Obituaries from the week of January 21, 2004
Hugh Gibson, 92
Funeral services were held today, Wednesday, January 21, 2004 for Hugh W. Gibson at Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy, MN. Rev. Stephen Olson and Rev. Gary Gabel officiated. Richard Stelter was the organist.
Hugh Waldo Gibson was born November 20, 1911 to Hugh and Fannie (Gillis) Gibson in Chicago, IL. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended Chicago Public School, graduating in 1929. He then went to two years of schooling in refrigeration and electrical training.
On March 28, 1942 Hugh married Frances Anderson in Tracy, MN. They made their home in Tracy and Hugh worked for his uncle in the Tracy Hotel. On October 16, 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Brookings, SD. He served on the U.S.S. California in the Pacific Theatre and was on the Marianas Islands, Philippines and Okinawa, as well as, taking part in the battle of Suriago Straits. Hugh was honorably discharged on October 2, 1945 after attaining the rank of Electrician's Mate First Class. He returned to Tracy and owned and operated his own business, Gibson Refrigeration.
He retired from his business and then worked for the Tracy Public School system as a janitor for many years and also o several golf courses in the area as a groundskeeper. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and spent a lot of time in Arizona in the winters. Hugh also enjoyed golfing and was known for his ability in the Tracy area. He was a member of the Tracy Lutheran Church and was involved in the Bethel Series and the Church's radio broadcast for 25 years.
On January 3, 2004 Hugh became a resident of the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy, where he died Saturday, January 17, 2004 at the age of 92.
Hugh is survived by one half brother, Charles H. Gibson of Wyoming; one nephew, Robert Gibson of Arizona; special friend, Jack Alf of Tracy, MN and other good friends.
His parents, wife, Frances and one brother preceded him in death.
Interment was in the Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangments.
Marvin Mischke, 85
Funeral services were held at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove, MN on Friday, January 16, 2004 for Marvin W. Mischke. Rev. Bonnie Lomen officiated. Organist was Nancy Osland with Chuck Dibley as soloist.
Pall bearers were Michael Braun, Trent Kirchner, Alvin Leinen, Bob Peterson, Larry Schindler and Michael Stewart.
Honorary pallbearers were Chris Ahkers, Glenn Crowley, Alex Fisher, Stanley Kramer and Dan Bennett.
Marvin Mischke, the son of August B. and Louisa Eichner Mischke, was born June 30, 1918 on a farm near Westbrook, MN. He was baptized at Faith Lutheran Church in Westbrook. As a youth he moved with his family to Walnut Grove, MN. Marv was confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Walnut Grove. He grew up in Walnut Grove and graduated from Walnut Grove High School.
He served in the United States Army during WWII. Following his discharge he attended Mankato State Teachers College where he received his degree in teaching and coaching. Over a span of forty years in the education field, he served in four school districts, Buffalo Lake, Springfield and Storden, where he taught and coached and later served as principal and athletic director at Fulda.
Marv passed away on January 12, 2004 at the Worthington Regional Hospital in Worthington, MN at the age of 85.
He was a member of the English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove all his life. Marv enjoyed gardening and reading.
Survivors include one brother, Willard “Bud” Mischke and his wife, Janet of Westbrook; one sister, Gloria Jacobs of Walnut Grove and eight nieces and nephews and their spouses, Gary and Janet Jacobs of Wells, MN, Lorna and Charles Dibley of Rock Valley, IA, Luana and Randy Van Maanen of Lismore, MN, Larry and Susan Mischke of Ely, MN, Richard and Kathy Mischke of Walnut Grove, Mn, Jay and Julie Mischke of Darwin, MN, David and Judy Mischke of Ringsted, IA and Lee and Lisa Mischke of Avoca, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother-in-law, Dwight Jacobs.
Interment was in Westbrook City Cemetery with the Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton handling the arrangements.
Olive Anderson Kester
Born January 27, 1915, to Herman and Ingeborg Myhra Hoganson in Perley, Minnesota. Olive was baptized and confirmed at Kirkebo Lutheran Church there. She was educated in Perley, finishing her final year of high school in Moorhead in 1929, at the age of 14. She received her Bachelor of Education degree at Moorhead State Teachers College in 1933, at the age of 18. For a total of 25 years she taught mathematics and English in the high schools of Underwood, Carlton, and Tracy.
She married Erland Anderson June 8, 1940, in Washington, D.C. They lived in Carlton, Minnesota until their move to Tracy in 1943 where Erland was high school principal. After his death in 1971, Olive continued to live in Tracy. While there, she was an active member of Tracy Lutheran Church, Monday Musicale, Sorosis Study Club, and activities of the school and church community. During retirement years, she traveled and enjoyed Elderhostal programs both in the U.S.A. and abroad. Hobbies included sewing, reading, gardening, baking and travel. Her family members, especially her grandchildren, were her special joy.
Olive and Erland had six sons: Ronald (Lori) Anderson, Cottage Grove; Clyde (Linda) Anderson, Atlanta, GA; Glen Anderson, deceased in 1967; Wayne (Janice) Anderson, Eden Prairie; Lyle Anderson, Dalton, GA; and Dean (Becky) Anderson, Savage. Grandchildren include Pam Edison, Julie Reidl, Jennifer Hall, Melissa Seymour, Chad, Erika, Gretchen and Ryan (all Andersons). Great grandchildren include Eden Anderson, Alexis and Tiana Edison, Calloway and Ellis Hall, and Teagan Reidl.
January 7, 1993, Olive married Marvin Kester in Mesa, AZ. They spent winters there and summers in Marv's Underwood, MN home. Marv and Olive, friends in the 1930's, had rekindled their relationship after both had lost their spouses and were provided several years of additional happiness together. Olive also got to know Marv's children, Kay (Garvin) Stailey, Mesa, AZ and Kurt (Sue) Kester, Luverne, MN, as well as all of their children and grandchildren and also Marv's brother Vernon “Pep” Kester, Fergus Falls, MN. Olive's family has had the privilege to get to know and love Marv and his family, and truly appreciate the time that the couple enjoyed together.
From a family of six siblings, brothers include Sherman Hoganson, Fargo, ND and Howard (Lola) Hoganson, Minneapolis. Sisters: Mabel Anderson, Silver Springs, MD; Selma Baardsen, deceased in 1992; and Lillian (Wayne) Richardson, Burnsville.
In her final years, Olive was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis and spent her last 16 months in Excelsior Nursing Home, where numerous family members were able to visit daily. She passed away peacefully on January 16, 2004.
Funeral Service – January 20, 2004 at 11:00 am, Sverdrup Lutheran Church,
Underwood, MN. Visitation 1 hour prior to service and fellowship following.
Private Interment – January 21, 2004, Tracy City Cemetery, Tracy, MN and public reception to follow at 11:30 am at Tracy Lutheran Church.
Gilbert Snyder, 65
Gilbert “Gib” Snyder was born January 27, 1938 on a farm east of Marshall to Gordon and Alice (Marks) Snyder. He attended Milroy School and obtained his GED in 1965.
Gib died on December 18, 2003 at his home in New Mexico.
He is survived by his wife Sharon; daughters Denise (David) Vanderlinden, Delaine (Bob) Vanderlinden; son Mark (Karen) Snyder; nine grandchildren; three brothers, Bruce (Joyce) of Alexandria, MN, Ken (Darlene) of Everett, WA, Jim (Shirley), Marshall, MN; three sisters, Janet (Ray) Randall, Tracy, MN, Ruth (Gerry) Snyder, of Currie, MN, Ginger (Rich) Pautsch of Gaylord, MN; two uncles Warren (Dorothy) Snyder and Cecil both of Marshall; one aunt, Mil Saxton of Garvin; many nieces, nephews who loved him dearly.
Donald Swenson Sr., 78
Donald Swenson Sr., 78 of Walnut Grove, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2004 at the Tracy Hospital in Tracy, MN.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 22 at 11 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove.
Visitation will be Wednesday, Jan. 21 from 4-8 p.m. at the Walnut Grove Funeral Home in Walnut Grove with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service. Visitation continues on Thursday, one hour prior to the service at the church.
Casket bearers are his grandchildren: Shawn Swenson, Stuart Swenson, Carl Swenson, Billie Swenson, Jaycob Swenson, Stephen Swenson, Casey Swenson, Stacy Wihlm, Ben Pacholl and Brandon Pacholl.
Burial will be in the church cemetery.
The Walnut Grove Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Donald E. Swenson Sr. was born November 18, 1925 in Tracy, MN to Ervie and Dora (Truedson) Swenson. He was baptized at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove, and attended school in rural Walnut Grove.
He served in the Merchant Marines from 1944-1947.
He was united in marriage to Edith Moyars on Dec. 21, 1947 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. They farmed in Springdale Township until 1970. He was then caretaker at Plum Creek Park from 1971-1987 and was a driver for Meals on Wheels for many years. In December of 2003 he received his 30 year AA pin. In his retirement years he kept busy and enjoyed lawn care, camping, and his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife Edith of Walnut Grove; sons: Don Jr (Joan) of Sleepy Eye, Dennis (Trish) of Madelia, Doug (JoAnn) of LeSueur, Duane (Brenda) of Rockford; daughter Deb (Dale) Pacholl of Walnut Grove; 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; sisters: Helen Buterbaugh and Viona Foster of Tracy.
Ralph V. Tyler, 95
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church south of Walnut Grove for Ralph V. Tyler, age 95 of Tracy, formerly of Walnut Grove. Mr. Tyler passed away on Sunday, January 18, at the Tracy Nursing Home.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Walnut Grove Funeral Home, and one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.
Interment will be in the church cemetery. The Walnut Grove Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Verna Wadhams, 74
Verna M. Wadhams, age 74, died Saturday, January 17, 2004 at the Huron Regional Medical Center. Services were Tuesday, January 20, 2004 at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Richard Rinearson officiating.
Pallbearers were Lester Meyer, David Meyer, Jason Meyer, Alvin Buesing, Jim Cavigielli, and John Neiffer.
Verna Marie Hyllested was born March 5, 1929 at Tracy, MN to Peter and Martha (Vogelsburg) Hyllested. She grew up at Tracy and attended school there. On March 5, 1949 she married Harold W. Wadhams in Huron. They lived in Tracy until 1958, when they moved to Huron. Verna worked at the Huron Public Schools Food Service and at Sunquest Village Food Service. She also helped to audit books for the CNW Credt Union.
Verna was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Degree of Honor, the Train Ladies Auxiliary, the VFW Auxiliary, and TOPS. She loved spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed cooking and was a committed volunteer at her church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; her stepson, Patrick; two brothers, Harold and Bud; and her sister, Fern Trout.
She is survived by her children, Linda (Don) Sherman, of Riverview, FL, Richard (Elizabeth) Wadhams, of Lynn Haven, FL, Ruth (Chris) Wolff, of Wolsey, Jane (Rob) Sondreal, of Huron, Paula (Tim) Meyer, of Iroquois, and Mary (Brian) Dunn, of Huron; one stepdaughter, Treva Gottwein, of Brookfield, WI; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Richard Hyllested, of Tracy, MN, and Frank Hyllested, of Anoka, MN; four sisters, Dorothy Storck, of Marshall, MN, Johanna Bartlett, of Stillwater, OK, Carol (Bob) Wendt, of Eden Prairie, MN, and Helen Hyllested, of Golden Valley, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery.