Obituaries from the week of July 17, 2002

Mavis Amundson, 68

Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 13, 2002 for Mavis Ann Amundson at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Dovray, MN. Rev. Melba Smith officiated. The pianist was Marian Johnson with special music by Jane Roots and Greg Amundson and Emily Ryan.

Pallbearers were Thomas Drackley, Jerry Ockenfels, Charles Ankrum, Kris Pundsack, Fordyce Ankrum and Raymond Rupp.

Mavis Amundson was born on February 7, 1934 in Murray County, MN to Charles and Mary Ockenfels Ankrum. She grew up on a farm south of Tracy and attended country school and graduated from Tracy High School in 1952. On June 10, 1952, she and Harley Amundson were married at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Dovray. Following their marriage, they farmed south of Dovray for 14 years and then purchased their farm about one mile away. They retired from farming last year but continued living on the farm.

Mavis worked at the Duane Peterson Insurance Agency and then at Knakmuhs Insurance Agency. She did cake decorating for over 25 years.

Due to failing health, Mavis became a resident of Our House, hospice house, in Slayton and passed away there on July 10, 2020 at the age of 68.

She was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church at Dovray where she belonged to the WELCA, taught Sunday School, and was a junior and senior high Luther League leader. She was a 4-H leader for several years and belonged to the Neighborly Club. Mavis enjoyed sewing and crafts, traveling to Branson, MO, baking, visiting relatives in Phoenix, AZ and spending time with her family.

Survivors include her husband, Harley Amundson of Rural Avoca; three children and their spouses: Gary and Pat Amundson of Pequot Lakes, MN, Karen and Mark Gust of East Grand Forks, MN and Marie and Jason Erickson of Westbrook, MN; her mother, Mary Ankrum of Tracy; nine grandchildren: Greg and Marissa Amundson; Jeremy, Jenna and Jacob Gust and Kortney, Kylie, Paige and Luke Erickson; four sisters, a brother and their spouses: Arlys Ankrum of Slayton, Gail and Vernon Klaassen of Boyd, MN, Dorothy Drackley of Tracy, Robert and Marianne Ankrum of Tracy and Charlene and Dave Lenertz of Tracy.

Mavis is preceded in death by her father and brother-in-law, Teddy Drackley.

Interment was in Our Savior's Lutheran Cemetery, Dovray, MN with the Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton handling arrangements.

Harold Giese, 92

Services for Harold Giese, 92, of Tracy will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy. Burial will be in the Tracy City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy.

He died Monday, July 15, 2002, at the Tracy Nursing Home.

A complete obituary will be published next week.

Oliver Gregoire, 84

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18, 2002 for Oliver J. Gregoire at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy. A 4 p.m. Rosary and 7:30 p.m. Prayer Service is also planned for Wednesday evening.

Oliver Joseph Gregoire was born October 25, 1917 to Harvey and Rose (Pommier) Gregoire in Currie, MN, Murray County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie and attended country school outside of Currie. As a young boy he began working on area farms as a hired man and farmed with his family also.

On January 3,1942 he married Marcella Beach in Currie at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. They made their home in Currie and Oliver continued working on farms in the area. After working a year at the Tracy Bottling Company, they began farming on their own place near Currie. In 1956 they moved to a farm in the Garvin, MN area and continued farming there until he retired in 1985. That year they moved to Lamberton, MN and took over management of a chicken operation. In 1988 Oliver and his wife bought a home in Tracy, MN.

In December of 2000, Oliver entered the Tracy Nursing Home and was a resident there until his death on Monday, July 15, 2002 at the age of 84. Oliver was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy and he enjoyed reading, taking long walks and loved spending time with children.

Oliver is survived by his wife, Marcella; two sons, Richard (Shirley) of Lake Benton, MN and Don (Nannette) of Tracy, MN; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; three brothers, Walt of Tracy, MN, Elrich of Fairbault, MN and Emery of Tucson, AZ; two sisters, Millie Sheets of Tracy, MN and Noritta Gisch of Mountain Lake, MN; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents, one sister, Vivian and three brothers, Albert, Ronald and Meddie preceded him in death.

Interment will take place at the Calvary Cemetery in Tracy with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.