnesota.
In 1919, at the close of World War I, when the influenza epidemic spread over the country, and doctors had no cure, Beulah's father and mother both died of the dreaded disease, only five days apart. The six young children were given homes with relatives in the area. Beulah went to live with her mother's sister and husband, Elizabeth and Ed Jennings at Tracy, when she was five years old.
Beulah went to grade school and high school in Tracy and after she graduated, she attended Mankato State Teacher's College. After receiving her teaching degree, she taught in country schools in Lyon County and then in the Balaton Elementary School where she taught grades 4, 5, and 6 and was the elementary principal from 1954 to 1974.
On March 20, 1964, Beulah and Marlow Nelson were married at the Presbyterian Church in Balaton. They lived on their farm south of Balaton until 1980 when they moved into Balaton. In 1990 they moved into the Circle Pines Apartments in Balaton. She was a member of Sillerud Lutheran Church and had been active in church work.
After their retirements, they traveled to Arizona, Texas and Florida for the winter months, and made two trips to Alaska with their car and trailer.
Her interests included crotcheting, quilting, gardening and enjoying visiting with everyone, especially with family.
Beulah died on Monday, September 3, 2001 at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton.
She is survived by her husband, Marlow; three children, Bob and Don of Monticello, MN and Marlys Schave of Park Rapids, MN; seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Beulah and Marlow also fostered two girls, Kay and Loretta Johnson for several years. They are married and both live in Tracy. Other survivors include nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her parents, step-parents, four brothers and one sister preceded her in death.
Interment was at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Balaton, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton handling arrangements.