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Obituaries from the week of August 17, 2005

 

Fordyce Ankrum, 62

Fordyce “Ford” C. Ankrum, Sr., age 62, St. Cloud, MN died Saturday August 14, 2005 at his home, after a short battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be today, Wednesday, August 17, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at Benson Funeral Home Chapel, St. Cloud, MN.

An additional funeral service will be held Thursday, August 18, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. at Willow Lake Lutheran Church, Currie, MN, with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in the Willow Lake Cemetery.

Ford was born October 10, 1942 in Tracy, MN to Fred and Evelyn (Sorbel) Ankrum. He attended Country School District #46, graduating from Tracy High School in 1960. Following graduation he worked as a mechanic, did road grading and backhoe excavation.

Ford married Barbara Vosberg on December 1, 1962. Together they had four children. They later divorced. In June of 1984 he married Joyce Pflepson who died November 29, 1990. Ford was married to Eileen Tibbetts from 1991 to 1993. He married Sharon (Smith) Buckman on May 7, 1994.

Ford has been an over-the-road truck driver and heavy equipment operator for many years. At the time of his death he was employed by Joe Och Trucking. Ford loved to fish. He treasured his family and many friends. Ford was dearly loved for his sense of humor and love of life.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon Ankrum, of St. Cloud, MN; mother, Evelyn of Slayton, MN; sister, Marianne (Steve) Perkins of Luverne, MN; children, Bradley (Becky) Ankrum of Farmington, MN; Ford (Amy) Ankrum Jr. of Walnut Grove, MN; Patti (Heath) Hayer of Shakopee, MN; Doug (Monica) Ankrum of Redwood Falls, MN, and their mother, Barbara Goltz of Walnut Grove, MN; grandchildren, Christopher, Lindsay, Samantha, Stephanie, Miranda, Garrett, Mckenna, and Morgan; nephew, Mike; nieces Misty, Marleta, and Melicia; step children, Betsy (Pat) Saraceno of Redondo Beach, CA; Beth (Rick Elstad) Crawford of Hermantown, MN; Barry (Kristine) Buckman of Silver Bay, MN; and step grandchildren, Zachary, Jessica, Rebecca, Megan, Bryan, Benjamin, Alex and Kory.

Ford was preceded in death by his father, Fred; former wife, Joyce Ankrum; and stepdaughter, Brenda Yarbrough.

Our family would like to thank all of the wonderful support from friends and the home health and hospice staff of the St. Cloud Hospital.


Delores Swanson, 78

Services for Delores L. “Dee” Swanson, 78, of Fairmont, MN were held Friday, August 12, 2005 at the United Methodist Church in Fairmont with burial in Lakeside Cemetery in Faimont. Mrs. Swanson died Tuesday morning, August 9, 2005 at the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont.

Delores LaMae Kretchmer was born March 25, 1927 in Tracy, MN the daughter of Paul and Sophie (Rettmer) Kretchmer. She grew up in Tracy where she attended school and was a 1945 graduate of Tracy High School. Dee attended the Minneapolis College of Commerce and following her graduation worked in the laboratory of the Swedish Hospital. She was united in marriage to James Swanson on June 5, 1948 in Tracy. Dee worked at the Walnut Grove Clinic in Walnut Grove, MN and in 1956 the family moved to Fairmont, MN. While in Fairmont she worked for Drs. Kollofski and Kost and in 1972 Dee started working at the Media Center at Fairmont High School. She continued there until her retirement in 1990. Dee was a long time member of the United Methodist Church in Fairmont and a fifty-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star where she served two terms as Worthy Matron. She belonged to several bridge clubs and also played marathon bridge for the Fairmont Community Hospital Auxiliary. One of her greatest enjoyments was to watch her grandchildren grow in life.

Survivors include her husband, James Swanson of Fairmont, MN; one son, Kevin Swanson and his wife, Jayne, of Sudbury, MA; one daughter, Debra Johnson and her husband, Ross, of Apple Valley, MN; five grandchildren, Shannon and Kevin Johnson and Emily, Claire and Annie Swanson; sister-in-law, Viola Kretchmer of New Ulm, MN; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, LaDonna and Arnold Jensen of Westbrook, MN; niece, Amy of Westbrook, MN and nephew, Jeff and his family of Medina, MN; other relatives and many friends. In addition to her parents, Paul and Sophie Kretchmer, Dee was also preceded in death by one brother, Luverne Kretchmer of New Ulm, MN.

The Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont was in charge of the arrangements.