Obituaries from the week of April 13, 2005

Fern Barthelt, 85

Fern L. Barthelt, 85, died Tuesday, March 29, 2005 at home with her family.

Fern was born August 14, 1919, in Tracy, MN, the daughter of the late Henrietta and Clifford Sherman. She attended Tracy Schools, graduating with the class of 1937.

Shortly after graduation, she moved to Chicago to attend Mount Sinai Nursing School where she became a registered nurse in 1944.

On Dec. 1, 1945, she married Henry Barthelt in Chicago, where they made their home for 29 years and raised five children. Upon retirement in July 1974, they moved to Crystal Falls area with their two young daughters to start a new home. She became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1982 and enjoyed sharing her Bible hope with all who would listen.

She is survived by three sons, Earl (Eleanor Bauer) Barthelt, Richard (Donna) Barthelt, and Ronald (Mary Lane) Barthelt, all of Chicago; two daughters, Donna Barthelt and Theresa (David) Kurtz of Crystal Falls; two brothers, Clifford (Jeanette) Sherman and Robert (Virginia) Sherman; two sisters, Phyllis (LeRoy) Craft and Joanne Schambers, all of California; five grandsons, one granddaughter and four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and good friends.

Ree Bleil, 78

Funeral services were held for Ree Campbell Bleil on Saturday, April 9, 2005 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Balaton. Reverend Stephen Quist officiated. Organist was Donna Swan with Julie Erickson as soloists.

Casket bearers were Megan Sogge, Darin Sogge, Jeremy Bleil, Reid Moser-Bleil, Kendahl Moser-Bleil, Tristan Moser-Bleil, Adam Miller, Aaron Miller and Abby Miller.

Ree Bleil was born April 4, 1927 to Alexander and Alma (Rector) Campbell on a farm near Quimby, IA, Cherokee County. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and graduated from Quimby High School.

On November 25, 1948 Ree married Richard “Dick” Bleil in Cherokee, IA. They made their home on a farm near Aurelia, IA and in 1959 moved to Balaton, MN. She began working for Lyle Porter, CPA in Tracy, MN as a bookkeeper and worked for him for over 25 years until her retirement.

Ree enjoyed needlework, sewing for her family, Gopher sports, especially girls’ basketball and genealogy.

In January of 2005 after her husband’s death, Ree became a resident of Our House in Slayton, MN, where she died April 4, 2005 at the age of 78.

Ree is survived by three sons, Bruce (Suzy) of Minneapolis, MN, Brian (Cheryl) of Hutchinson, MN and Barton of Sarasota, FL; two daughters, Vickie (Leslie) Miller of Lake Wilson, MN and Julie Sogge of Balaton, MN; nine grandchildren, Adam, Aaron, and Abby Miller, Megan and Darin Sogge, Jeremy Bleil, Kendahl, Tristan and Reid Moser-Bleil; one great-granddaughter, Brooklyn Sogge; three sisters, Betty Scolla of Omaha, NE, Ann Findley of Columbia, MO and Barbara Volkert of Cherokee, IA; one sister-in-law, Jean Campbell of Riverside, CA; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her parents, husband, Dick, and one brother, Dean preceded her in death.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to be given to the Hospice of Murray County.

Interment was in Lakeside Cemetery, Balaton, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton handling the arrangements.

Eileen Menk, 88

Eileen E. Menk of White Bear Lake, passed away on April 8, 2005. Funeral services were held today, Wed., April 13, 2005 at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church in Fridley, MN.

Eileen was born February 11, 1917 to Christine and Kenneth Murphy.

Eileen was employed for many years as a cook at Tracy Elementary School, Tracy, MN.

She is survived by sons, Harlen (JoAnn) and Dennis (Randi); daughters, Marilyn (Lee) Drossel and Kathy (Jerry) Ulvin; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; three brothers; one sister, and other relatives and friends.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Herbert.

The Miller Funeral Home of Fridley handled the arrangements.

Dolores Saxton, 86

Dolores Saxton, age 86 of Lamberton, died Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at the Valley View Manor in Lamberton. Services were held Saturday, April 9, 2005 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lamberton with Burial in the Walnut Grove Cemetery.

Arrangements were handled by the Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association of Wabasso. Pallbearers were Hap Munson, Len Nelson, Wayne Elliot, Jerry Saxton, Arnie Terhark and Gary Munson. Honorary pallbearers are Bob Leonard and Vernon Munson.

Dolores Mae Saxton, daughter of William and Julia (Grunden) Leonard was born September 8, 1918 in North Hero Township, Redwood County, Minnesota about 3 miles N.E. of Walnut Grove. On October 6, 1918 she was baptized by Pastor C. A. Hamin in Nettywynnt Methodist Church in North Hero Township. Dolores attended District 62, North Hero Township Country School for her grade school years. On January 11, 1936 she married Chester Saxton of Rural Tracy. The couple farmed with Chester’s parents till 1949. Then they farmed north of Walnut Grove for one year, Southwest of Lucan for a year and then moved into Lucan. Dolores worked at Machts Grocery Store for many years. Also Dolores and Chester managed the Lucan Apartments for 21 years. In 1994 they moved to Valley View Apartments in Lamberton where she lived until her death. Dolores enjoyed softball games, gardening, dancing, family reunions, fishing, traveling and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dolores M. Saxton died on Tuesday April 5, 2005 in Valley View Manor in Lamberton at the age of 86 years, 6 months and 27 days.

Surviving family are her children; JoAnn (Vernon) Jaeger of Lamberton, Richard and Marion Saxton of Wabasso, Raymond and Juliann Saxton of Ottertail, Minnesota, and Julie Kay Magrane of Carson City, Nevada, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Mildred Saxton of Garvin, Minnesota and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Chester on January 10, 1997, brother Manford Leonard and sister Gladys Munson.