Obituaries from the week of June 26, 2002

Kathryn Buzzell

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2002 at 1:30 p.m. at the Tracy Presbyterian Church, Tracy, MN for Kathryn Buzzell. A reception will follow immediately following the service at the Mediterranean.

Mary DeVetter, 85

Funeral services were held today, Wednesday, June 26, 2002 for Mary C. DeVetter at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester, MN. Rev. Tom Melvin officiated.

Mary. C. (Petersen) DeVetter was born November 5, 1916 in Tracy, MN.

On February 8, 1937 she married Gerald G. DeVetter in Tracy. After their marriage they moved to California for a while and later moved back to Tracy. They owned the West Side Grocery in Tracy. Following that, they moved to Fort Atkinson, WI, where Gerald was President of Valley Sanitation Company. After his retirement in 1977 they moved to Rochester, MN. Gerald died Feb. 3, 2000.

Mary was a homemaker. She was past member of the St. Mary's Women's Group in Tracy. She enjoyed sewing and embroidery. She loved to read and family was very important. She delivered Meals on Wheels in Rochester and was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester. She also enjoyed collecting antiques.

Mary died on June 22, 2002 at Madonna Towers in Rochester, at the age of 85.

She is survived by her daughter, Carol (Joseph) Hennessey, Rochester; three sons, Gordon (Gale) San Leandro, CA, Dennis (Roberta) of Marshfield, WI and Paul (Claudia) of LaCrescent, WI; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; sister, Erna Patzer, Mantica, CA and brother, Leo Petersen, Huron SD.

Preceding her in death were her husband, one brother and two sisters.

Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Rochester, MN with the Macken Funeral Home of Rochester, MN handling arrangements.

Edna V. Hay, 93

Services were held Monday, June 10, 2002 at Tracy United Methodist Church for Edna V. Hay.

Edna Viola Hay was born July 1, 1908 to William and Martha (Grow) Jones in Elkton, SD, Moody County. The family moved extensively throughout her young life, including Wisconsin and Oregon. Edna survived the flu epidemic before returning with her family to the Flandreau, SD area. She attended country school and was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist faith.

On September 12, 1923 Edna married Frank Hay in Pipestone, MN and they made their home in the Flandreau area. They later moved to the Pipestone area and then in 1939 settled on a farm in Holly Township southwest of Walnut Grove, MN.

Edna was a farm wife and a homemaker. She was a member of the Tracy United Methodist Church, the Methodist Church women's circle groups and Murray County Extension. Reading, quilting, flower gardening and the game, Dominoes were among her hobbies. She also raised chickens for many years.

After her husband's death Edna stayed on the family farm until 1984 and moved into an apartment in Tracy, MN. Then in the late 90's she became one of the first residents of O'Brien Court in Tracy. In June of 2001 she moved into the Tracy Nursing Home and in November of that same year she became a resident of the Margaret S. Parmly Residence in Chisago City, MN, where Edna died on June 6, 2002 at the age of 93.

Edna is survived by three daughters, Norla Smoliak of Oakdale, MN, Deloris Mueller of Rosemount, MN and Carol (Stephen) Vopatek of Lindstrom, MN; four sons, Frank Jr. (Laura) of St. Paul, MN, Henry (Millie) of Walnut Grove, MN, George (Patricia) of Walnut Grove, and Lawrence (Candace) of Seattle, WA; one sister, Velma Doyle of Flandreau, SD; one sister-in-law, Melba Jones of Platte, SD; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husband, two daughters, Joyce Allen and Donna Bjorklund, three brothers, Floyd, Earl and Edwin (Edna's twin) and six sisters, Loretta, Thresa, Cora, Iva, Myrtle and Grace preceded her in death.

Interment was in the Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handled arrangements.

Leland Johnson, 72

Leland A. Johnson, age 72, of Tracy, died Friday at the Tracy Municipal Hospital. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 at the Tracy United Methodist Church with the Reverend Alan Bolte officiating. Burial was in the Tracy Cemetery.

Casketbearers were Neil Daniels, Darold Johnson, Dennis Johnson, Terry Johnson, Dennis Johnson and Art (Sonny) Stevens.

Leland Arthur Johnson was born on April 29, 1930 in Lamberton, MN to Harry and Rose (Nachtman) Johnson. He attended Tracy Public School and in 1948 he entered the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1955.

On September 28, 1964 he married Beverly Hetland in Brookings, SD. They lived in Tracy until moving to Orlando, FL in 1973. In 1978 they returned to Tracy.

Leland was a welder for Homera Homes in Tracy. He was a member of the VFW, the American Legion Club and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He enjoyed watching television, collecting eagles and spending time with his family and friends.

Leland is survived by his wife, Beverly, three daughters: Linda Johnson, JoAnn (Tim) Martin, Sue Ann (Chad) Moyars, all of Tracy, MN; five grandchildren: Krystal Martin of Madelia, MN, Dustin and Shelby Martin both of LeSueur, MN, Kenra and Kailee Moyars both of Tracy, MN; two sisters: Ruth Iverson of Waverly, IA and Harriett Gladitsch of Lucan, MN; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, Darold, Norman, Harry Jr., Verlon and Dale Sr.; three sisters, Gladys, Baby and LaMae Thorson.

The Johnson Funeral Home of Rochester handled arrangements.

Edward Lenertz, 89

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, June 24, 2002 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Tracy, MN for Edward M. Lenertz. Fr. Paul Hadusek officiated. Organist was Brenda Lenertz with Judy Lenertz as cantor. Reader was Pam Pundsack. Gift bearers were Emily Ryan, Jen Torkelson, Becky Bot, Theresa Skrove.

Casket bearers were Nick Godat, George Godat, Tom Lenertz, Joe Schons, Dennis Godat and Greg Tanghe.

Edward M. Lenertz was born November 1, 1912 to Peter and Susan (Knott) Lenertz in St. Joseph, IA, Kossuth County. He was Baptized in the Catholic Faith in St. Joseph and later Confirmed in Comfrey, MN at St. Paul's Catholic Church. He attended country school in Iowa and as a young man moved with his family to a farm in the Comfrey area in 1920. He and his brother began farming together and both purchased farms in the Amiret area in 1940.

On September 10, 1941 Edward married Mary L. Foley in Tracy's St. Mary's Catholic Church by Fr. Cahill. The farm that Edward had bought and they made their home on happened to be the one Mary was born on. They made their home there until 1983 when they retired and moved into Tracy. In 1994 they moved into O'Brien Court in Tracy.

Edward was a member of Tracy's St. Mary's Catholic Church, Holy Name Society and the Knight's of Columbus. He was a past member of the Catholic Aid in Comfrey, the Calvary Cemetery Board in Tracy, a 4-H leader, and helped build St. Mary's Catholic School in Tracy. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, horseshoes, reading and watching the Twins play baseball.

Edward passed away on Friday, June 21, 2002 at his home in O'Brien Court, Tracy, MN at the age of 89 years.

Edward is survived by three daughters, Mary Ann (William) Godat of Richwoods, MO, Delores (William) Schons and Rita Lenertz both of Fairmont, MN; four sons, James (Edwina) of Scottsdale, AZ, John (Diane) of Chaska, MN, David (Charlene) of Tracy, MN and Robert (Julie) of Amiret, MN; sixteen grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; one brother, Peter (Helen) of Quesnel, BC; three sisters, Julie Schwaegerl, Springfield, MN, Jean (Heye) Lamfers and Sally (Paul) Lamfers, both of Amiret; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents, wife, Mary, daughter, Colleen, two brothers, Laurence and Eugene and three sisters, Agnes, Mary and Amedia preceded him in death.

Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Tracy, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.