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Obituaries from the week of May 26, 2004

Robert Veroeven, 80

Funeral services were held today, Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Walnut Grove, MN for Robert E. Veroeven. Father Brian Mandel officiated. Song leader was Kerry Knakmuhs with Maydra Maas as organist.

Casket bearers were Ron Shindelar, Larry Shindelar, Dean Rys, Richard Rys, Cletus Schons and Keith Schons.

Robert E. “Spud” Veroeven was born December 4, 1923 to Cecil and Lillian (Randolph) Veroeven in Walnut Grove, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church and attended Country School.

As a young man he worked on the family farm until he entered the U.S. Army in March of 1945. After his training he was stationed overseas in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater until his Discharge in November of 1946, and then returned to Walnut Grove.

On November 22, 1950 Robert married Adeline Rys at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Walnut Grove. They made their home on a farm south of Walnut Grove where he lived until his death. He was a lifetime member of the St. Paul's Catholic Parish in Walnut Grove and enjoyed fishing and hunting in his youth and later, coin collecting and playing cards.

On Saturday, May 22, 2004 Spud died at the McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 80.

Spud is survived by his one son, Duane (Suzanne) of St. Louis Park, MN; two daughters, Barbara and Mary Veroeven both of Marshall, MN; one granddaughter, Kristina; one sister, Dorothy Schons of Tracy, MN; nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents, wife, Adeline, one son, Dennis, one brother, Don and one sister, Kathryn Weinzetl preceded him in death.

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

Joanne Coyle

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 24, 2004 at the Tracy Missionary Alliance Church in Tracy, MN for Joanne Coyle. Rev. Edsel Miller officiated. Pianist was Wanda Apperson with a duet by Terry and Carol Flesner. Reader was Jayne Kathman and Cassandra Carlson was a sign interpreter.

Casket bearers were Erik Kathman, Randy Hatton, Dave Coyle, Travis Radke, Jordan Rolling, Byron Carlson, JeRae Kathman, Crystal Coyle, Jessica Hatton, Heather Radke, Cassandra Carlson and Marjorae Martinez.

Joanne Coyle was born April 11, 1936 to Francis and Ora (Murray) Kathman in Estherville, IA. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and at the age of five, moved with her family to a farm near Garvin, MN, where she attended Garvin Country School.

On May 18, 1956 Joanne married Robert Coyle at the Lutheran Church in Dayton, OH, where they made their home for a short time. They then moved to Charlotte, NC and in 1959 to Slayton, MN. In 1963 they moved to Garvin and in 1970 into Tracy, MN where she lived until her death.

Joanne was a home maker, and a well known cook at many restaurants in the area, including the Red Rooster and the Mediterranean in Tracy, cafés in Garvin and Revere and the Lynwood in Lynd, MN. She also worked for Tracy Nursing Home and Prairie Home Care as a home health care nurse, until her retirement in the mid 1990's for health reasons.

Over the years Joanne was involved in many things with her children, trips to sporting events, tournaments and as secretary/treasurer of the local Boy Scout Troop #31. In recent years she had helped out at the Tracy Senior Center and enjoyed playing cards there with her friends. Joanne also enjoyed flower gardening, puzzles, bingo and cooking, but she loved traveling to visit her family and spending time with her grandchildren.

On Friday, May 21, 2004 Joanne died at the Tracy Area Medical Center at the age of 68.

Joanne is survived by her husband, Robert; five daughters, Tammy (Ray) Hatton of Tracy, MN, Sandy (Fran) Carlson of Garvin, MN, Ronda (Roy) Radke of Slayton, MN, Dawn (Bob) Anderson of Lucan, MN and Kim (Dan) Rolling of Tracy, MN; five sons, Bill (Jayne) Kathman of Tracy, MN, David (Pam) of St. Rose, LA, Ronald (Tina) of Orange City, FL, James (Terri) of Redding, CA and Michael (Amy) of Tracy, MN; 21 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bud and Junior both of Atkins, MN; four sisters, Frances Hyatt of Tracy, MN, Vera Shweizo of Atkins, MN, Betty Fischer of St. James, MN, Mary Danielson of Russell, MN; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her parents, infant grandson, Jeremy Hatton, three brothers, Lester, Jack and Donald and one sister, Mildred Bruns, preceded her in death.

Interment was in the Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangements.

Delbert E. Baack, 81

Funeral services were held on Monday, May 24, 2004 at Tracy Lutheran Church for Delbert E. Baack. Rev. Stephen Olson officiated. Organist was Richard Stelter.

Casket bearers were Jeff Lau, Jack Lau, Stephen LaVoy, Chris Bartling and Ben Reichenberg.

Delbert Earl Baack was born March 23, 1923 to Otto and Bertha (Barz) Baack in Tracy, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended Tracy Public Schools. Delbert was raised in Tracy and spent his entire life in Tracy.

On November 5, 1945 Delbert married Virene Pederson in Walnut Grove, MN. They made their home on a farm Northeast of Tracy and remained living there until 1979, when Delbert retired from farming. Delbert was co-owner of Peterson and Baack Implement in Tracy from the early 1970's until 1985 when he retired altogether.

Delbert was a member of the Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy and enjoyed fishing and playing cards. In the summer of 2003 Delbert moved into the Twin Circle Apartments in Tracy where he lived until his death on Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at the age of 81.

Delbert is survived by two daughters, Janice Hudson of Bullhead City, AZ and Diane (Fred) Bartling of Hay Springs, NE; three grandchildren, Peggy Schultz of Las Vegas, NV, Michelle Reichenberg of Worthing, SD and Christopher Bartling of Hartington, NE; nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents, wife, Virene, infant son Bruce, two brothers, Harold and Stewart and one sister, Viola Triplett preceded him in death.

Interment was in the Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangements.

Eleanore Ostgaard, 91

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27, 2004 at the Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy for Eleanore Ostgaard. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 26, from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy. Interment will be at the Tracy City Cemetery. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements.

Eleanore Ostgaard was born November 5, 1912 to Ole and Lena (Korgshavn) Mohn in Minneapolis, MN, Hennepin County. She was baptized in 1913 and confirmed in 1924 in the Lutheran faith and attended Minneapolis Public Schools.

Eleanore married Michael Ostgaard in Minneapolis and they made their home there until 1942 when they moved to Tracy, MN.

Eleanore worked as a sales clerk for John's Drug in Tracy for the last 30 years. She was a member of Tracy Lutheran Church. She enjoyed bowling, golf, playing bridge, bird watching and reading.

She died Sunday, May 23, 2004 at the Tracy Area Medical Services at the age of 91.

Eleanore is survived by her son, Stephen and his wife, Marjorie of Tracy, MN; one grandson, Luke (Kim) Ostgaard; one granddaughter, Gayra Ostgaard and fiancé Brendan Rokke of Tracy, MN; two great-grandchildren, Mic and Michelle Ostgaard and long time family friends, Dennis and Esther Hinz.

Her parents, husband, Mic, two brothers and three sisters preceded her in death.

Lester Ravers, 93

Memorial services were held on Tuesday, May 25, 2004 for Lester Ravers at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy, MN. Rev. Homer Dobson officiated. Tracy American Legion was the Honor and Color Guard with Chauncey Muedeking played taps.

Lester George Ravers was born January 30, 1911 to Jerry and Kate (Behrends) Ravers in Amiret, MN. He attended country school and worked on the family farm as a young man.

On March 21, 1942 Lester enlisted in the U.S. Army. After his training he was sent over to the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater. Lester took part in the landings at Normandy in France and the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes. He also took part in the campaigns in the Rhineland and Central Europe. Lester received several commendations, the Theater Ribbon, Bronze Arrowhead and the Purple Heart, for wounds received in the Normandy invasion. After his discharge in October of 1945, Lester returned to the Tracy area.

Over the years Les worked with his brother farming, commercial combining and tiling, but he is best known for his many years of owning and operating the Breezy Point bar near Lake Shetek. Les liked fishing and hunting in his youth and baseball.

In the Mid 1980's Les moved to the Minnesota Veterans' Home in Hastings, MN and in 1990 became a resident of the Minnesota Veterans' Home in Minneapolis, MN where he died on Sunday, February 1, 2004 at the age of 93.

Lester is survived by one sister-in-law, Myrtle Ravers, two nephews, one niece and two great nieces.

His parents, one brother, one sister and one nephew preceded in him death.

The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handled the arrangements.

Richard Mikkelson, 79

Richard James Mikkelson, 79, died Friday, May 14, at the Meadow Lane Health Care Center in Benson

Mikkelson was the father of Robert Mikkelson, a former teacher and basketball coach at Tracy Area High School.

Mikkelson was born in Benson in 1924 and graduated from high school in 1942. He married Donna Mae Rice in 1947.

He was a lifetime farmer in the Benson area. He enjoyed spending time at his family's lake home, collecting John Deere toy machinery and attending his grandchildren's sporting events.

Mikkelson is survived by his wife: Donna Mae Mikkelson; two sons: Robert and Randall Mikkelson; two daughters: Julie Arnold and Debra Mikkelson; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents: Sivert and Margaret Mikkelson; and one brother: Roger Mikkelson.