Obituaries from the week of October 22, 2003

Hilco Lamprecht, 90

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003 at Tracy Lutheran Church for Hilco Lamprecht. Rev. Stephen Olson and Rev. Gary Gabel officiated. Organist was Richard Stelter.

Casket bearers were Ron Lamprecht, Rick Lamprecht, Jerry Lamprecht, Tom Morin, Gordon Hemish and Herman Wilking.

Hilco John Lamprecht was born September 21, 1913 to Rev. John and Elizabeth (Kiecker) Lamprecht in Lamberton, MN. He was baptized October 12, 1913 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Waterbury Township and also was confirmed there on March 24, 1929. He attended Wabasso Public Schools in Wabasso, MN and graduated from Wabasso High School in 1933. After

high school he attended Mankato State College and graduated with an education degree in 1937. He worked for Standard Oil in Mankato, MN and also in Lucan, MN.

On March 11, 1942 Hilco married Alvera Kemnitz at St. John's Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls, MN. Hilco entered the US Army on April 17, 1942 and was stationed in the Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged and returned home in December of 1945.

They moved to a farm near Holloway, MN and in 1965 moved to Tracy, MN where he went to work for Midland Fertilizer in Tracy. After his retirement Hilco worked for Salmon Chevrolet, David Hicks and as a custodian at the Christian Manor Nursing Home. He was a member of Tracy Lutheran Church and enjoyed travel, reading and staying informed with world current events.

In September of 2002 Hilco entered the Tracy Nursing Home where he died Saturday, October 18, 2003 at the age of 90.

Hilco is survived by his wife, Alvera; one daughter, Carol (Tom) Gannon of Des Moines, IA; three sons, Durwood (Doris) of Brownton, MN, John (Paula) of Wichita, KS and Bruce (Vicki) of Marshall, MN; nine grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; one sister, Elizabeth Lamprecht of Wabasso, MN; many nieces and nephews.

His parents, one grandson, Rex and three brothers preceded him in death.

Interment was in Hoiland Cemetery, Tracy, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling arrangements.

Julia Polman, 93

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 for Julia Alice Polman at Holy Redeemer Church in Marshall, MN. Father Gerald Meidl officiated.

Julia Alice Polman was born on July 19, 1910 in Lyon County, the daughter of Isidore and Leona Doom Louwagie. She attended country school and St. Joseph's Academy in Marshall.

On November 24, 1931 she married Henry Polman in Green valley. The couple farmed in Lyon County. She talked about the time when electricity and indoor plumbing came to the farm. They retired and moved to Marshall in 1969.

Julia then worked for 1st Northwestern Bank and did housekeeping in private homes. Her husband died in 1990. She moved to the Long Term Care Center in 2001. She loved to sew, garden, can, cook and bake. Her family remembers Sunday dinners, her bread, carmel rolls pancakes and rhubarb pie. She always had friends and relative in her home. She enjoyed living in town, daily mass and playing cards. She worked for many years for the Holy Redeemer Funeral Lunch Committee.

Julia died Friday, October 17, 2003 at Weiner Memorial Long Term Care Center in Marshall, MN. She was 93 years old.

She is survived by four daughters, Imra “Chink” (Don) Vroman of Marshall, MN, Judy (Maurice) VanDeWiele of Tracy, MN, Joanne (Jerry) McChesney of Elk River, MN, Joyce (Jim) Leach of Marshall, MN, and five sons, Henry “Butch” (Jeannie) Polman, Jr. of Marshall, Jere Polman of Cold Spring, MN, Steve (Ginger) Polman of Alexandria, MN, Mike Polman of Foristell, MO, Jeff (Nancy) Polman of Willmar, MN; 36 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; sisters, Martha Welu of Marshall, MN and Sister Mary Isidore of St. Paul, MN

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Grace Kerkvliet, son, Joseph, daughter-in-law Patricia Polman and brothers, Maurice, Girard, Camiel and Joseph and sister, Mary Tanghe.

Interment was in Calvary Cemtery, Marshall, MN with the Rehkamp funeral home of Marshall handling arrangements.

Artie Salker, 91

Artie Elizabeth Salker, 91, of Walnut Grove, died Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2003, at the Tracy Nursing Home. 

Services were held Friday, October 17, 2003 at United Methodist Church, Walnut Grove, with the Rev. Michael Smith officiating. Burial was in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. Walnut Grove Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Artie Elizabeth Salker was born November 24, 1911 in Murray County, near Tracy, MN to William and Carrie (Ferguson) Way. She attended schools in Slayton, Tracy and Walnut Grove. She graduated from Mankato Teachers College.

On March 12, 1938 Artie was united in marriage to Fred Salker in St. James, MN. Artie was a devoted teacher and taught school for 41 years. She first taught in area country schools then in 1957 started in the Walnut Grove Public School System where she taught until retirement in 1973. After retirement Artie enjoyed working at the Walnut Grove Museum. She sewed pillows for the museum and loved to do quilting. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and its Ladies circles, and the 20th Century Club.

She is survived by one daughter and one son; Sharon (Don) Lindstrom of Tempe, AZ and Bill (Jan) Salker of Hawarden, IA and five grandchildren, David Lindstrom, Teri Osterkamp, Tom Salker, Jim Salker and Susan McConnel. She is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Asa Way and sister Ida Dawson.

Alice Steen, 100

Alice Marie Steen died peacefully at the age of 100 years, 7 months and 16 days at the Tracy Nursing Home in Tracy, MN on October 16, 2003. Funeral services were held today, Wednesday, October 22, 2003 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church South of Walnut Grove, MN.

Alice was born March 9, 1903 in Ann Township, near Walnut Grove to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Steen. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, where she was a lifelong member. She attended District 42 school and later, high school in Walnut Grove from which she graduated in 1919. She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, graduating in 1923 with degrees in English and French. Following graduation she began a teaching career that spanned 45 years in the communities of Boyd, Climax, Comfrey and in New Ulm where she taught for 31 years.

Alice was active in numerous organizations during her professional career and also was active in church. She enjoyed attending concerts in New Ulm, her bridge club friends, and contacts she maintained with many former students over her lifetime. She was a contributor to the various organizations at St. Olaf Lutheran Church following her retirement in 1968. She used her creativity to make numerous items for the church bazaar, and enjoyed participating in making quilt pieces to be used for Lutheran World Relief. Though she had no children, she was faithful in remembering her nieces and nephews and their children for all birthdays and special occasions. She was well known for her wonderful letter-writing skills and favored family and friends with frequent correspondence. Alice lived in the family home in Walnut Grove until August 1998, when she moved to O'Brien Court in Tracy. After a fall in April 2000, she moved to Tracy Nursing Home.

She is survived by a sister Olga Tyler and husband Ralph; nieces Mary Tyler, and Connie Helgen and husband David; nephews Carlton Steen and wife Dorothy, and John Steen; many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, Menora and Jennie Steen, Ella Fingarson xand Judith in infancy, one brother Conrad Steen, niece Delores (Merle) Peterson and nephew Robert Fingarson.

Interment was in the church cemetery. The Walnut Grove Funeral Home handled arrangements.