Obituaries from the week of November 19, 2003

Beatrice Whitman, 100

Beatrice Mae Whitman died November 15, 2003 at Northcrest Retirement Community in Ames, IA, where she resided.

Bea was born January 4, 1903 at Tracy, MN to Mathilda and Joseph Price. She graduated from Tracy High School and attended Mankato State Teachers College where she obtained a teaching certificate. She taught in a one-room school in the Tracy area for several years.

Bea married Walter William Whitman of Lake Benton, MN on February 5, 1927 and moved to Des Moines where she worked as a secretary and homemaker until the death of her husband in 1940. She returned to school and graduated from Drake University in 1944 with a degree in elementary education and then taught in the Des Moines School District retiring in 1969. She was a member of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Auburn Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star and the Des Moines Retired Teachers Association.

Bea spent summers tent camping with her family as a child and later at her cabin on Lake Shetek.

Bea is survived by, a son William Walter Whitman (Toni) of Ames, grandsons James Chauvin Whitman of Seattle, and Walter William Whitman, II (Mary), and great grandchildren Martin and Rachel Whitman of Des Moines. She also survived by cousins Marj Peterson of Tracy, Mildred Otto of Walnut Grove and Robert Manke of Marshall.

Bea was preceded in death by sisters Ruth Lau of Tracy and Doris Dahlstrom of Des Moines, and a brother Fred Price of Minneapolis.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date. Memorials may be donated to her church or to a charity of the contributorís choice.

Erma Burgess, 101

Erma J. Burgess, age 101 of Tracy, MN died Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003 at the Tracy Nursing Home. A memorial service will be held in the spring.

Arrangements will be handled by Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy, MN.

Dianne Lindberg, 48

Funeral services were held Friday, November 14, 2003, at Grace Church, Eden Prairie, MN, for Dianne Lindberg, age 48 of Chaska, MN.

Dianne Marie (Trei) Lindberg was born June 11, 1955 to Wendell and Eileen (DeBlieck) Trei in Ft. Hood, TX. Most of her youth was spent in Tracy, MN, where she graduated from High School. Marvin Lindberg Jr. and Dianne were married July 28, 1973.

Dianne passed away November 11, 2003.

She is preceded in death by her brother, Jon, and brother-in-law, Gregory DeLanghe.

Dianne is survived by sons, Zachariah and Jacob; granddaughter, Keelan; parents, Wendell and Eileen Trei; sisters, Debra (Mrs. Bill) Post, Denise (Mrs. John) DeLanghe, Donna DeLanghe; brothers, James, Jeffrey, Michael (Sonja), Marc (Pia); grandmother, Ethel (Edwards) DeBlieck; 24 nieces and nephews.

Dianne was a dedicated mother, daughter, sister, and friend. Much of her life was spent sharing her faith in God with others. Her spirit lives on in the hearts of those who knew her.

Mildred Monge, 96

Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, November 21, 2003 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield, MN for Mildred Monge. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the church. Interment will be in Tracy, MN.

Mildred was born April 12, 1907 in Madison, Mn to parents Charles and Pauline Brotten Hovick. She graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield. She was an English teacher and an accomplished organist and pianist.

She married Harold Monge in 1934 in Northfield where they lived until moving to Tracy, MN in 1947. Mildred taught piano and organ lessons in her home for many years. She moved back to Northfield in 1986 following her husband's death.

Survivors include sons Rolf Monge of Longmont, CO, Donald (Sue) Monge of Pierre, SD, Robert (Joanne) Monge, Edina, and Gerald Monge, Bemidji, MN; 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; sisters Signe Austin of Northfield, Charlotte Lohman of Lakeville; former daughters-in-laws Mary Monge of Maple Grove, Lynn Monge of Marshall, and Pamela McCrea of Hungtington Beach CA, and Elsie Larson of Two Harbors, MN.

She was preceded in death by husband Harold and son Rev. David Monge.

Arrangements are with the Gearty Delmore Funeral Chapel, St. Louis Park, MN.

Sylvia Ranum, 72

Sylvia Almlie Ranum, 72, passed away Friday, November 14, 2003 at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck, MN. Her funeral was held today, Wed., Nov. 19, at Indherred Lutheran Church in Starbuck.

Sylvia was born September 13, 1931 in Bricelyn, MN. She was the youngest of three children born to Hans and Marie (Haaland) Almlie. She grew up on the family farm. She graduated as valedictorian of Bricelyn High School Class of 1949, and went on to attend Luther College in Decorah, IA. In 1953, she graduated from Luther with majors in English, Norwegian and German.

Sylvia married Paul Ranum on September 7, 1956. They lived in Newport WA until 1962. In 1969 they moved to Alexandria, MN. The family moved to Willmar in 1979, where Sylvia later worked part-time for Lutheran Social Services. In 1994, Sylvia and Paul retired to Starbuck, MN. Due to failing health, she has been a resident of Minnewaska Lutheran Home since 1999.

Sylvia is survived by her husband, Paul; son Eric and daughter-in-law MaryBeth of Coeur D'Alene, ID, daughter Heidi and son-in-law Jerry Johnson, Buckley, WA, daughter Gretchen and son-in-law Dan Poffenberger, St. Charles, IA, daughter Ingrid and son-in-law Mark Herrman, River Forest, IL; four grandsons; brother John Almlie, of Tracy, as well as several nieces, nephews and godchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Hans and Marie Almlie; her sister, Magdalene Bruland; and her son, Marc Peter.

Roger Williams, 51

Roger L. Williams, 51, died peacefully with his family beside him on November 9, 2003 at the Taylor Hospice House in Des Moines, IA. Funeral services were held Thursday November 13, at Heartland Assembly of God Church in Ankeny, IA.

Roger is survived by his wife of 17 years, Tonya of Polk City, IA; five children, Marcus Williams, Kelly of Everett, WA; Amy (John) Ourada of Tracy, Becky Small, Amanda and James Williams all of Polk City, IA; three grandchildren, Joshua and Jillian Ourada, Tracy, Madison, Kelly, WA; four brothers, Greg, Alaska, Kermit, Idaho, Larry and Jimmy both of California, his mother and step-father, Cora and Al Carabajal, Fontana, CA; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and in-laws.

His father, James E. Williams preceded him in death.