Obituaries from the week of July 26, 2006
Vera H. Hillquist, 88
Vera H. Hillquist age 88 of Balaton, MN died Saturday, July 22, 2006 at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton. Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 27, 2006 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Balaton. Interment will be at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Balaton. The Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton is handling the arrangements.
Vera Hulda Hillquist was born June 18, 1918 to Ralph and Jenny (Larson) Seaman in Tyler, MN, Lincoln County. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and grew up on a farm near Russell, MN. Vera attended Russell Public Schools, graduating from Russell High School.
On November 3, 1937 Vera married Orville Hillquist in Balaton, MN and they made their home in the Balaton and Russell areas. In 1969 they moved to Salt Lake City, UT where Vera began working for the J.C. Penny’s Company as a clerk in the hardware and paint department. After her husband’s death she remained in Utah for several years and then in 1997 she moved back to Balaton.
She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton where in her younger years she had been active as a Sunday School Teacher and the church women’s groups. Vera enjoyed gardening, both vegetables and flowers, quilting and sewing, which she did for her family and many others over the years in the Balaton and Russell areas.
In March of 2004 Vera became a resident of the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton and on Saturday, July 22, 2006 she died at the age of 88.
Vera is survived by her two sons, Burdell Hillquist of Hammond, IN and Dennis Hillquist of Russell, MN; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; one sister, Mildred Miller of Balaton, MN; nieces and nephews.
Her parents, Husband, Orville, one son, Rodney, one daughter-in-law, Romilda, and one sister, Helen Schroeder preceded her in death.
Paul Rignell, 79
Paul Rignell of Tracy died Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 22 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy. Officiating was Rev. David Erickson and a special message was presented by Rev. Homer Dobson. Special music was provided by Kerry Knakmuhs and Bruce Mathiason. Casketbearers were Bradley Wojahn, Michael Wojahn, Amy Jones, Wade Rignell, Derek Rignell, Taylor Rignell, Jordan Rignell, Brandon Rignell and Preston Rignell. Honorary casketbearers were Dick Kelley, John Schleppenbach, Jim Fritz, Dick Maertens, John Shoeman, Tom Sabin, Eddie McFarlane, George Zender, Keith Stanton, Dave Swanbeck and Jack VonBokern.
Burial will be held at a later date at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Tracy Area Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Paul Bernard Rignell was born September 9, 1926 in Tracy, Minnesota to Bernard and Clara (Selek) Rignell. He graduated from Tracy High School in 1944. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Following his discharge from the Navy he attended Tracy Junior College, receiving his AA degree.
Paul was united in marriage to Betty Carey on February 9, 1948 at St. Mary’s parsonage. He went into the hardware business with his father. He owned and operated Rignell Hardware Store in Tracy for many years, retiring at age 62. Family was his life. Paul served on the church board at First Presbyterian Church, was a member of the Masonic Lodge, and served on the Tracy Fire Department for 27 years. He loved the lake, enjoyed hunting, especially with family, and fishing, but work was his main “hobby”.
He is survived by his wife Betty of Tracy; children Paulette (Wayne) Wojahn of Rochester, Tom (Cindy) Rignell of Tracy and Tim (Kristine) Rignell of LaCrescent; nine grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Bea Vogel and Helen Rue.
Patricia “Pat” J. Wetter, 62
Patricia “Pat” J. Wetter age 62 of Walnut Grove, MN died Saturday, July 22, 2006 at her home. Services were held Wednesday, July 26, 2006 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy. Interment was at the Tracy City Cemetery. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handled the arrangements.
Patricia June Wetter was born June 5, 1944 to Anthony and Helen (Cowell) Schrim in Tracy, MN, Lyon County. She attended Tracy Public Schools and graduated from Tracy High School.
On January 21, 1964 Pat married Steven Wetter in Florence, SC. They made their home in various towns in Minnesota and she worked many different places over the years before she and her husband retired to Walnut Grove, MN in 2002.
Pat enjoyed taking walks, being outdoors and her dog, “Molly”, but what she really loved was spending time with her family.
On Saturday, July 22, 2006 Pat died at her home in Walnut Grove at the age of 62.
Pat is survived by her husband, Steven of Walnut Grove, MN; one daughter, Susan and husband, Brian Gould of Sioux Falls, SD; two sons, Michael and wife, Kathi Wetter of Orange City, IA and Scott Wetter and very close friend, LuAnn Swenhaugen of Walnut Grove, MN; six grandchildren; one great granddaughter; mother and step-father, David and Helen Sammons of Tracy, MN; four sisters, Bonnie (Jim) Irving of Simi Valley, CA, Randi (Terry) Wixon of Brandon, SD, Debbie Shamatt of Pipestone, MN and Kimberly (Robert) Lunda of Eagle Grove, IA; one brother, Jerome (Shannon) Sammons of Tracy, MN; nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her grandparents preceded her in death.