Obituaries from the week of July 13, 2005

Obituaries

Dean Burnham, 85

Dean Burnham age 85 of Glenwood died Wednesday July 6, 2005 at the Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood, Minnesota.

Memorial service were held on Saturday July 9, 2005 at the Hoplin Funeral Home in Glenwood, Minnesota with Chaplain James Gronewold officiating. Interment will be at a later time.

Dean A. Burnham the son of Dale and Cleo (Paa) Burnham was born April 2, 1920 in Rochester, Minnesota. Cleo moved to Walnut Grove where she met and later was married to Ernest Schultz. Dean grew up in Walnut Grove where he attended school. He met Luverne Olson, who was living in Walnut Grove with her family. They were united in marriage in Yuma, Arizona on April 19, 1942. They were living in San Diego, California when Dean enlisted in the US Army and was stationed over seas. In 1945, after he was honorably discharged, he returned to Minnesota where he and Luverne made their home in the Minneapolis area. When Dean retired in 1972 they moved to Glenwood, Minnesota where they resided until their death. Not only did Dean enjoyed fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, carpentry but was able to enjoy many of those hobbies with his sons. Dean and Luverne also enjoyed traveling and were members of Winnehaha’s and Sundowners Winnebago RV Club. Dean and Luverne were married for 63 years. They both loved spending time with their family. They will be missed by family and friends.

Dean is survived by three sons, Steve and wife Sue of Blaine, Minnesota, David and wife Susan of Eagan, Minnesota, John and wife Jeannie of Blaine, Minnesota; grandchildren, Kristen (Greg) Tomlinson, Dustin, Lisa, Brian, Eric, and Amy Burnham; sister Delores Beens; brother, Dale Burnham; half-sisters, Alice Pastermus, Arlene Smaladden, half-brothers, Robert Schultz and Richard Schultz.

He is preceded in death by his parents and wife of 63 years.

Luverne Burnham, 84

Luverne Burnham, age 84 of Glenwood, died on Thursday, June 30, 2005 at the Glacial Ridge Hospital, Glenwood, MN. Memorial services were held on Saturday, July 9, 2005 at the Hoplin Funeral Home in Glenwood with Rev. James Gronewold officiating.

Luverne Luella Burnham, the daughter of William and Ellen (Hallberg) Olson was born April 10, 1921 in Winthrop, MN where she grew up and attended Winthrop High School from where she graduated. Later her family moved to Walnut Grove, MN where she met Dean Burnham and they were united in marriage on April 19, 1942 in Yuma, AZ. They lived in San Diego, CA when Dean enlisted in the service and was stationed overseas. She returned to Minnesota and in 1945 they made their home in the Minneapolis area until 1972 moving to Glenwood, where they resided until her death.

Luverne was a scout leader for several years. They were members of Winnehaha’s and Sundowners Winnebago RV Club. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, painting, baking, cooking, loved bird watching, kept a daily journal, traveling in their RV, most of all she loved her family and being with them.

She is survived by her husband Dean; sons, Steve and wife Sue of Blaine, MN, David and wife Susan of Eagan, MN, John and wife Jeannie of Blaine, MN; grandchildren, Kristen (Greg) Tomlinson, Dustin, Lisa, Brian, Eric and Amy Burnham; and one great-grandchild Lauren Tomlinson.

She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Del Olson, Carrol Olson, and sister Rosella Johnson.

Leona A. Porter, 95

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 11, 2005 for Leona A. Porter, at Tracy United Methodist Church in Tracy, MN. Rev. Kaye Brandt officiated. Organist was Allen Peirson with special music by Brenda Stoneberg, Marlys Edwards and Debra Warner.

Casket bearers were Greg Ipsen, Scott Ipsen, Nick Ipsen, Jacob Ipsen, Troy Borgersen, John Lemon, Greg Warner and Daniel Warner.

Leona Alberta Porter was born March 31, 1910 to John and Emma (Berquist) Lemon on their farm on the shores of Lake Benton, Lincoln County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. As a young child her family lived in Lake Benton, MN and Tyler, MN prior to their moving to Tracy, MN where she attended Tracy Public Schools, graduating from Tracy High School. Leona then attended the University of Minnesota for two years and then the Mac Phail School of Music.

On July 31, 1936 Leona married Lyle Porter in Sioux Falls, SD. They made their home in Tracy for a short time and then in the fall of 1936 they moved to the San Francisco and Oakland bay area in California. They returned to Tracy in early 1945.

Leona was a private piano instructor and passed on her talents to many students over the years. She was a member of the Tracy United Methodist Church where she also served as church pianist, organist and choir accompanist. Leona was also active in the Minnesota Music Teachers Association. She was a life long member, serving as District Chairman from 1945 until 1988 and was also a member of the National organization. In the past she also belonged to the Tracy Monday Musicale. Besides her love of music Leona also enjoyed flower gardening.

Four years ago Leona became a resident of Prairie View Healthcare Center where she died on Wednesday, July 6, 2005 at the age of 95.

Leona is survived by her husband, Lyle of Tracy, MN; one daughter, Camilla (Jeremy) Ipsen of Sarasota, FL; one son, Ronald (Della) Porter of Joliet, IL; four grandchildren, Greg Ipsen, Scott Ipsen, Erin Borgersen and Rochelle Porter, 10 great-grandchildren, Jacob, Lindsey, Nick, Athena, Emma, Ingrid, Jeremy, Kaitlin, Amber and Angela; one great-great-granddaughter, Avery Lynn; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her parents and one brother, Robert Lemon preceded her in death.

Interment was in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangements.

Vivian Johnson, 76

Vivian Johnson (Mrs. LaVern) age 76 of Benson, formerly of Walnut Grove and Tracy area, died Wednesday, July 6, 2005 in Benson. Memorial Services were held on Saturday, July 9, 2005 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Johnsonville Township, Redwood County, Minnesota with burial in the church cemetery.

Vivian Mae Johnson was born Monday, May 6, 1929 in Walnut Grove, Minnesota to Walter and Helena (Neumann) Schumacher. Vivian was baptized in Trinity Lutheran Church, Johnsonville Township and confirmed in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake. She grew up in the Wood Lake and Walnut Grove areas and attended school in Wood Lake and Walnut Grove graduating from Walnut Grove High School in 1947. She then lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a couple of years before returning to the Tracy area. On September 5, 1949 she was united in marriage to LaVern Johnson and they lived near Walnut Grove, Arlington and then near Tracy until moving to Benson in 1997 to be near their daughter. Vivian worked as a bookkeeper for Fingerhut in Gaylord, and then she and LaVern owned and operated the King Koin Laundromat in Tracy for 4 years. Following this she worked in Tracy Hospital office for 14 years and for a year for Schotts Corporation in Marshall for a year. Vivian was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Benson and had been active in the Ladies Aid in Johnsonville and Benson. Her first love was family, and spending time with them. She enjoyed her pets, dancing and fishing with her husband.

Vivian M. Johnson died on Wednesday, July 6, 2005 in the assisted living in Benson at the age of 76 years and 1 month. She is survived by her husband LaVern Johnson Sr. of Benson, son LaVern Johnson Jr. and his wife Char of Shakopee, daughter Colleen Johnson of Benson, three grandchildren; Nicole Lightfoot, Brandon Butler and Matthew Butler, two great grandchildren; Kyrstin and Karlye Lightfoot, and siblings; Arlene Swanson and husband Leslie of Edina, Lyle Just of Park Rapids and Janice Rafenstein and husband Kermit of Anoka. She was preceded in death by her parents and step father, a brother Dallas Just and a sister Genevie Just.

Arrangements are being handled by the Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association of Echo and Wabasso.