Obituaries from the week of October 9, 2002
Helen Solberg, 85
Helen Marie Solberg was born on May 6, 1917 to Knute and Bessie Swanjord in Skandia Township, Murray County. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, rural Balaton, and graduated from Tracy High School in 1934. After attending Calhoun Business College in Minneapolis she was employed as a secretary at the law office of Ole Swanjord in Slayton and at the Travelers Insurance Company in Slayton and Redwood Falls from 1935 to 1939.
Helen Swanjord and Adolph T. Solberg of Milaca were married on June 4, 1939 at the Swanjord home. They made their home for a time in Farmington and Marshall, and then lived in Mankato from the mid-1940s until 1969. The Solbergs moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1969, and they continued to live there after retirement. Helen was an artist, working in oils and watercolors, and she completed a painting in the last few days of her life. She passed away on August 11, 2002, at the age of 85.
She was preceded in death by her husband, in 1992, and is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law Ronald (Norma) of Downers Grove, IL and Darryl (Rita) of San Diego, CA; her grandchildren Barry, Jerry, Kirsten and David Solberg; great-grandchildren Cameron and McKenna Solberg; and nieces and nephews from the Swanjord and Solberg families.
A memorial service was held at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Mankato on Oct. 6, 2002. Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Cemetery Association, Balaton, MN 56115.
Agnes Johnson, 82
Funeral services were held today, October 9, 2002 at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Redwood Falls for Agnes Margaret Johnson.
Agnes was born December 19, 1919 the daughter of Boyd and Mary Gallaher at Genesee, Idaho.
In 1942 she married Warren Robert Johnson of Balaton, MN. To this union five children were born.
Agnes spent much of her married life on the Circle J Ranch north of Balaton where she and her husband, the late Warren Johnson, made their home and raised their five children. After the death of Warren in 1977, Agnes continued living on the farm, until she moved to Redwood Falls, MN, where she lived with her daughter, Susan and her family. Agnes had a stroke in 1998 and since then was a resident at the Good Samaritan Home in Waconia, MN. She passed away at Waconia Ridgeview Medical Center on October 4, 2002.
She is survived by her children: Ron (Denise) Johnson of New Johnsonville, TN, Joellyn (Loren) Wood of Balaton, MN, Bill (Suzanne) Johnson of Excelsior, MN, Jim (Carolyn) Johnson of Greenville, TX and Susan (Dave) Homan of Redwood Falls, MN; 13 grandchildren Robert (Nancy) Johnson, Caroline Cavalera, Michael (Dawn) Wood, Mary Jo (Bill) Miller, Mathew Wood, Bill (Heather) Johnson Jr., Jennifer (Ryan) Schafer, Tom (Sara) Johnson, Jessica Johnson, Brian Johnson, Craig Johnson, David Homan, Jr. and Libby Homan; seven great-grandchildren; three brothers Joe Gallaher, John (Pat) Gallaher, Rob (Joyce) Gallaher, two sisters-in-law Gertrude (Nelson) Rusche and Vivian Carroll; many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband, three brothers, one sister and an infant great-granddaughter.
Interment was at St. St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Tracy, MN with the Redwood Valley Funeral Home in Redwood Falls in charge of arrangements.
Hugh Patterson, 91
A Memorial Service will be held at Tracy United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 12, 2002 for Hugh Patterson, MD.
Hugh Donald Patterson, M.D. was born in Chicago, IL on February 24, 1911 to Alexander Guy Patterson and Frances Seaborn Patterson. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Hugh met Jewell Richmond, while doing an internship at Tulane University in New Orleans. They were married at the Richmond Family Farm on June 10, 1940. Hugh entered the Navy on April 16, 1942. He left the service as a Lieutenant commander in November of 1945. After the service Hugh and Jewell moved to Slayton, MN where Hugh practiced medicine for 33 years. He was also the coroner of Murray County.
Dr. High D. Patterson passed away September 26, 2002 at the Minnesota Veterans Home of Luverne at the age of 91.
He is survived by his loving wife Jewell and five children: Hugh Alexander (Betty) Patterson, Patricia (George) Hay, Linda (Paul) Beierschmitt, Betty Lockwood, Donald Patterson. Grandchildren Alexander, Karen, Paul, Anthony, Zena, John, James, Karalee, Mathew, Chester and Nicholas; great-grandchildren Tyler, Tristin, Tameron and Asha.; siblings Robert Patterson and Elizabeth Cameron.
He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Mark Patterson and Stuart Patterson.
Hazel Shaw, 97
Funeral services were held on Saturday, October 5, 2002 at Tracy Lutheran Church for Hazel Shaw. Reverend Stephen Olson and Reverend Gary Gabel officiated. Soloist was Jerry Mickelson and organist was Richard Stelter.
Casket bearers were her grandsons Ron Shaw, David Shaw, Brad Shaw, Sheldon Shaw, Brent Shaw, Stewart Shaw, Bryan Shaw, Scott Shaw, Greg Shaw, Barry Shaw and Bruce Shaw.
Hazel (Severson) Shaw was born April 23, 1905 to Fred and Lena (Lien) Severson in Dovray Township, Murray County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith in Dovray at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. She attended country school in District 27.
On June 16, 1925 Hazel married Roy Shaw in Slayton, MN. They made their home near Snodgrass Station, north of Dovray in Holly Township for four years. Over the years they farmed in several locations including Dovray Township and the Amiret area. In 1957, they moved into Tracy and in 1971 Hazel moved into Centennial Homes. In the mid 70's she moved to Arizona for four years to be with her daughter, Linda and in 1990 she moved back to Tracy and became a resident of Prairie View Healthcare Center, where she died on Tuesday, October 1, 2002 at the age of 97.
She was a member of Tracy Lutheran Church and the Tracy VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Hazel enjoyed playing cards at her step-daughter, Lucille's home and was known for her bread baking, cookies and cakes, which she delivered to family, friends and shut-ins in the community. She enjoyed spending time with her numerous grandchildren over the years.
Hazel is survived by one daughter, Linda Shaw of Tracy, MN; five sons, Clinton (Gussie) and Kenneth (Donna), both of Tracy, MN, Curtis (Dolores) of Garvin, MN, Lee of Marshall, MN and Robert (Lois) of Gilbert, AZ; 19 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; one step-daughter, Verna Severson of Tracy, MN; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her parents, husband, Roy, one grandson, Mark, one great-grandson, Corey, one great-great-granddaughter, two step-daughters, one step-son, three sisters and three brothers preceded her in death.
Interment was in the Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.
Blanche Stokes, 82
Funeral services were held on Saturday, October 5, 2002 for Blanche Marie Stokes at Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton, MN. Rev. Joyce Pipe officiated. The organist was LaDean Lang.
Pallbearers were Tracy Nelson, Torre Nelson, Monte Nelson, Thomas Hudnall, Jerry Entinger, Tom Hollingsworth and Chris McKeown.
Blanche Stokes was born on January 11, 1920 near Detroit, Michigan to Joseph and Anna Albrecht DeBlieck. She grew up in the Tracy area and attended Marshall and Tracy Public Schools.
She and Ruben Mickelson were married in Walnut Grove, MN on January 22, 1938. They farmed near Tracy and raised their two daughters. They moved to Boise, ID in 1957. Ruben died on February 26, 1969. Blanche married Kay Stokes on February 13, 1971 in Boise. She worked as a cook in the Boise School District for many years. Kay died on February 4, 1991 and Blanche continued living in Boise until June 2002 when she moved to Slayton to be close to her daughter, Laurel.
Blanche passed away at the Murray County Memorial Hospital on October 3, 2002 at the age of 82.
She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and circle in Boise and previously belonged to Willow Lake Lutheran Church, rural Tracy, where she was active in Ladies Aid. Her favorite pastimes included her pets, gardening, camping, fishing, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Survivors include her two daughters Laurel Nelson of Slayton, MN and Barbara and her husband, Tom Hudnall of Marion, AR; step-son Harlan Hansen and his wife, Sally of Boise, ID; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers and their wives Walter and Carol DeBlieck of Boise, David and Kaye DeBlieck of Marysville, CA; brother-in-law, Gerald Cross of Boise; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Ruben and Kay, brother Julius DeBlieck and sister, Mary Cross.
Interment was in Morris Hill Cemetery, Boise, ID. The Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton handled arrangements.
Lawrence Wendland, 75
Services for Lawrence Wendland, 75, of Garvin will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Balaton. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Almlie Funeral Home in Balaton, with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will continue Friday at the church one hour prior to services.
He died Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2002, at his home.
A complete obituary will be published in next week's newspaper.
Ethel Youngck, 99
Services are pending for Ethel Youngck, 99, of Westbrook. She died Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, at the Westbrook Hospital.
Almlie Funeral Home of Westbrook is in charge of arrangements.
A complete obituary will be published in next week's newspaper.