Obituaries from the week of October 13, 2004

Alda Mae Brewster, 82

Funeral services were held on Monday, October 11, 2004 for Alda Mae Brewster at Tracy Lutheran Church, Tracy, MN. Reverend Stephen Olson and Reverend Gary Gabel officiated. Organist was Richard Stelter.

Casket bearers were Ben Kalow, Scott Gregoria, Chris Wert, Bradley Brewster, Dave Pingry and Wayne Kruger.

Alda Mae E. Brewster was born October 18, 1921 to Olof and Anna (Holmberg) Wornson in Murray County Hospital in Slayton, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Hadley Lutheran Church and attended grade school in Hadley, MN. Alda Mae attended Slayton High School and graduated in 1939. After high school she attended Minneapolis Business College where she received a two-year business degree.

On July 2, 1941 Alda Mae married Russell W. Brewster in Hadley. They made their home in Jeffers, MN for a short time and she returned to Hadley while Russ served in the military. After her husband returned home they moved to Tracy in 1950 where she has lived ever since.

Her and her husband owned and operated Brewster Insurance Agency and she also worked as the Clerk of Court in Tracy for many years. She retired when the county closed the court offices in Tracy around 1990.

Alda Mae was very active in her community and surrounding area serving on many boards including an appointment by Governor LaVander to the Council for the Aging, and appointment by Governor Carlson to the Rural Health Advisory Board, Congressional Coordinator for the AARP, Tracy Community Education Board, HUD Housing Commissioner, Voter Registration volunteer and Board of Director for the New Pioneer Insurance Company. She also helped Russ with many Boy Scout functions and trips, organized a Mother’s Club in Tracy and helped in the financial drive to build Tracy Hospital.
She was a member of the Tracy Lutheran Church where she was active with various membership and finance drives in the building of Tracy Lutheran Church, as well as, taught Sunday School. Her interests included reading, walking, golfing and was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan, but what she enjoyed most was spending time with family and friends.

On Wednesday, October 6, 2004 Alda Mae died at the age of 82 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy where she had been a resident for a short while.

Alda Mae is survived by one daughter, Patty (John) Nefstead of Willmar, MN; four granddaughters, Leah (Scott) Gregoria of Shakopee, MN, Molly (Ben) Kalow of Jordan, MN, Monica (Chris) Wert of East Bethel, MN and Jessica Pingry of Eagan, MN; five great-grandchildren, Michael and Luke Gregoria, Samuel Kalow, Emily and Ashley Wert; one sister, Lenore Ruppert of Peoria, AZ; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her parents, husband, Russell, one son, Mike, one daughter, Barb Pingry, three brothers and one sister preceded her in death.
The family requests that memorials be given to Prairie Home Hospice of Lyon County.

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

Wilma Vander Poel, 92

Funeral services will be held today, Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at the First Presbyterian Church in Edgerton for Wilma Irene Vander Poel. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Edgerton. The Colonial Funeral Chapel in Edgerton is handling the arrangements.

Wilma Irene Vander Poel was born to William and Irene (Kingsbury) Stevens on October 26, 1911 in Murray County, MN. She was raised in Murray County and attended school in Edgerton, MN.

On February 14, 1928, she was united in marriage to John Vander Poel at her parents' home in Murray County. Following their marriage, they lived on the Kingsbury homestead northwest of Edgerton.

After their retirement, John and Wilma continued to live on the farm. In 1999, they became residents of the Good Samaritan Village in Pipestone, MN where they shared a room until the death of John on July 7, 1999. Following his death, Wilma continued to reside at the Good Samaritan Village.

On Saturday, October 9, 2004, she was transferred to the Pipestone County Medical Center where she remained until her death on Sunday, October 10, 2004 at the age of 92 years, 11 months and 16 days.

She is lovingly remembered by her eight children, Jack (Vernice) Vander Poel, Pipestone, MN, Norman (Donna) Vander Poel, Fresno, CA, Vera Rydell, McAllen, TX, Ken Vander Poel, Shelly, MN, Lois Vander Poel, Shelly, MN, Lila (Harlan) Manguson, Tracy, MN, Lynn (Allen) Wahlert, Luverne, MN and Lori (Roger) Devericks, Sioux Falls, SD; 23 grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and numerous great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Erma Zwart, Edgerton, MN, Pearl Anselm, Downy, CA and Ruth (Jack) Hord, Worthington, MN; two brothers, Charles Duane Stevens, WA and Mifford (Del) Stevens, Astoria, OR.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John; her son, Mark; her parents; one grandson, Donald Rydell; and two brothers, Wesley and Merle Stevens.