Obituaries from the week of November 27, 2002

Dorothy Averill, 86

A Celebration of Life mass at St. Mary's in Alexandria, MN was held on November 16, 2002 for Dorothy (Silver) Averill, age 86.

Dorothy Averill passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at Douglas County Hospital, Alexandria, MN.

Dorothy and Mort Averill made their home on Mort's farmstead south of Tracy for 25 years before moving to Alexandria in 1963 where Mort was employed by Bellanca Aircraft Corp.

She enjoyed her sewing, church activities, and quiet simple pleasures of life and nature. Dorothy was a dedicated mother and excellent homemaker.

She is dearly loved and will be missed by her five children including two sets of twins, Duwayne, Donald and Ronald of Alexandria, Jane (Jack) Rodeschin of Medford, NJ, Judy Roth of Edina; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, sister Theresa Hansen and brother Tom Silver both of Tracy; sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Entombment was at St. Mary's Mausoleum Cemetery in Alexandria.

Steven Bly, 16

Funeral services were held on Thursday, November 21, 2002 at MMN Elementary Auditorium for Steven Thomas Bly, age 16 of Madison, MN.

Steven Thomas Bly was born on June 29, 1986 in Fridley, MN. Two days after his birth he was taken home to Madison by his adoptive parents Tom and Theresa Bly. On July 13, 1986 he was baptized at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Madison. Steven celebrated his First Communion on April 30, 1995. He attended MMN Elementary School where he was a spelling bee finalist 6 years in a row and was chosen to present his D.A.R.E. essay to the school. He attended Lac qui Parle Valley High School where he was a sophomore in the class of 2005. He was proud of his letter jacket, receiving his first letter in cross country as a freshman. He reached his goal this year by achieving “All Conference.”

Steven passed away on November 16, 2002 after a devastating car accident in rural Madison, MN. He was 16 years, 4 months and 17 days. Steven will be remembered for his smile and laugh, his free spirit with a style all his own, his love of children and his family.

Steven is survived by his parents Tom and Theresa (Deslauriers) Bly, sister Stephanie Bly, grandparents; Lois (Bly) Dahl and Norbert and Phyllis (Ruppert) Deslauriers; aunts and uncles; 44 cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers James Bly and Arnold Dahl, infants uncle Joseph, aunt Lucy and maternal and paternal great great-grandparents.

Burial was at St. Michaels Catholic Cemetery, Madison, MN.

Henry Cecil Have, 82

Funeral services were held Saturday, November 23, 2002 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Milroy, MN for Henry Cecil Have. Officiant was Rev. Jeffrey M. Engholm. Soloist was Tom Hook with organist Dona Mae Petersen.

Honorary casket bearers were the Milroy American Legion Post #274 and the Tracy VFW Post #871.

Henry Cecil Have was born October 29, 1920 to Otto M. and Dorothy K. (Mikkelsen) Have in Milroy, MN, Redwood County. He attended country school and Milroy Public School, graduating from Milroy High School in 1938 as Salutatorian of his class.

As a young man he farmed with his father until enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corp in August of 1942. He served three months in the states in training as a radar mechanic and then spent the next three years at various air bases in North Africa. In November of 1945 Henry was discharged at the rank of Staff Sergeant and returned to farming. He farmed until 1963 when he moved into Milroy. In 1964 he began working for the Milroy Co-op Agri Service and was the Assistant Manager of its Feed, Seed and Fertilizer Sales until 1981. Later that same year he started working for the City of Milroy as its Maintenance Supervisor of water, sewers and streets, which he did until his retirement in September of 1983.

Henry enjoyed reading and was an avid sports fan, especially of the Milroy Yankees baseball team, the Minnesota Twins and all football in general. He was a life member of the Earl Christopherson Post #274 of the Milroy American Legion and a life member of the A.J. Eberl VFW post #871 in Tracy, MN. Henry has served both groups in the past as Post Commander as well as several offices on the county and district level.

In February of 1997 he became a resident of the Minnesota Veteran's Home in Luverne, MN where he died Saturday, November 16, 2002 at the age of 82.

Henry is survived by two sisters, Olga Mae (Donald) Hicks of Tracy, MN and Helen (Vern) Hollingsworth of Benson, MN; three nephews, David (Cindy) Hollingsworth of Kingman, AZ, Steven (Kim) Daniels of Montevideo, MN and Thomas (Jill) Hollingsworth of Benson, MN; three nieces, Laurel (Bob) Kindler of Albert Lea, MN, Wendy (Tim) Sigrist of Oronoco, MN and Jeanette Hollingsworth of Tracy, MN; five great nephews, Justin and Jed Hollingsworth, Hans and Eric Daniels and Nicholas Sigrist; five great nieces, Shannon (Brian) Voges, Jaime (John) Byers, Heidi and Kari Daniels and Ashley Sigrist; three great-great-nieces, Keisha Voges, Courtnee and Caitlynn Byers; cousins and many friends.

His parents and one brother-in-law, Richard Daniels, preceded him in death.

Interment was in Our Savior's Lutheran Cemetery, Milroy, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.

Robert Zwach, 83

Mass of Christian Burial was held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 26, 2002 in St. Michael's Catholic Church in Milroy for Robert E. “Bob” Zwach, age 83 of Milroy.

Robert Edward Zwach was born Saturday, May 10, 1919 on the family farm in Gales Township, Redwood County, Minnesota to Joseph and Barbara (Hammerschmidt) Zwach. He grew up on the family farm in Section 3 of Gales Township and continued to live and farm there until moving into his new home in Milroy in February of 1983. Bob attended District 40 Country School and then Milroy High School graduating in 1938.

On April 24, 1951 he was united in marriage to Doris Halfmann in St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy. He was baptized, confirmed and a lifelong member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Milroy where he was very active. He served as president of the Parish Council and spear-headed the fund raising for paving the parking lot.

Bob served as treasurer of Gales Telephone Co., ASC Committee member for Gales Township, President of Redwood County Baseball League, President of Great Western Baseball League, Vice President of Redwood County Farmers Union, President of Redwood County NFO, President of Milroy PTA, President of Hi Lo Bowling League, Director of REA, President of Tracy Country Club, Director of Redwood County FHA, Gales Township Supervisor, served as Redwood County Commissioner for First District for 12 years, was a charter member of the Milroy Lions Club, manager from 1952 until 1964 of Milroy Yankees Baseball team which he led to overall state championship in 1954 and was named to the Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.

He especially enjoyed his family and friends, playing golf, bowling, baseball, Brandy Friday Club, chocolate, talking and delivering sweet corn.

Robert "Bob" Zwach died on Friday, November 22, 2002 in his home in Milroy at the age of 83 years, 6 months and 12 days.

He is survived by his wife Doris of Milroy, six children; Robert Zwach Jr. and wife Deb of Milroy, Lori Dolan and husband Pat of Lucan, Renee Zwach of Milroy, Peggy Schmoll and husband Greg of Cottage Grove, Colleen Zwach and fiancee Jeff Seeman of Chaska and Tim Zwach and wife Suzann of Milroy. Also surviving are his ten grandchildren, Mandy and Matthew Zwach, Jeff & Brian Dolan, Danna, Ryan & Kirsten Williams, Katie & Jessi Schmoll and Ashley Zwach, and a great grand-daughter Makayla Jo Williams, his brothers and sisters; Emma Vankeulen of Marshall, Harry Zwach and wife Louise of Marshall, Paul Zwach and wife Bernice of Tracy and Carol Kesteloot and husband Vic of Marshall and two sisters-in-law Agnes Zwach and Leah Zwach.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers Joseph, John, Roman and Henry and two sisters Rose Fischer and Elsie Schloegel.

The Sunset Burial Association of Echo and Wabasso handled the arrangements.

Edgar Winter, 86

Funeral services for Edgar Winter will be Friday, Nov. 29, 2002 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Westbrook. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday at the Westbrook Funeral Home. Burial in the Westbrook Cemetery.

Edgar Winter was born January 3, 1916 in Sheldon, Iowa to Peter and Anna (Meyners) Winter. He worked as a hired man for Paul Rolston before and after he served his country as an aviation machinist mate, in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He also worked at Al Dueis Motors in Sheldon as a mechanic.

Edgar was united in marriage to Avanelle Fritts on June 10, 1944 in Sheldon, Iowa. They moved to Westbrook in February of 1948 and farmed in the Westbrook area for over 30 years. In 1978 they moved into town, beginning to winter in Pharr, TX in 1980, and eventually moving to John Knox Village in Weslaco, Texas in 1997. Edgar was a 52 year member of the American Legion, he served on the church board at Grace Lutheran Church and elevator board in Westbrook.

Edgar William Winter passed away on November 4, 2002 at John Knox Medical Center in Weslaco, Texas at the age of 86 years, 10 months and 1 day.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Avanelle of Weslaco; four sons Verne Jay (Bonnie) of Rockford, IL, Dean Lee (Deloris) of Westbrook, Dale Brian of McAllen and Kent Douglas (Deb) of Sioux Falls, SD; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; his sister Lois Roggen of Peoria, Arizona.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Luella Rolston and brothers Waldo and Wilson Winter.

Arrangements are being handled by the Westbrook Funeral Home Westbrook, Minnesota.