Obituaries from the week of July 3, 2002
Patricia Baumann, 56
Funeral services were held today, July 3, 2002 for Patricia Ann Baumann at the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy, MN. Fr. Brian Mandel officiated.
Casket bearers were Pam Baumann, Maxine Menze, Jill Anderson, James Sammons, Lisa Brown, Dustin Sammons and Marcie Baumann.
Patricia Ann Baumann was born January 27, 1946 to James R. and Beatrice (Schumacher) Sammons in Tracy, MN, Lyon County. She was baptized in the Presbyterian Church in 1946 and grew up in the Tracy area. Pat attended Tracy Public Schools, graduated from Tracy High School and went on to Mankato State to graduate in 1967 with a degree in Physical Education.
On December 6, 1969 Pat married Jarold Baumann at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy, where they made their home. Pat worked in the Adrian Public Schools in 1968 and in 1973 she helped start the Tracy Area Day Care Center, currently known as Wee World Preschool. In 1975 they moved to Mankato, MN for a couple years and then settled in Eagan, MN in 1977, where Pat worked as the Caretaker and Office Manager for the Highsite Apartments in Eagan until 1981. They moved to Walnut Grove, MN and Pat worked at the Tracy Nursing Home as Head Housekeeper until 1984. She became Resident Manager of the Grove Apartments in Walnut Grove in 1985 until 1992 and she often said that it was her personal favorite of all the jobs she had. In 1997 she went to work for Artisyn Technologies in Redwood Falls, MN as an electronic technician, until her retirement in 2001.
Patricia was confirmed into the Catholic faith at St. Mary's in 1971 and became an active member and then later at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Walnut Grove where she currently was a member. She was a past Sunday School teacher, member of the Tracy American Legion Auxiliary, past Bible School teacher and a member of the St. Paul's Ladies guild.
Pat enjoyed reading, sewing, movies, designing landscape and home improvement ideas (to keep Jerry busy), painting and spending time with her family. She was an avid sports fan and loved the old North Stars hockey team.
Pat passed away on Monday, July 1, 2002 at the age of 56 years.
Patricia is survived by her husband, Jerry; two sons, Troy Baumann of Mankato, MN and Buddy Baumann of Walnut Grove, MN; one sister, Samera (Richard) Dukek of Walnut Grove; two brothers, Ronald (Siri) Sammons of Wailuki, HI and Robert (Marcia) Sammons of New Prague, MN; in laws, I.J. and Delores Baumann of Burnsville, MN; one brother-in-law, Roger (Pam) Baumann of Walnut Grove, MN; four sister-in-laws, Jill (Keith) Anderson of Minneota, MN, Peggy (Bill) Manther of Apopka, FL, Maxine (Richard) Menze of Burnsville, MN and Marcie Baumann of Burnsville; several nieces and nephews.
Her parents, infant daughter, Theresa, and nephew, Michael Anderson preceded her in death.
Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Tracy, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.
Bruce Govig, 77
Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 29, 2002 for Bruce Govig, of Ottertail Lake, rural Richville, MN.
Bruce was born on September 20, 1924 in Walnut Grove, MN the son of Olav John and Ruth (Tollerud) Govig.
After graduating from high school in Walnut Grove, he attended St. Olaf College for one year before enlisting in the United States Army Air Corps. He was trained as a B-17 and B-24 pilot and served in England with the 44th Bomb Group, 67th Squadron of the 8th Air Force. He was honorably discharged in 1956 but stayed on active duty in the U.S. Air force Reserves until 1960, when he retired with the rank of major. Bruce then received his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College in 1947 and took his first teaching-administrative position in Beulah, ND after which, he taught at Bismarck Junior College and Bismarck High School, Bismarck, ND. While in North Dakota he earned his master's degree in education from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
On December 18, 1954, he married Ruth Elizabeth Tanner at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN. To this marriage two children were born, Sarah, who was born in Bismarck, and Paul, who was born in Hendricks, MN.
Bruce served as superintendent of schools in Storden, Hector, Tracy, North St. Paul and Benson, MN. While in Benson the family purchased a farm in Six Mile Grove on the Chippewa River in Swift County where they lived for 15 years. After his retirement in 1986, he served as chairman of the Board of Bethesda Homes in Willmar, MN, on the board of Pioneer Public Television Station, Appleton, MN on the board of West Central Industries in Swift County, and as mayor of Kerkhoven.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Govig, two children, Sarah Govig and her husband, Kurt Mitchell of Redding, CA and Paul Govig and his wife, Julie Krenz of Bismarck, ND; four grandchildren, Kaarin Mitchell, Tanner, Bruce and Ann Govig; one brother, Stewart Govig of Tacoma, WA and one sister, Eunice Gronbeck of Henning, MN.
Burial was in the Zion Cemetery of Amor, rural Battle Lake, MN with the Olson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls, handling arrangements.
Lois Hudson, 79
Funeral services were held on Monday, July 1, 2002 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie for Lois Hudson, of Luverne, formerly of Currie. Burial was held at the church cemetery.
Lois Emeila Hudson, 79 died Friday, June 29, 2002, at Luverne Hospice Cottage.
Born Sept. 21, 1922, in Slayton, she was the daughter of John and Myrtle Yarington Pommier. She married Richard Hudson on Jan. 21, 1946, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie.
She grew up in the Slayton area and graduated from Slayton Public School. After marriage they farmed near Currie until they retired in 1975, when they sold their land to the State of Minnesota to become a State Park. During the summers they lived in their lake home on Lake Shetek. During the winters they lived in the town of Currie. On Oct. 11, 2002, they moved to Luverne.
She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters. She served as Murray County Assessor for several years.
Surviving are her husband; two sons, Gary (Wendy) Hudson, Stillwater, Randy (Robin) Hudson, Pipestone; two daughters, Gloria (Jerry) Bruns, Pipestone, Cindy Conolly, Sioux City, Iowa; eight grandchildren; and 7 great grandchildren.
A tree will be planted by Hospice of the Luverne Community Hospital in her memory.
Eugene McCormick, 69
Funeral services were held on Sunday, June 30, 2002 at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Fulda for Eugene “Mac” B. McCormick. Msgr. Paul Evers and Msgr. Eugene Egan concelebrated. The organist was Mary Ann Boom. The cantor was Megan Enninga. Soloist was Lloyd Winter.
The pallbearers were John Steinle, Jerry Ehleringer, Tom McConnell, Stan Ware, Bill Fuerstenberg and Duane Cable.
Honorary pallbearers were Bill Neyens, Harold Graphenteen, Andy Oakland, Dick Lawson, Keith Stanton and Rupert Hofmann.
Eugene McCormick, the son of Bernard and Ellen Hagen McCormick, was born January 18, 1933 in Currie, MN. He grew up near Currie and attended country school until he moved with his family to Slayton, MN where he graduated from the Slayton High School in 1950.
On April 20, 1951 he and JoAnne Haugen were married at St. Ann's Church in Slayton. After their marriage Mac entered the US Navy where he served during the Korean War. After his discharge from the service in 1955 they returned to Slayton where they made their home. They later moved to Lamberton where he started working for Interstate Power and in 1966 they moved to Fulda. Mac retired from Interstate Power in 1995.
Mac passed away unexpectedly at the Murray County Memorial Hospital in Slayton on June 27, 2002 at the age of 66.
Mac was a member of St. Gabriel's Catholic Church, Fulda American Legion Post 318 and the Fulda VFW Post 9017. Mac was involved with the Boy Scouts of America and the local firearm safety courses. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing and reading.
Survivors include his wife, JoAnne of Fulda; four children and their spouses, Mary Jo and Dean Lubben of Fulda; Randy McCormick of Lake Crystal, MN, Jim and Leslie McCormick of Billings, MT and Steve and Lori McCormick of Denver, CO; six grandchildren, John Lubben and his wife Veronica, Kinbrae, Patrick, Ryan, Marissa, and Thomas McCormick; two great-grandchildren, Richard and Angelica Lubben; one brother, Douglas and his wife, Penny McCormick of Buena Park, CA and one sister, Delores VanMeveren of Marshall, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Interment was at Calvary Cemetery in Currie, MN with military honors provided by the Fulda American Legion Post 318 and Fulda VFW Post 9017.
The Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton and Fulda handled arrangements.
Donald L. Rykhus, 72
Funeral services were held on Monday, July 1, 2002 for Donald L. Rykhus at Tracy United Methodist Church. Rev. Alan Bolte officiated. Organist was Allen Pierson with special music by Marilyn Donner and Emily Donner.
Casket bearers were Shawn Rykhus, Leo St. Pierre, Dave Petersen, Greg Anderson, Dave Rykhus and Dennis DeSmet.
Donald Lester Rykhus was born January 23, 1930 to Ole and Mabel (Drake) Rykhus in Currie, MN, Murray County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist faith and attended Country School in District 24. Don farmed with his family as a young man.
On March 15, 1954 Don married Vivian Petersen at the Tracy United Methodist Church. They made their home on a farm near Tracy until 1963 when they moved into Tracy. After farming, Don drove a milk truck for three years and drove feed truck for the Tracy Elevator, retiring in the early 1990's after 25 years with the elevator.
Don enjoyed gardening, music, both guitar and accordion, dancing and spending time with his family. Don died Thursday, June 27, 2002 in Sioux Valley Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 72.
Donald is survived by his wife, Vivian of Tracy; one daughter, Sharon (Jim) Anderson of Owatonna, MN; five sons, Steve (JoAnn) of New Ulm, MN, Terry (Patty) of Gilbert, AZ, Scott (LaVonne) of St. Cloud, MN, Kevin (Lynda) of New Ulm and Brian of Phoenix, AZ; one sister, Shirley (Dolly) Hall of Virginia, MN; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and many cousins.
His parents, one daughter, Stacey Jo, two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.
Interment was in the Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.