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Obituaries from the week of December 24, 2003

Myrtle Ahrens, 93

Myrtle Ahrens, age 93 of Tracy, MN died Sunday, December 21, 2003 at the Tracy Nursing Home. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2003 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until time of service Wednesday morning. Interment will be at the Tracy City Cemetery.

The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements.

Alvin Prail, 85

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, December 17 for Alvin L. Prail, 85 of Benson, MN.

Alvin Louis Prail was born June 17, 1918 in Janesville, MN, the son of Herman and Eda (Krienke) Prail. He was called from this life on Saturday, December 13, 2003 at Summit Place in Eden Prairie, MN. He attained the age of 85 years, 5 months and 26 days.

He grew up on a farm in Janesville, attended rural school and German Lutheran High School.

On June 14, 1941, Al was united in marriage to Josephine Annette Sabin in Walnut Grove, MN. Two daughters were born to this union. Together, Jo and Al were able to share in almost 62 years of marriage. The family made a life farming south of Benson.

Alvin is survived by his two daughters: Julie (Kent) Molde of Eden Prairie, MN and Linda Rodriguez of Tampa, FL; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a brother Willie (Mae) Prail of Janesville, MN and other relatives.

Alvin was preceded in death by his wife Josephine in April of 2003 and a brother Herb.

Interment was in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Grace Township, Chippewa County, MN. The Jacobson-Zniewski Funeral Home of Benson handled the arrangements.

Hilding B. Swan, 95

Funeral services were held on Monday, December 22, 2003 for Hilding B. Swan, at Sillerud Lutheran Church in Balaton, MN. Pastor Steven Quist officiated. Speaker was Heather vanKoeverden with Donna Swan as organist.

Casket bearers were Dennis Swan, Doug Swan, Charles Swan, Harris Swan, Kevin vanKoeverden and Rick Miller.

Hilding Bernard Swan was born on January 18, 1908 to Charles and Anna (Johnson) Swan on their family farm in Lowville Township, Murray County, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended country school.

On March 31, 1943 Hilding married Blanche Kadolph at her brother, Elmer's home. They made their home on the family farm where he was born. He raised both cattle and hogs and remained on the family farm for 62 years until his retirement in 1969 when they moved to Balaton, MN.

In the years following his retirement Hilding kept busy working at the Balaton Implement Shop and also the Balaton Creamery. He and his wife were the caretakers of Sillerud Lutheran Cemetery for many years. He was a member of the Sillerud Lutheran Church, having served on the church council, member of the Hadley Elevator Board, Balaton Sportsman's Club and the Lions Club. Hilding was a farmer his whole life and he loved the land, but he enjoyed time spent fishing, refinishing furniture, gardening and barbecuing pork. He and Blanche loved to travel. They took trips to see all 50 states and 24 foreign countries.

Hilding entered Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton in 2000. In April of this year he moved to the hospice house in Slayton, MN and in September came home to live with his wife at his daughter, Phyllis's house in Tracy, MN. On Thursday, December 18, 2003 Hilding died at the age of 95.

Hilding is survived by his wife, Blanche; two daughters, Betty (Don) Westphal of Amiret, MN and Phyllis (Gary) Hansen of Tracy, MN; four grandchildren, Lynn (Rick) Miller of Garvin, MN, Todd and Scott Westphal of Brookings, SD and Heather (Kevin) vanKoeverden of Rochester, MN; one great-grandson, Ryan Miller; one sister, Viola Hanson of Slayton, MN; two sister-in-laws, Orla Swan of Marshall, MN and Ruby Kadolph of Brookings, SD; one brother-in-law, Alvin Kadolph of Hadley, MN; nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents, seven brothers, two sisters and many friends preceded him in death.

Burial was in the Sillerud Cemetery, Balaton, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangements.