Obituaries from the week of December 19, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Eileen Engles, 75
Memorial services were held for Eileen L. (Severson) Engles, on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2001 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Spokane, WA. Pastor Phyllis Todd officiated.
Eileen was born on May 27, 1926 in Tracy, MN to George and Ida (Donner) Engles. She attended school and graduated from Tracy High School. In 1957 she moved with her family to Spokane. She attended Spokane Community College for one year to receive a License Practical Nurse Degree in 1960.
She was employed for 30 years as a LPN at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, WA. She retired in 1990.
Eileen was a44-year member of Trinity United Methodist church and a member of Eagles Lodge Aerie #2.
She is survived three daughters, Sandra K. Wood, Dawn M. Kelp, both of Spokane, WA, Pamela R. Denton, Chattaroy, WA; two sons, Doug D. Severson, Medical Lake, WA, Dean Severson, Spokane, WA; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one sister, Wannita Rose, Woodinville, WA.
She was preceded in death by a son, George Tracy Severson in 1982.
Gerald Hamilton, 78
Funeral services were held on Monday, December 17, 2001 for Gerald E. Hamilton at Tracy Lutheran Church. Rev. Stephen Olson and Rev. Marlene Elmstrom officiated. Richard Stelter was organist and Bill Elmstrom was soloist.
Honorary bearers were Jem Hamilton, J Hamilton, Stephanie Hamilton, Melanie Hamilton, Merle Hamilton and Jerry Engesser.
Gerald E. Hamilton was born October 27, 1923 to Henry L. and Lillian (Carlson) Hamilton in Holly Township, Murray County, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. Gerald grew up in the southwest area farming with his family. They settled near Pipestone and he graduated from high school there.
He entered the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Lakehurst, NJ until his discharge. On December 20, 1949 Gerald married Gloria Mae Starken in Lamberton, MN and they made their home in Minneapolis, MN. Shortly after they were married Gerald enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany, where his wife was able to join him. He served out the Korean War in Germany and reached the rank of Master Sergeant. After his discharge from the Army, they came back to the states to Vandalia, IL and later to Effingham, IL where Gerald worked as an electrical technician for the FAA. He then was transferred to Lafayette and Battleground, IN as a Sector Field Office Chief until his retirement in 1980.
While in Battleground, Gerald was a volunteer fireman, EMT and an arson investigator.
Gerald enjoyed woodworking and computers, especially building systems.
On December 12, 2001, Gerald died at the Bethesda Rehabilitation Hospital in St. Paul, MN at the age of 78.
He is survived by his mother, Lillian in St. Paul, MN; one son, Glenn and his wife Susan of Eagan, MN; one daughter, Geana Hamilton of Tracy, MN; four grandchildren, Stephanie and Melanie of Eagan, MN, Jem of Eagan, MN and J of Tracy, MN: one sister Judy Hamilton of Forest Lake, MN: two brothers-in-law; three sisters-in-law; one niece, Kim Tomek of St. Paul, MN and one nephew, John Wangen of Minneapolis, MN.
His father, Henry, and wife Gloria preceded him in death.
Interment was in Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.
Viona Mae Pagel, 82
Funeral services were held on Friday, Dec. 14, 2001 for Viona Pagel at the Church of Christ in Tracy. Pastor Homer Dobson officiated.
Casket bearers were Bradley Pagel, Emil Pagel, Darrin Goettig, Brian Pagel, Tony Platcek and Jason Woodford.
Viona Mae Pagel was born November 3, 1919 to Herman and Laura (Saathoff) Dunteman. She grew up on a farm in Amiret Township. She attended school in Amiret thru the 11th grade.
On June 11, 1937, Viona married Emil Pagel in Brookings, SD. They made their home and raised their children on a farm in Amiret Township.
After her husband died she moved into Tracy and worked in the housekeeping department at the Tracy Hospital for ten years and after retiring she enjoyed her pastimes of gardening, crocheting and babysitting for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Viona died on Friday, December 7, 2001 at the age of 82 years, one month and four days.
Survived by children Darrell (Kay) Pagel, Loretta (Wayne) Rains, Wallace Pagel, Marlene (Eldon) Platcek; grandchildren Bradley Pagel, Brian Pagel, Emil Pagel, Tony Platcek, Elizabeth Lichtsinn, Sara Goettig, Augusta Platcek, Christopher Platcek; great-grandchildren Samantha Platcek, Jacob Pagel, Austin Goettig, Andrew Lichtsinn; sisters Annola (Nook) Pagel, Rosalyn Zvorak, Laureen Harris; sisters-in-law Lilly Edward, Barb Stromsvold; many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, an infant son, her parents and a brother.
Interment was at the Amiret Cemetery with Jacobson Funeral Service handling arrangements.
Charles L. Friberg, 72
Funeral services for Charles (Chuck) L. Friberg, 72, of Tracy, MN will be held on Thurs., Dec, 20, 2001.
The 11 a.m. service will be held at Tracy Lutheran Church, officiated by Rev. Stephen Olson and Rev. Marlene Elmstrom. Soloist is William Elmstrom and organist is Richard Stelter.
Casketbearers are Michael Cronin, Todd Schweer, Robert Brix, William Kingston, James Keul and Michael Ground. Honorary casketbearers are Elsmore Friberg, Donald Rolloff, Sean Cronin, Howard Enderson, Douglas Grund and Ryan Cronin.
Interment will be held at Indherred Cemetery in Starbuck, MN. Arrangements are being handled by Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy, MN.
Charles (Chuck) L. Friberg was born December 31, 1928 to Albertine and Ednah (Nelson) Friberg in Montevideo, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Chuck grew up in Clarkfield, MN where he attended public schools, graduating from Clarkfield High School in 1946. As a young man he had a paper route, worked in a grocery store and enjoyed playing football. He then attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN for one year and then entered the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN, majoring in Geology.
In March of 1951 he entered the US Army and was discharged in 1953 as a Corporal. After he returned home, he attended SDSU in Brookings, SD and graduated from the School of Pharmacy in the summer of 1957.
On June 26, 1954, Chuck married Nadine (Peggy) Bagne in Glenwood, MN. After finishing college in Brookings, Chuck moved his family to Fergus Falls, MN where he took his first job as a pharmacist in a drugstore until 1959. From 1959 to 1964 he worked at Sward-Kemp Drug in Springfield, MN and from 1964 to 1967 he was pharmacist at Heil Drug in Hutchinson, MN. In 1967 he went into partnership with Robert Brix of Clara City, MN, and together they acquired Bruce Kirkpatrick's Drugstore in Tracy, MN, renamed Brix Drug. He operated Brix Drug from 1967 until 1996, when he retired. He also was part owner in Brix Drug in Redwood Falls, MN with Robert Brix and Ron Rolloff.
Chuck was a Lion's Club member, past president of Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce, a Mason, and Boss of the Year in 1987. He was a member of the Tracy Lutheran Church, ushered for many years and participated in the emergency rescue and other assistance after the Tracy tornado in 1968.
His interests included golfing, coin collecting, gardening, football and baseball. He also had a knack for cooking, known as 'Chef Charles' to family and friends, was a pilot while living in Springfield and liked working on his computer.
Chuck died Saturday, December 15, 2001 at his home in Marshall at the age of 72.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy; two daughters, Nancy (William) Kingston of Ramsey, MN, Wendy (Michael) Cronin of Dayton, OH; two grandsons, Sean and Ryan Cronin of Dayton; one brother, Elsmore (Buster) Friberg of Richfield, MN; one sister, Geraldine Millemaci of Mesa, AZ; two sisters-in-law, Inez Hendrickson of Marshall, MN and Genell (Douglas) Grund of New London, MN; nieces, nephews and many beloved friends.
His parents and one sister, Gloria Nylander preceded him in death.