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Obituaries from the week of February 28, 2001

Georgia Hein, 84

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2001 for Georgia Mabel Van Klei Hein at the Jacobson Funeral Home in Tracy.

Georgia was born in Iowa on December 2, 1916 the daughter of William A. and Hattie Krueger Van Klei.

She was united in marriage to John Christopher Hein in July of 1975 at Balaton, MN and they made their home there. John passed away March 10, 1976.

Georgia was a very loving person, also a person that had a very difficult life, in her later years, after the death of her husband John, she spent her time in various nursing homes, the latest being the Valley View Manor in Lamberton.

She liked to read and play Bingo.

Georgia passed away Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001 at the Valley View Manor in Lamberton after a lingering illness.

She is survived by one step son John and one step-daughter Mrs. Clifford (Roberta) Beach of Slayton, MN; seven-half brothers and sisters: Mathilda Van Klei Kubica, Avoca, MN; William “Ike” Van Klei, Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton, MN, Zelma Van Klei Benson, Maple Grove, MN; Jean Van Klei Waage, Maple Plain, MN, Hazel Van Klei Molitor, Lynd, MN, John Kenneth Van Klei, Wichita, KS, Jesse M. “Pete” Van Klei, Fox Lake, IL; also several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her second husband, John Hein and her son Leo Wayne Reilly from a previous marriage and her parents.

Interment was at the East-West Holman Twp. Cemetery at Sibley, IA.

Jacobson Funeral Home of Tracy handled arrangements.

Peter Roby, 91

Memorial services were held on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2001 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook for Peter (Pete) M. Roby.

Peter was born on April 4, 1909 to Charles and Mary (Paulson) Roby near Storden, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethany English Lutheran Church in Storden. He attended country school through the 8th grade and then went on to work as a hired man at various farms in North Dakota and Minnesota. Farming and agriculture became his lifelong occupation, including a trucking business hauling livestock, operating a feed grinding service and raising cattle and grain with his son, Donn. He retired in 1973 after Donn's death, but continued to raise cattle until 1975.

He was united in marriage to Edelyn Peterson on December 23, 1932. They made their home in Westbrook, MN where they raised two children, Donn and Bette. Edelyn passed away in November of 1974. He married Alice Weis on August 30, 1980 at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Iowa. They made their home in Worthington, MN where Pete enjoyed selling produce at “the corner” for man years. He was know far and wide for his potatoes and watermelons, and his fun and generous spirit.

He enjoyed playing cards, especially pinochle, watching baseball (he was a lifelong Dodger fan), talking politics, and always kept up on the farm markets. He loved to tease and kid around and never lost his sense of humor.

He entered Crossroads Care Center, Worthington in August of 1998, and resided there until his death on February 21, 2001. The love and care that he received at Crossroads was truly a blessing to him and his family.

He is survived by his wife, Alice; daughter Bette (Neil) Toso, Mahnomen, MN; granddaughter Lynn (Joel) Swanson and great-grandchildren Nathan and Sarah Swanson, Walnut Grove, MN; step-daughters Barbara (Jim) Fowler and Beverly (Francis) Cohrs of Westbrook, MN; step-sons Lloyd (Kathy) Schweim, Westbrook and David (Ann) Weis, Decatur, IL; 17 step-grandchildren and 11 step-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Edelyn, son Donn, sister Anna and brother Rudy.

Westbrook Funeral Home handled arrangements.

David W. Mix, 71

Funeral services were held for David W. Mix on Monday, February 26, 2001 at Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy, MN. Rev. Norman B. Madson officiated with Joanne Knott as organist. Casket bearers were Tony Doom, Dennis Hayes, Kevin Engelkes, Steve Blanchette, Raymond Hay and Bryan Hayes.

Honorary casket bearers were Art Holstein, Les Onken, Marlowe Lindstrom, Norman Madson, Dale Krog, Clint Peterson, David Abernethy, and Howard Enderson.

David W. Mix was born in Austin, MN to Winford and Eva (Peterson) Mix on Juy 13, 1929. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, MN. Dave graduated from Austin High School in 1947 and earned his Associate of Arts degree from Austin Junior College in 1949. He met Vivian Sampson while the two were members in the church choir. Dave and Vivian were married at St. Olaf Lutheran Church on July 22, 1950. Dave worked for J.C. Penney Co. before being drafted into the army. He served two years at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. After his discharge in 1954, he and Vivian returned to Austin where he resumed his employment with J.C. Penney. While employed by the Penney company, he worked in various stores in the Midwest before accepting the manager position in Tracy's store in 1961. In 1967 he purchased Culligan Water Conditioning, and operated this business until his retirement in 1994.

Dave was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of Tracy. Throughout his life, he served in many church leadership positions but he especially enjoyed singing church music. Last summer Dave and Vivian celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Dave was active in community affairs all his adult life. While in Tracy he served on many boards and councils and was active in the Kiwanis Club and Tracy Chamber of Commerce for almost 40 years. He enjoyed family activities, golf, singing in the Marshall Area Men's Chorus, photography, sports events of all kinds, and engaging people in conversation.

Dave passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2001.

He is survived by his wife, Vivian; three daughters, Connie (Arlen) Knott, Walnut Grove, MN, Susan (Terry) Dolan, Edina, MN, Barbara (Brad) Hennen, Ghent, MN; 11 grandchildren, and one brother, Robert (Lois) Mix, Duluth, MN.

He was preceded in death by his infant daughter Lea Ann (1953) and son Paul (1972), and his parents.

Interment was at Tracy City Cemetary with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.

Ronald Thompson, 60

Services will be held on Friday, March 2, 2001 at 10:30 a.m. for Ronald Dale Thompson at the Church of Christ in Tracy, MN. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, 2001 with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. in the Almlie Funeral Home, Tracy. Interment will be in the Tracy City Cemetery.

Ron passed away on Monday, February 26, at the Tracy Area Medical Services in Tracy.

Almlie Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Helga Van Acker, 84

Memorial services for Helga C. Van Acker will be held March 3, 2001 at 2 p.m. at Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be March 4, 2001 at 1 p.m. at Ft. Snelling Ntl. Cemetery in Minneapolis with full military honors.

Helga C. VanAcker was born October 16, 1916 to Niels Frederick and Jorene (Sorensen) Petersen in Tyler, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler and graduated from Tyler High School. After graduation she worked as an aide in the Tyler hospital for 3 years. She then joined the Navy and served for three years as a nurse where she received her nurses training. After her service in the Navy she returned to this area and worked at the hospitals in Tyler and Tracy.

She was united in marriage to Walter Van Acker on June 28, 1952 in Ghent, MN. They made their home in Marshall. She worked for Weiner Memorial Hospital for many years as a nurse and later for Dr. Taintor until she retired. Her husband died in 1997. She enjoyed birds, music and flowers and reading.

She is survived by her sisters Victoria Petersen of San Francisco, CA, Emma Powell of Vancouver, WA and her husband Norman Powell; brothers Jerome Petersen of San Francisco, CA and Harald Petersen of Tyler; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three sisters and one brother.

Tyler Area Funeral Home/Kulow Funeral Service is handling arrangements.