Obituaries from the week of May 22, 2002
Virgil Anderson, 86
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 24, 2002 at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove, MN for Virgil Anderson. Rev. Paul Carlson will officiate. Organist will be Nancy Harnack.
Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at the church until the time of the service at 11 a.m.
Honorary casket bearers are Scott Anderson, Todd Anderson, Ric Anderson, Stacey White, Jennifer Anderson, Amy Anderson, Anthony Williams and Mori Matthies.
Active casket bearers are Mark Anderson, Mary Hewitt, Michael Anderson, Ronald Prouty, Stephanie Doan, Thomas Anderson, Daniel Heggerston and Nichole Matuska.
Virgil Emith Anderson was born September 16, 1915 to William and Alice (Faltinson) Anderson in Murray County, MN. He attended country school and was confirmed on May 19, 1929 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Westbrook, MN.
He was united in marriage to Nina Addison on September 28, 1937 in Sioux Falls, SD. He farmed until retiring.
Virgil loved working the farm land. He was a member of the Elevator Board of Directors in Revere for ten years, the Tracy Country Club for 28 years, as well as serving on the board, and a member of the church council and building committee at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. He was member of the Masons and the Lions Club.
His hobbies included golfing and watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings on television. He spent 24 winters in Arizona, so he could enjoy golf year round and avoid Minnesota cold winters.
Virgil Emith Anderson died on May 19, 2002 at Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy, MN at the age of 86 years, 8 months and 3 days.
He is survived by his children, Allan (Alyce) Anderson of Albert Lea, Dale (Helen) Anderson of Walnut Grove, Judith (Mike) Anderson of Garner, IA, Joanne (Ned) Doan of Idaho, Jeanette (Bob) Heggerston of Walnut Grove, Jerald (Sheryl) Anderson of San Antonio, TX; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Vivian, Inez and Avis.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers and one sister and son Ronald.
Interment will be in the Walnut Grove Cemetery with the Walnut Grove Funeral Home handling arrangements.
Lesia Baird, 38
Funeral services were held today, Wednesday, May 22, 2002 for Lesia Marie (Cochran) Baird at Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin, MN. Rev. Bruce Carlson officiated. Organist was Karen Sanderson-Buschow with Shanna Lowe as soloist.
Honorary casket bearers were Adam Tomschin, Keith Engelkes, Bradley Hohner, Hunter Gilb, Quantin Cochran, Brandon Engelkes, A.J. Laasch and Andrew Laatsch.
Casket bearers were Ervin Westphal Jr., Ervin Westphal III, Ronald Westphal, Lonnie Cochran, Kevin Engelkes, Todd Gilb, Todd Willavage and Jason Werhanowitz.
Lesia Marie Baird was born February 18, 1964 in Slayton, MN to Ralph Howard and Kay Virginia (Baumann) Cochran. She was baptized at Currie Presbyterian Church and confirmed at Tracy Presbyterian. She attended Tracy Public School. She worked at Prairie River in Tracy, the Red Rooster and Prairie View Healthcare Center as a CNA.
Lesia was united in marriage to Kurt Baird on June 16, 2001. They moved to Fox Lake, WI where they bought a home and she worked at Davies Consulting. Her hobbies including gardening, fishing, bird watching, shopping and camping.
Lesia died on Saturday, May 18, 2002 at Portage, WI at the age of 38 years.
She is survived by her parents, Ralph and Kay Cochran of Tracy; husband Kurt of Fox Lake, WI; daughters Heather and Holly of Fox Lake, WI; granddaughters Rachel and Arianna; grandparents Hermina Leysen of Slayton and Archie and Vi Baumann of Wells; siblings Lori (Todd) Gilb of Walnut Grove, Linda (Kevin) Engelkes of Tracy and Lonnie (Jolene) Cochran of Tracy; numerous nieces, nephews, friend and relatives.
She was preceded in death by her great-grandmother Thea Anderson and grandfather William Leysen.
Interment was in the Willow Lake Cemetery, Shetek Township, Murray County. The Tracy Area Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Darwin Anderson, 46
Funeral services were held today, May 22, 2002, for Darwin D. Anderson at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Balaton, MN. Reverend Mark Zander officiated. Soloists were Danna Evans, Ashley Evans, Stephanie Evans and Gayra Ostgaard. Lois Zander was organist.
Honorary casket bearers were Luke Ostgaard, Gayra Ostgaard, Stephanie Evans, Brendan Rokke, Danna Evans, Ashley Evans, Ryan VanEck and Mic Ostgaard.
Darwin Danny Anderson was born January 29, 1956 to Ivan and Margaret (Huck) Anderson in Tracy, MN. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Balaton, MN. Darwin lived in Russell, MN, attended Russell Public School and graduated high school in Hawaii.
In 1974 Darwin joined the United States Navy, where he worked on aircraft carriers with catapults and arresting gear, and he was also a firefighter. He was a Vietnam Veteran, and served in the Nicaraguan Conflict and Persian Gulf War. During his 20 year Navy career he traveled the world, including Australia, Philippine Islands, Japan, Thailand, China, Kuwait and many more different countries. He received an honorable discharge in 1994 as an E-6. During this time he made his home in Seattle, WA; Falon, NV; Hawaii, and the Philippines.
On December 6, 1994 Darwin married Heannette Dael at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Balaton, MN. The couple made their home in the Russell area.
After his retirement from the Navy, Darwin returned home to Russell and drove truck for Floyd Wild and Veismann Trucking companies. In 1999 he was forced to retire from working due to illness.
Darwin was a lifelong member of St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Balaton. He also belonged to the Russell American Legion. He enjoyed visiting, laughing, being with friends and family, fishing, golfing, playing cards (cribbage) and automative repair.
Darwin battled cancer for over 5 years and lost the battle on May 19, 2002. He touched many lives during his short time with us and brought a smile to all. He will be greatly missed by all.
He is survived by one son, Chris MacIvan Anderson of Indianapolis, IN; one daughter, Dawn April Anderson, also of Indianapolis; three sisters, Marjorie (Stephen) Ostgaard of Tracy, MN; Dawn (Loren) Evans of Balaton, MN; Lynn Magnuson of Fort Collins, CO; one brother, Alan Magnuson of Tracy, MN; and his parents, Ivan and Mary Lou Anderson of Tracy, MN.
His mother and grandparents precede Darwin in death.
Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton handled the arrangements.
Gerald T. Kor, 61
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 for Gerald T. Kor, at Tracy Lutheran Church. Reverend Stephen Olson and Reverend Marlene Elmstrom officiated. Eileen Schimming was the organist.
Casket bearers were Shannon Christensen, Harvey Rykhus, Mike Bergland, Dave Petersen, Ron Nelson, Jon Wakefield, Lee Shaw and Janet Breczinski.
Gerald Theodore Kor was born August 14, 1940 to Jerry and Grace (Visker) Kor in Tracy, MN. He was baptized March 18, 1945 and confirmed on August 28, 1955 in the Lutheran faith. He attended country school and then Tracy Public School.
After his schooling he worked and lived on the Firmin Verlinde Farm.
On June 21, 1958 Gerald married Marjorie Buysman at the Presbyterian Church in Tracy, MN. The couple continued to live and work on the Verlinde farm. In the early 1970's Gerald and Marjorie moved to Amiret and Gerald began working for Amiret Grain and did so for thirty years. He was a member of Tracy Lutheran Church.
Gerald enjoyed bird watching, gardening, collecting John Deere toys and memorabilia, but most of all spending time with his family and friends.
Gerald died Friday, May 17, 2002 at Weiner Memorial Hospital in Marshall at the age of 61.
He is survived by his wife, three daughters, Tacy (Loren) Knoblauch of Tracy, MN, Lynn (Tom) Pauly of Chanhassen, MN, Marcy and her fiancé, Don Elhard of Fargo, ND; two sons, Dennis (Nadine) of Minneota, MN, Dale (LaShay) of Ruthton, MN; eight grandchildren, Rory, Jill, Kayla, Lindsy, A.J., Collin, Seth and Kirsten; two brothers, Henry (Bonnie) of Mitchell, SD, Lewis (Muriel) of Tracy, MN and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
His parents, one son, Steve; one grandson, Harlan; three brothers, Joe, Jennings, Claus and one sister, Beverly, preceded Gerald in death.
Burial was in the Tracy City Cemetery with Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.
Ethel Larson, 102
Ethel Mildred Larson was born on September 22, 1899 at Shakespear, IA to Byron and Lucy May Sweely. She was raised on a farm near Tracy, MN with 9 brothers and sisters. She raised chickens and worked in the fields pulling cockleburs.
Ethel lived in the Minneapolis area and moved to Osceola, WI in 1992 to be near her granddaughter.
Ethel died May 3, 2002. She is survived by her two daughters Georgia R. Young, Amery, WI and Carolyn (David) Peyton, Hood River, OR; 11 grandchildren, Coleen, Vicki, Michael, Daniel, David, Angela, Michelle, Candice, Kimberly, Cheryl and Paula Jo; 22 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Bennett, two sons, Lyle Pierson and Kay Peterson; brothers, Joseph Clifford, Emory Floyd, Louis Byron Jr; sisters Leathea Glynn, Fern Illian and Gay Roberson.
Lucille Lavoie, 90
Lucille G. Lavoie, age 90, of Russell, passed away at the Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls on Sunday, May 19, 2002. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 2002 at the United Methodist Church in Balaton. Burial will be in the Lakeside Cemetery in Balaton.
Visitation will be 2 to 9 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service Wednesday at the Hamilton-Birk Funeral Home, Marshall. Visitation will continue at the church on Thursday, one hour prior to the service.
Lucille G. Lavoie was born to Zepher and Esther (Gannon) Lavalle on December 26, 1911 near Ghent, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith, attended rural school near her parents home.
On May 11, 1932, Lucille was united in marriage to Van Lavoie at St. Dionysius Catholic Church in Tyler. They farmed in Lyons Township.
Lucille passed away at the Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls on Sunday, May 19, 2002. She had reached the age of 90 years, 4 months and 24 days.
She is survived by her husband, Van of Russell, four sons, Robert (Aino) of Russell, Charles (Maxine) of Marshall, Ronald (Mary) of Tracy, and David of Russell; 15 grandchildren. 30 great grandchildren, and 6 great great grandchildren; also many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters and one brother.
Lucille was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church and UMW in Balaton.
Lucille's enjoyments were sewing, playing cards, and spending time with her family and friends.
Katherine M. Lien, 85
Funeral services were held for Katherine M. Lien on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy, MN. Father Brian Mandel officiated. Soloist was Jerry Engesser with Carla VanDeWiele as cantor. Richard Stelter was the organist.
Honorary casket bearers were Mike Moon, Ann Horwitz, Wendy Tolo, Joe Moon, Teresa Higgins, Jill Jacobson and Ashley Julien.
Katherine M. Lien was born April 27, 1917 on a farm near Balaton, MN to John Engesser and Katherine Klien. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and attended country school near Balaton.
In 1935, Katherine married Harley Moon in Tracy, MN and they made their home in Garvin, MN. Harley was killed while in the military during World War II. They had three sons, Harley, Spencer and Leroy and Katherine and her family remained in Garvin.
On October 11, 1947 Katherine married Melvin Lien and they made their home on a farm near Westbrook, MN. They had one son, Melvin and later moved to Walnut Grove, MN and then back to the Balaton area. In 1967 they moved into Tracy. After Melvin's death in 1988, Katherine remained in the house until July of 1998 when she moved into the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy. In January of 2001 she became a resident of the St. John's Home in Springfield, MN where she died at the age of 85.
Katherine was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy, a past member of the Catholic Daughter's, and was active in Mission. She was also a member of the Tracy Legion Auxiliary and Tracy VFW Auxiliary. Katherine enjoyed playing cards and traveling, having made a trip to Rome once and got the personal blessing of the Pope.
Katherine is survived by four sons, Harley (Irene) Moon of Nevada, IA, Spencer (Judy) Moon of Esko, MN, Leroy (Marlene) Moon of Chisago City, MN and Melvin (Connie) Lien of Garvin, MN; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Margaret Smith of Bakersfield, CA, Gusty Green of Mesa, AZ, and Clara Salsberry of Minneapolis, MN; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her parents, two husbands, six brothers and seven sisters preceded her in death.
Burial was in Calvary Catholic Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.
Jake Van Gelderen, 85
Funeral services were held today (Wed., May 22, 2002) at 1:30 p.m. at Walnut Grove United Methodist Church for Jake Van Gelderen. Rev. Michael Smith officiated. Organist was Laurie Johnson.
Honorary casket bearers were his friends, caregivers and nurses at “Our House” Murray County Hospice.
Casket bearers were his grandchildren, J.D. Ewy, Kraig Van Gelderen, Jacki Palm, Keith Johnson, Wendy Barber, GayLene Johnson, Jed Van Gelderen and Shalayna Van Gelderen.
Jake Van Gelderen was born July 8, 1916 in Matlock, IA to John and Tracy (Vander Heiden) Van Gelderen. He grew up in Sibley, Iowa.
Jake was united in marriage to Ida Janssen on September 11, 1940 in Sibley, Iowa. They farmed near Sibley until purchasing a farm south of Walnut Grove in 1951, where they continued to live until retirement in 1988, when they moved to town.
Jake enjoyed family, taking drives in the country, and getting a bite to eat, and was known as a character.
Jake died on May 19, 2002 at Our House in Slayton, MN at the age of 85 years, 10 months and 11 days.
He is survived by his wife Ida of Walnut Grove; sons Gary and wife Sue of Walnut Grove, Jack and wife Vicki of Walnut Grove, daughter Joyce Ewy of Walnut Grove and Jean Johnson and husband Bill of Tucson, AX; sisters Mary Kamies of Hospers, IA, Tracy (Edward) Den Beste, Tena Stirler and Minnie DeJong all of Sibley, IA; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Buster, and sisters Anna Luitjens and Jennie Hooman, as well as four brothers-in-law.
Interment was in the Walnut Grove Cemetery, Walnut Grove, MN.
Memorials are preferred to “Our House” in Slayton.
Arrangements were made by Walnut Grove Funeral Home.