Obituaries from the week of March 24, 2004
Lyle Engesser, 63
Memorial services was held Thursday, January 15, 2004 for Lyle Engesser, at McClellanville United Methodist Church. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, January 17, 2004 at St. John Baptist de LaSalle Catholic Church in Dodge Center, MN with Rev. James Sietz celebrating. Interment was in Riverside Cemetery in Dodge Center.
Lyle was born November 8, 1940 in Tracy, MN the son of the late William Jennings Engesser and Annie Mary Doose Engesser. He was a self-employed drainage excavation contractor, and a U.S. Navy Veteran.
Surviving are his wife, Eleanor Chicos Engesser, McClellanville, SC; son, Tom Engesser of Georgetown, SD; daughters, Cindy Jones and husband Brian, of Valley Lee, MD; Gayle Brekke and husband, Eric, of Parkville, MO; Angela Beerman and husband, Jimmy, of Raleigh, NC; sisters Louise Stransky, Fairbault, MN; Mariam Calkins, Stillwater, MN; Janice Glenn, Jackson, MN; three grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by a brother, Neil Engesser.
Graham Funeral Home in Georgetown was in charge of the arrangements in Georgetown and Czaplewski Family Funeral Home in Dodge Center was in charge of arrangements in Dodge Center, MN.
Royal Krueger, 88
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, March 26, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy for Royal Krueger. Visitation will be Thursday, March 25 from 4-8 p.m. at the church and will continue on Friday one hour prior to the service.
Fr. Brian Mandel will officiate the service. Reader will be Angela Cohrs. Julieta Alvarado Rieppel will be the organist with John Schleppenbach as soloist.
Honorary casket bearers are Roxanne Krueger, Michelle Krueger, David Krueger, Angela Cohrs, Shannon Rhodes, Jason Krueger, Brindl Krueger, Nettie Maeyaert, Marjorae Hatton, Ray Royal Hatton, George E. Tanguy II, Jeremiah Martin, Corey Royal Krueger, Jamie Krueger.
Royal Paul Krueger was born July 26, 1915 in Tracy, MN to Emil and Grace (Smith) Krueger. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy. He graduated from Tracy High School in 1933.
On September 2, 1935 he was united in marriage to Vernette (Betty) Marcotte at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tracy, MN. Royal worked in the grocery business in Iona. He started farming in 1943 and retired to Arizona in 1976 where he started organic farming. In 1983 he returned to farming. Betty was the love of his life as Royal was a very devoted husband. Royal was known as an excellent public speaker, he served as the chairman of the DFL Party for several years and was instrumental in organizing the NFO in several area counties.
Royal's hobbies included hiking, singing in choirs, roles in plays, farming, raising animals, and collecting teddy bears., He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where he was an altar server for many years, Holy Name Society, Knights' of Columbus, Toast Masters, and Dale Carnagie.
On March 21, 2004 Royal Paul Krueger died at Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy, Minnesota at the age of 88 years, 7 months and 25 days.
He is survived by his children; Ron (Jan) Krueger of Chino Valley, AZ, Richard (Ann) Krueger of Garvin, Roger Krueger of Tracy, Robert (Alita) Krueger of Cedar Falls, IA, Rosemary (Mike) Martin of Tracy, and Rodney (Virginia) Krueger of Slayton, one sister, Dorothy Dalke of Phoenix, AZ and 17 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife in 2002, infant son, son Rollie in 1948, half brother Walter and grandson Anthony.
Burial will be in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Tracy. Tracy Area Funeral Home in Charge of arrangements.
Betty Schaffer, 75
Funeral services were held Monday, March 22, 2004 for Betty Schaffer at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Currie, MN. Monsingor Paul Evers officiated The organist was Patty LeClaire with LoAnn Hansen as song leader. Pallbearers were her grandchildren.
Betty Schaffer was born on September 20, 1928 on a farm in Vail Twp., in Redwood Co., MN to Ludwig and Agnes Zollner Daub. She grew up on the family farm near Wabasso and attended country school District #65 and St. Anne's School in Wabasso. She graduated from Wabasso High School in 1946. She then graduated from Mankato Beauty School in 1947 and worked at Gillespie's Beauty Shop in Tracy.
On September 7, 1948 she and George H. Schaffer Jr. were married at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Wabasso. Following their marriage they farmed the Schaffer family farm in Murray Twp. and raised their 11 children.
They retired from farming in 1989 and continued to live on the farm. Betty moved into Currie in January 2004. She suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and passed away on March 19, 2004 at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 75.
She was a member of IHM Church in Currie and belonged to the WCCW and Catholic Daughters. Her many hobbies included quilting, embroidery, sewing, gardening, baking and traveling. She loved spending time with her family and friends.
Survivors include six sons, and five daughters, and their spouses: Dennis and Alyce Schaffer of Courtland, MN, Mike and Nina Schaffer of Fulda, Colleen and Roy Schweiss of Fairfax, MN, Rita and Paul Heller of Mankato, MN, Mary Schaffer of Minneapolis, MN, Joe Schaffer of Pipestone, MN, Duane Schaffer of Mankato, MN, Barbara and Laverne Dunsmore of Delano, MN, Paul and Jamie Schaffer of Mankato, MN, Jane Schaffer and her husband, Scott Likely of Minneapolis, MN and Charles Schaffer and his wife Rebekah Njaa of St. Paul, MN; 14 grandchildren: John, Andrew and Maria Schaffer, Andrea Nachreiner and Rebecca Schweiss, Shannon, Janine, Nicholas, Angelissa and Kristen Schaffer, Crystal and Jared Schaffer and Allen and Sarah Schaffer; four great-grandchildren: Carter and Jaeden Nachreiner, Brayden Kopinski and Aaliyah Schaffer; and one brother, Eugene Daub, and his wife, Gloria of Lodi, CA.
She is preceded in death by her husband, George who passed away on March 11, 2004 and her parents.
Interment was in the Calvary Cemetery, Currie, MN. The Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton handed the arrangements.