Obituaries from the week of February 16, 2005

Lois Alexander, 68

Lois E. (Howard) Alexander, age 68 of Leeds, Alabama, formerly of Tracy, passed away on Friday, February 4, 2005.

She is survived by husband, Dale Alexander; one daughter, Nelda Wilkison; three sons, Dennis Alexander, Ronald Alexander, Richard Alexander; sister Francis Layfield; two brothers Carl Howard and Roland Howard; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her son Howard Lee Alexander; parents, Clovis and Lucille Howard; two brothers, Charles Howard and Terry Howard.

Funeral services were held at the Kilgroe Funeral Home, Leeds, AL on February 7, 2005. There will be a memorial service and interment held in Tracy, MN in May of 2005. The date, time and location will be announced prior to the service.

Roy Christensen, 91

Roy C. Christensen, age 91 of Milroy, died Saturday, February 12, 2005 in Southview on Main in Revere, Minnesota. Services were held at 10:30 A.M. today, Wednesday, February 16, 2005 in the Ashford Presbyterian Church in Milroy.

Roy Christian Christensen was born Saturday, August 30, 1913 in Westline Township, Redwood County, Minnesota to Christian C. and Sophia Theresa (Weikert) Christensen. He was baptized and confirmed in Trinity Lutheran Church in Lucan. Roy moved to Lucan with his family at the age of 3 months and grew up in Lucan. He attended Lucan Public School graduating from 8th grade receiving his diploma. He worked for area farmers until 1934 when he entered CCC at Cass Lake, Minnesota. He then worked for Henry Johnson at Cottonwood.

On January 21, 1941 he was inducted into the U.S. Army at Fort Snelling. He was sent to Fort Ord, California where he was a member of the 1st Medical Regiment (Silver Knights). In November of 1943 Roy was shipped on the troop carrier Mt. Vernon to Milne Bay, New Guinea. In April he was part of the invasion at Hollandia, New Guinea and on Sept. 1, 1944 they were sent to Aitape, New Guinea. On Dec. 25, 1944 they were sent to invade Luzon in the Philippines. He was a Staff Sargent in the Philippines, and his job was to take wounded from the front, stabilize them, and send them to a field hospital. Roy was a leader in his area and would teach basic treatment of wounded to the troops. During the fighting at Bagio and Bagabag he received 2 bronze stars and bronze arrowhead. On Sept. 5, 1945 they were sent to Yokahama, Japan. In October of 1945 they landed in San Francisco, Calif. and on Nov. 1, 1945 he was discharged and returned to Lucan.

Roy was united in marriage to Sylvia M. Shipka on March 9, 1946 in the Presbyterian Manse in Cottonwood. He started farming in 1946 and retired in 1975. Sylvia died on February 27, 1996. On August 1, 2003 he moved to Southview on Main in Revere, Minn. He was a long time member of Ashford Presbyterian Church in Milroy serving as Trustee, Elder, Church Treasurer, and usher. Roy was also a member and officer in Redwood Co. Farmers Union and a supporter of the Land Stewardship Project. He served as secretary of the Westline Telephone Association and was a life time member of the Milroy American Legion Post 274. Roy was an avid gardener, growing vegetables for most of Milroy, loved to read, visit and tell stories. He was an avid Twins fan, enjoyed the Vikings, the Milroy Yankees and school sports.

Roy C. Christensen passed away on Saturday, February 12, 2005 at the age of 91 years, 5 months and 13 days in Southview on Main in Revere. He is survived by his daughter Peggy Wester and husband Bill of Lucan, his son Jack Christensen and his wife Jan of Milroy, three grandchildren; John W. Christensen Jr. of Mankato, Kristi M. Baumgartner and husband David of Fargo, N.D. and Matthew Wester of Lucan. Also surviving are his great grandson Alex D. Christensen of Morilton, Arkansas, a brother Percy Christensen and wife Darlene of Hoffman and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Sylvia, 3 brothers; John A. Christensen, Pern Christensen and Earl Christensen and his 3 sisters; Dessie Philippi, Louella Wellberg and Lilli Christensen.

Burial was in the Milroy City Cemetery. Arrangements were handled by the Sunset Funeral and Cremation Association of Echo and Wabasso.

SheraLee Anne Fischer (Zaun), 48

SheraLee Anne Fischer (Zaun) of Walnut Grove, MN, formerly of Hopkins, MN, fell asleep in death on February 5, 2005, following a two year battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband of over 17 years, Christopher Fischer, of Minnetonka, MN, her paternal grandmother Evangeline Zaun (Neubauer), maternal grandmother Ruth Walker, parents Edward Zaun Jr. and Carol Zaun (Walker) of Hopkins, brother Mark Zaun, and sister Carolyn Hanson, along with many other close relatives. She is preceded in death by her grandfathers, Edward Zaun, Sr., Thomas Walker and uncle Gilbert Zaun.

At a young age Sherrie dedicated her life to the worship of her God, Jehovah. Her devotion included 18 years as a full time minister, much of it with her husband, sharing with everyone she met the wonderful Bible truths that so enriched her life. Most endearing to her was the promise at Rev. 21:3, 4 that death would be no more, and that there would be a resurrection to life, on a paradise earth, for those in God’s memory. It is this truth that gives comfort to her family and friends as they await the time when they can once again be with Sherrie when she will enjoy perfect health.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 20, at 4:00 P.M. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 13001 Lake St. Ext., Minnetonka, MN.

Woodrow Prouty, 89

Woodrow W. Prouty, age 89, of Marino Valley, CA died Friday, Feb. 4, 2005. He was a resident of the Anaheim Crest Care Center.

Woodrow Wilson Prouty was born November 17, 1915 to Vera and D’Alton Prouty. He grew up at the family farm north of Tracy. He attended rural Dist. 36 school and Tracy High School, graduating in 1936.

Woodrow entered the Navy in 1937, serving 3-1/2 years. In 1943 he enlisted in the Army serving until 1945. He was awarded 4 Battle Stars in New Guinea, Bronze Star in SW Pacific and Good Conduct medal. He received a Philippine Liberation ribbon and Bronze Star, Asiatic Pacific Theater ribbon, four Bronze Stars, American Defense ribbon, one Bronze Star and Good Conduct ribbon for his service.

After his discharge he settled in California. He worked with the Southern California Gas Company.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise, his parents, four brothers, Charles, Alton, Louis and Robert; five sisters, Cathrine (Horsman), Alice (Jones), Ethel (Rowell), Marie (Johnson) and Doris (Philipee).

He is survived by step children, Ronald, Lisa and Lori; his sisters-in-law Ethel Prouty and Ruth Prouty of Tracy, many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service and interment will be held at a later date in Tracy, MN.

Dennis Storm, 59

Dennis G. Storm, age 59, of Milroy passed away Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005 at the Prairie Home Hospice Home in Marshall. Services were held Monday, February 14, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Milroy.

Dennis Gilbert Storm was born October 29, 1945 in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota to Edward Gilbert and Verna (Jorgensen) Storm. He grew up in the Milroy area and graduated from Milroy Public Schools in 1963. Dennis served in the United States Air Force from 1963 - 1967 serving in Taiwan.

On October 2, 1965 he was united in marriage to Linda Meyer. After the service the couple lived in Long Island, New York for a couple years. They moved to Duluth, Minnesota and also lived in Superior, Wisconsin before returning to New York. In 1973 the family moved to Glendale, Arizona where they lived until September of 2004 when they moved to Milroy. Dennis enjoyed NASCAR and loved old cars. He especially enjoyed working on his 1957 Chevy project car. He was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. and a member of the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife Linda Storm of Milroy; mother Verna Storm of Milroy; son James (Samantha) Storm of North Bend, WA; daughter Holly (Robert) Meza of Peoria, AZ; four grandchildren: Zachary, Rebecca, Alicia, and Anthony; and siblings: Deb Meyer of Glendale, AZ, Donald Storm of Milroy, and Roger Storm of Phoenix, AZ. He was preceded in death by his father.

Burial was in the Milroy City Cemetery. Tracy Area Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Vernon L. Turner, 76

Funeral services were held at11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Clearwater, MN for Vernon Leo Turner age 76, who died on Thursday, February 10, 2005 at his home near Clearwater. The Very Reverend Jacob Yali was the celebrant. Interment was on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 at Calvary Cemetery at Tracy, MN.

Vernon was born on February 28, 1928 at Tracy, MN the son of Merle L. and Viola M. (Bangasser) Turner. He was married to Louise Moon on July 28, 1949 at Tracy MN. Three children were born to this union. Many years later, after they divorced, Vernon was married to Marion Thompson in December of 1973. They were married until Marion died on May 12, 1991. Vernon continued to live on the farm from that time.

Over the years Vernon lived on a farm near Tracy, MN and later he moved with his family to Mounds View, MN while working as an independent contractor for 3M as a Mechanical Designer for over 20 years. He moved to a farm near Clearwater, MN in 1972. Vernon was a very innovative person, and after his retirement he used his innovative skills developing “Wee Care, We Share”. “Wee Care, We Share” is an independent non-profit organization that distributes clothing and household items to the needy. He has done this since 1991 with his two brothers Jim and Darel and many volunteers from the Clearwater and Annandale areas.

He was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church and was an active participant at Rejoice Lutheran Church both in Clearwater, MN

He is survived by: two daughters Nadine Turner of Maple Grove, MN and Cheryl Turner of Plymouth, MN and one son Steven (Kelly) Turner of Ramsey, MN, three grandchildren, two great grandchildren, three step-children Valerie (Duane) Nelson of Moorhead, MN, Richard (Kristin) Sellentine of Fairbault, MN Rex (Barb) Sellentine of Michigan, many step-grandchildren, three sisters, Lois (Forest) Elder of Lake Park, MN, Muriel (Ken) Ruppert of Baldwin, WI, and Donna (Tom) Lehman of Willmar, MN, two brothers, Darel (Donna) Turner of Mounds View, MN, and Jim (Alice) Turner of Fridley, MN, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded death by his parents and his wife Marion.

Arrangements are with Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud, MN. Phone Number (800) 358-3313.