Obituaries from the week of July 29, 2003

Glenn Weedman, 78

Glenn Weedman, 78, of Cheyenne, WY, died Thursday, July 24, 2003 in Cheyenne. Memorial services were held on Monday, July 28, 2003 at Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Robert Miskimen officiating. Cremation has taken place at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens.

He was born December 28, 1924 in Revere, MN.

Mr. Weedman served in the United States Army during World War II.

He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Janet Weedman of Lincoln, NE, Randall and June Weedman; three step-sons and two step-daughters-in-law, Mike and Karen Allen, Duke Allen and Bill and Vicky Allen; step-daughter and step-son-in-law, Betty and John Van Alstine; a brother, Elmer Weedman of Tracy, MN; two sisters-in-law, Eunice Weedman of Amiret, MN and Mary Weedman of Columbus, WS; three grandchildren, 14 step-grandchildren; three great grandchildren; 14 step-great grandchildren; three step-great, great grandchildren; and his companion, Tessa Brown.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorthy Weedman; a son, Steven Weedman, his parents, Earl and Margaret Weedman; two brothers and three sisters.

Sophie Kretchmer, 102

Services for Sophie M. Kretchmer, 102, were held Tuesday, July 29, 2003 at Tracy United Methodist Church in Tracy, MN. She passed away on July 24, 2003.

Pastor Alan Bolte officiated the services and Allen Pierson was the organist.

Casketbearers were Conrad Rettmer, Eugene Kretchmer, Charles Kretschmer, Harnold Rettmer, Forest Rettmer, Arnold Jensen and Clair Baker.

Burial was in the Tracy City Cemetery, Tracy, MN.

Almlie Funeral Home, Tracy, MN handled the arrangements.

Sophie Marie Rettmer was born March 23, 1901 to Fritz and Amelia (Schneider) Rettmer on a farm in Redwood County, Minnesota. In 1915, she left the farm and moved into Tracy. On June 29, 1924, she was married to Paul Kretchmer in Redwood Falls, MN. They made their home in Tracy and had two children, a son and a daughter. Sophie and Paul moved into the O'Brien Court apartments in September 1995. Paul died in 1999 and Sophie continued to live in O'Brien Court until August 2002 when she moved into Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, MN.

Sophie worked as a sales clerk until her marriage. She was an active member of the Tracy United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, the Eastern Star, Priscilla Club, Friendship Flower Club, Sunshine Society, Tracy Hospital Auxiliary and Degree of Honor.

Sophie had the honor of being selected the Fraternalist of the year in 1991. In 1994, she received WCCO's "Good Neighbor" award.

Sophie is survived by her daughter, Delores and husband James Swanson of Fairmont, MN; her daughter-in-law, Vi Kretchmer of New Ulm, MN; one grandson, Kevin (Jayne) of Sudbury, MA; one granddaughter, Debra (Ross) Johnson of Apple Valley, MN; one step-grandson, Floyd Dorn of New Ulm, MN; five great-grandchildren, Shannon, Kevin, Emily, Claire and Annie of Sudbury, MA; and several nieces and nephews.

Her husband, one son, Luverne, parents, five brothers and three sisters preceded her in death.

Laurence L. Rogers, 97

Laurence L. Rogers, 97, of Marshall, MN died on Wed., July 23, 2003 at Weiner Memorial Medical Center in Marshall, MN. Services were held on Sat., July 26, 2003 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Marshall. Pastor Manuel Loaeza officiated. Interment was held at the New Woodlawn Cemetery in Pipestone, MN.

He was born on Oct. 29, 1905 in Trotsky, MN the son of John and Elvina Lowry Rogers. He graduated from Pipestone High School and attended the Austin Technical School. He married Rebecca Telford in Woonsocket, SD on August 24, 1932. The couple lived in Pipestone where he owned and operated Rogers Hatchery. They retired and then moved to Cottonwood in 1973. Rebecca died in 1975.

He married Mina Anderson of Tracy on April 17, 1977 and they lived in Cottonwood before moving to Hill Street Place about 7 years ago. He had been hospitalized about a week before his death. He helped build Peace Methodist Church in Pipestone and was it's Sunday School secretary for many years. He spent time volunteering for youth projects in the community and was the Regional Vice-chairman of the Sioux Council of the Boy Scouts. He started playing golf in his 70's and played until a couple of years ago. Other hobbies were woodworking, puzzles, dancing, tinkering, and fixing things. He was a member of the United Commercial Travelers, International Order of Odd Fellows, Minnesota Christian Temperance Union, the Lions Club and the Kiwanis Club.

He is survived by his wife, Mina of Marshall; daughters June (Nicholas) Zeri of Loomis, CA, Janice (Ardell) Lindsey of Phoenix, AZ; son, Larry (Mary Kaye) Rogers of Worthington; 8 grandchildren; 4 great- grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Rebecca, a grandson, one brother and three sisters.

Vincent Anderson, 86

Services for Vincent Anderson, 86, of Walnut Grove were held on Monday, July 28, 2003 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Walnut Grove. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Walnut Grove. Walnut Grove Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

He died July 25, 2003, at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Vincent Anderson was born to Nels and Stella (Surprenant) Anderson at home on the farm outside of Tracy on July 20, 1917. He started working in the trucking business for his uncle Hector Surprenant in Tracy, after graduating from Tracy High School. He was not happy working for someone else, and bought out the local trucker in Walnut Grove in 1946. Vincent married Lois Mae Hanson on Aug. 27, 1946, at Grandview Lodge in Brainerd. The couple was married for 55 years prior to Lois' death. Vincent enjoyed playing cards with his friends and of course, shaking dice for coffee at Nellie's. He was a long-standing member of the Minnesota Permit Truckers Association, of which he was president for three terms. In 1981, his peers voted him Minnesota Trucker of the Year. He was active with the Minnesota Legislature in the drafting and promotion of legislation for the trucking industry. Vincent was a member of the Walnut Grove Volunteer Fire Department for over 20 years, served several terms on the Walnut Grove City Council, was a member of the Walnut Grove Lions Club and a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church.

He is survived by his children: Gary Vincent Anderson of Lafayette, Colo., Larry Anderson (and Kathy) of Brandon, S.D., Julie Ann Gregg (and Larry) of Marshall and Bruce Mix (and Nancy) of Rochester; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and brother Kenneth.

Yvonne Nehls, 73

Services for Yvonne Nehls, 73 of Truman, MN will be held (today) Wed., July 30, 2003 at the Lutheran Retirement Home Chapel in Truman with Rev. Dr. Lyle Rusert officiating. Burial will be at the Tracy City Cemetery.

Miss Nehls passed away Sunday, July 27, 2003 at the Madelia Hospital. Olson-Zaharia Funeral Home of Truman arranged the services for the family.

Yvonne Delores Nehls, daughter of George Blakeslee and Esther Kathryn (Schneider) Nehls was born August 20, 1929 in Tracy, MN. She was baptized in the Lutheran faith and was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Tracy. She attended school and graduated from Tracy High School. Following graduation Yvonne attended Iowa State College in Ames, IA and received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1951. She worked in the test kitchen of the Culinary Arts Institute at Consolidated Book Publishing Company in Chicago, IL until retiring in 1956, when she developed Multiple Sclerosis. Yvonne remained at home until 1973, when she became a resident of the Tracy Nursing Home. She entered the Lutheran Retirement Home in Truman in 1982.

Yvonne is survived by one aunt, Alice Riggle of the Lutheran Retirement Home in Truman; one uncle, Walter Schneider of Albert Lea, MN; four god children and their families and numerous cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents.