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Obituaries from the week of August 4, 2004

Jeanne Byrne, 76

Funeral services were held Tues., August 3, 2004 at Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin, MN for Jeanne Byrne. Rev. Melba Smith officiated. Organist was Kyle Peltola with soloist Bill Roemer.

Pallbearers were her grandsons James Hart, Tom Byrne, Joe Byrne, Chad Hart, Peter Bassett, Perry Benson, Andrew Whiting and Christopher Whiting.

Jeanne Byrne was born on September 26, 1927 at Currie, MN to Arlie and Amelia Priebe Gleason. She grew up in Currie and attended Currie Elementary School and graduated from Tracy High School in 1945.

On November 8, 1944 she and G. Edgar Barrie were married at Palo Pinto, TX. He was killed in action during WWII. On August 6, 1946 she and Perry T. Byrne were married at Walnut Grove, MN. Following their marriage they lived at Currie and Revere, MN. In 1950 they started farming in Murray Township. Perry passed away on April 28, 1979.

In 1980 Jeanne moved to her present home in Currie. Over the years, she worked at Sy's Hardware Store as a clerk, the Currie State Bank as a teller and the Currie Liquor Store.

Jeanne passed away on July 31, 2004 at her home after a lengthy illness.

She was a member of the Currie Presbyterian Church where she had taught Sunday school. She bowled in league and belonged to a card club. Jeanne enjoyed gardening, cooking, playing cards, birds, boating, fishing, bowling, going to casinos, spending time at her home on Lake Shetek and being with her family and many friends.

Survivors include her five children and their spouses: Caryl Hart of Sioux Falls, SD, Judy and Herb Bassett of LaCrosse, WI, Barbara Whiting of Maple Grove, MN, Mary and Dale Benson of Maple Grove, MN and Tom and Kathy Byrne of Currie; her mother, Amelia Gleason of Slayton; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; her companion of 12 years, Morris "Bud" Radke of Currie; and Bud's seven children, their spouses, his grandchildren and their families.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husbands, Edgar Barrie and Perry Byrne, her father, Arlie, sister Shirley Nimmerfroh Bremer, grandson, Noel Byrne, great-grandson, Samuel Bassett and good friend, Harold Mickelson.

The family prefers memorials to Hospice of Murray County. Arrangements were handled by the Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton.

Ella Steinberg, 94

Ella Goehring Steinberg (nee Bierman) age 94, of St. Peter, formerly of Tracy, Springfield and Sanborn, MN passed away July 28, 2004 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis after a fall in her home.

Ella was born in rural Cottonwood County, MN to Henry and Minnie (Nordman) Bierman on February 14, 1910. Her parents were immigrants, first to Iowa and later to Minnesota. She was baptized on March 23, 1910, at St. John's Lutheran Church of rural Cottonwood County, MN.

Ella graduated from Lamberton High School in 1927 and Lamberton Teachers Training in 1928. She attended Winona State Teachers College, receiving a two year certificate in 1933. She taught in area rural schools and also worked at Powers Department store in Minneapolis. She married Wilbert C. Goehring in November 1940. Wilbert and Ella had three children: Pastor William Goehring of York, NE, Ellen Muller-Head of Littleton, CO, and Janet Graves, of St. Paul, MN.

When all the children had entered grade school, she continued her education, graduating from Mankato State University with a B.S. Degree in 1963. She then taught second grade in the Springfield Elementary School for 17 years. She taught in Minnesota schools for a total of 33 years. She retired from teaching in 1975.

Three years after her retirement, her first husband, Wilbert, passed away. In 1982 she married Carl Steinberg and moved with him to Tracy after their honeymoon to the Ozarks. In 1991 Carl and Ella moved to St. Peter where she resided until her death.

Ella loved teaching and was named "Teacher of the Year" in Springfield near the end of her career. She also instructed Sunday School, junior Bible classes, and enjoyed her involvement in church choirs, mission groups, literary club, study clubs, travel, nature, music, reading and always church. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and the Springfield Hospital Auxiliary and Civic and Commerce Association.

Preceding her in death was her first husband Wilbert (May of 1978), two brothers, Martin and Edwin Bierman, and four sisters, Lelah Raddach, Linda Bast, Lucy Tietz, and Marie Bolter.

Ella is survived by her husband, Carl Steinberg, son William (Shirley) Goehring and daughters Ellen (James) Muller-Head and Janet (Edward) Graves. Also surviving are step-daughters, Carol Steinberg of Minneapolis, MN and Sally (Chris) Bursch of Owatonna, MN. Ella is also survived by six grandchildren: Timothy (Jackie) Goehring, Peter (Cory) Goehring, Rebecca (Brian) Hoffmann, Sara (Nate) Birkholz, Paul (Florence) Muller and Heidi (John) Muller-Warren, by three step-grandchildren: Mathew, Heidi and Melinda Bursch, and by five great-grandchildren: Chelsea Goehring, Tyler and Alixi Goehring, Salem Birkholz, Emma Hoffmann, and by two step great-grandchildren: Whitney and Lane Vagts. Ella has one surviving sister, Esther Anderson of Lamberton, MN. All three of her God-children and also surviving: Don Boelter, Penny Blomquist, Linda Staynoff and many nephews, nieces and friends.

Visitation will be on Friday, August 6, 2004 at 10 a.m. with services to follow at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church, 427 W. Mulberry St., St. Peter, MN. Committal will be at the Sanborn Cemetery at 4 p.m., Sanborn, MN.

Memorial contributions are suggested for St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church or to the charity of your choice.

May her example as a wife, mother, grandmother and teacher be a wonderful memory and continued blessing to all who knew her.