Obituaries from the week of September 29, 2004

Hazel Robinson, 89

Funeral services are set for Thursday, September 30, 2004 10:30 a.m. for Hazel Robinson at the Tracy United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held today (Wednesday, Sept. 29) from 4-8 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. Prayer Service at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy.
Hazel Lorene Robinson was born November 11, 1915 to Henry Edward and Elizabeth (Hanson) Jensen, in Shetek Township of Murray County, MN.
Hazel attended school in Tracy and graduated as Valedictorian of her class in 1933. She later graduated from Mankato State University with a BS in elementary education. She taught in a rural school for two years and in Amiret for four years. For 20 years she was a member of the Tracy Elementary faculty where she taught 2nd grade.
On August 17, 1936, she was married to Virgil James Robinson, in Tracy, MN. To this union were born two sons, Donald and Bruce.
Hazel was a member of the Tracy Methodist Church, National Education Association, Minnesota Education Association, Tracy Education Association, and the Retired Educators of Minnesota.
She enjoyed traveling, bowling and playing bridge. After retirement, she and her husband spent 19 winters in Mesa, AZ, where they enjoyed the climate and made many friends.
Hazel died on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at Tracy Area Medical Services at the age of 89.
Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, by Virgil, her husband of 64 years, and six sisters, Mildred, Helen, Leone, Marian, Donna and DeLoris and brother, Delbert.
She is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Donald and Patricia Robinson, Eagan, MN and Bruce and Susan Robinson, St. Paul, MN, four grandchildren Gregory Robinson, and wife, Dianne, Paul Robinson and wife, Deanna, Jennifer Robinson and Sarah Robinson and four great-grandchildren, Casey, Emily, Blake and Patrick. Also surviving are two sisters, Ruth Rupp, Burnsville, MN and Muriel Jensen, Edina, MN and many nephews, nieces and cousins.
Interment will be at Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangements.

Helen Hyllested, 62

Helen M. Hyllested, age 62, of the Minneapolis area, formerly of Tracy, MN died September 22, 2004 in Brooklyn Park, MN.
She was born Nov. 5, 1941 in Tracy to Peter & Martha (Vogelsberg) Hyllested. She is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters. She is survived by her brothers, Richard Hyllested (Tracy) and Frank Hyllested (Anoka); sisters, Dorothy Storck (Marshall), Johanna Bartlett (Stillwater, OK) and Carol (Bob) Wendt (Eden Prairie); many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and many friends.
Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004 at 12 noon at the Church of St. Mary, Tracy. Interment St. Mary's Cemetery, Tracy.
Arrangements were by Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel, 952-926-1615

Amy J. Livingston, 87

Funeral services were held on Friday, September 24, 2004 for Amy J. Livingston at the Balaton United Methodist Church in Balaton, MN. Pastor Alan Bolte officiated. Soloist was Karen Thooft, with Donna Swan as organist.
Casket bearers were James Towne, Jesse Towne, Bryan Sandwick, Mark Dobias, John Ashley and Robert Evans.
Amy Jorgene Livingston was born August 21, 1917 to Andrew and Anna Laura (Hanson) Rasmussen on the family farm, rural Balaton, Lyon County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at the Balaton Presbyterian Church. She attended country school and as a young woman began housekeeping, cooking and cleaning for several neighbors.
On April 10, 1939 Amy married Herbert Arol Livingston at the Balaton Presbyterian Parsonage. They made their home in Balaton and Amy was a homemaker until 1974 when she became a cook for the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton until 1980 when she retired.
Raising houseplants, quilting, crossword puzzles and collecting Elvis Presley memorabilia were some of her many interests, but what she really enjoyed was spending time with her family playing cards and board games. Amy will forever be lovingly remembered for her pie baking. She was a member of the Balaton United Methodist Church.
In April of 2004 Amy became a resident of the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy, MN where she died Tuesday, September 21, 2004 at the age of 87.
Amy is survived by four daughters, Cynthia "Cynthy" Livingston of Hayward, WI, Joan (Mel) Ziemke of Tracy, MN, Linda Towne of Garvin, MN and Celeste Livingston of New York, NY; one son, Brian Livingston of Slayton, MN; six grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Cora Wixon and Eva Town both of Balaton, MN; one sister-in-law, Esther Rasmussen of Deerwood, MN; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her parents, husband, Herbert, one infant son, one son-in-law, Ron, four sisters and one brother preceded her in death.
Burial was in the Lakeside Cemetery, Balaton, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton handling the arrangements.

Olga Tyler, 98

Olga Tyler, formerly of Walnut Grove, passed away Thursday, September 23, 2004 at the Tracy Nursing Home in Tracy, MN at the age of 98 years, 10 months and 3 days. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church south of Walnut Grove.
Olga Pauline Steen was born at the family farm in Ann Township, Cottonwood County, on November 20, 1905, the daughter of Carl and Annie Steen. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church where she remained a lifelong member. She attended country school, District 42, as a student of her oldest sister and later attended and graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1923. She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield and graduated in 1927 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majors in Latin and Biology and a minor in English. She began a rewarding teacher career of 41 years having taught in Jeffers, Atwater, Milroy, Hutchinson, San Francisco, Tracy and Walnut Grove. Throughout her life she received visits and notes from many former students who spoke of her positive impact on their lives. She retired from teaching in 1971.
On June 12, 1945, she and Ralph V. Tyler were united in marriage at St. Olaf Lutheran Church where a celebration of this occasion was held 50 years later, honoring the Tylers on their Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Olga was active in her school, church, and community. She was a tireless and proud supporter of Walnut Grove. She was a member of WELCA and a former Sunday School and Bible School teacher. After retiring, she remained active in the school community and served on the planning committee for the Walnut Grove All-School Reunion held in 1989. She and Ralph enjoyed traveling and especially the memorable trips to Hawaii, Norway, and San Francisco.
She is survived by her daughter Mary; niece Connie (Fingarson) Helgen, nephews: Carlton Steen and John Steen; cousin Arlene (Enstad) Hyster; numerous great and great-great grand nieces and nephews, godchildren and a host of friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, her parents, her brother, Conrad Steen, sisters: Ella Fingarson and Menora, Jennie and Alice Steen; infant sister, Judith, niece, Delores (Fingarson) Peterson and nephew, Robert Fingarson.
She will be remembered for her strong Christian faith and many wonderful qualities including her sense of humor, her quiet dignity and grace, her uncomplaining nature and her warmth and love for others.
Interment was in the St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery. The Walnut Grove Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Morris (Bud) Radke, 75

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 for Morris Radke at Lake Sarah Lutheran Church. Reverend Melba Smith officiated. Soloist was Tina Zeug with Myra Kronke as organist.
Casket bearers were his grandsons Nathan Radke, Damon Radke, Josh Radke, Heath Radke, Lucas Radke, Chad Turner, Trevor Carlson, Brock Buchert, Matt Engsser, Wade Buchert, Travis Radke and Jason Buchert.
Morris (Bud) E. Radke was born July 24, 1929 to Gustav and Lillie (Leonard) Radke in Tracy, MN. He was baptized at home by Pastor Hagen and confirmed in the LUtheran faith. He attended Tracy and Walnut Grove public schools.
As a young man Bud worked for the butcher shop (Model Food) run by Harlan Jacobs in Tracy, by skipping school on Fridays and riding the train from Walnut Grove to Tracy and getting a ride home on Sunday nights by his employer. He then worked on a farm for the Holstein brothers, Kenny and Rueben and later for their brother, Art.
On February 7, 1949 Morris married Martha Filter in Balaton, MN and they made their home in Tracy for a few months. Later that same year they moved to Twin Falls, ID and in 1951 back to Tracy. Bud moved his family to Garvin, MN in 1961 and after his wife’s death in 1988, he moved to Currie, MN in 1990.
Over the years Bud worked as a substitute police officer for the City of Tracy, a trucker for Stonehill Creamery and later as a route driver for the creamery. He then was a mechanic at the Ford garage in Tracy, worked at Marshall Produce, drove cattle truck for Edson Starr and then drove for Leif Nackerud and Kenny Helleson. Bud then went to work for the Garvin Coop Elevator where he worked for 32 years.
Bud was a member of the Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin and enjoyed bowling, fishing, boating, travelling, driving truck, visiting casinos and spending time with his family.
In July of 2004 Bud moved into his daughter, Nancy’s home in Balaton. On Sunday, September 26, 2004 Bud died surrounded by his family at the age of 75.
Bud is survived by three sons, Earl (Barb) of Currie, MN, Floyd (Gail) of Slayton, MN and Roy (Ronda) of Slayton, MN; four daughters, Peg (Lon) Turner of Garvin, MN, Deb (Bryan) Carlson of Russell, MN, Nancy Radke of Balaton, MN, Sandy Radke (Randy) of Tracy, MN; 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Della VanMeveran of Tracy, MN, Edna Sater of Seaforth, MN and Judy Gloss of St. Francis, MN; three brothers, Harold of Tracy, MN, Wes of Currie, MN and Charlie of Walnut Grove, MN; and very special friend, Jeanne’s family; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
His parents, wife, Martha, grandson, Shane Carlson, three brothers, Bob, Bill and Arthur, one sister, Iona and very special friend Jeanne Byrne preceded him in death.
Burial was in the Bethany Cemetery, Lake Sarah Township with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangements.