Obituaries from the week of October 11, 2006

Ruth Craig, 91

Funeral services were held on Saturday, October 7, 2006 at Tracy United Methodist Church for Ruth B. Craig. Rev. Kaye Brandt officiated with the Eulogy given by Rev. Homer Dobson. Organist was Richard Stelter.

Casket bearers were Keith Engesser, Merlin Craig, Mitch Thunell, Paul Garaffa, Eric Stone and Miles Wixon.

Honorary casket bearers were Jerry Engesser, William Wixon, Sr., Herman Balko, Cyril Buysse, Ronald Johnson and Herman Wilking.

Ruth Bernice Craig was born February 1, 1915 to G.C. and Elma (Phelps) Whitlatch in Tracy, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and grew up on farms in the Tracy area, attended country schools, Tracy Schools, graduating from Tracy High School in 1933. In 1935 she was a candidate for Miss Tracy.

On April 3, 1938, Ruth married Clyde “Bill” Craig and they made their home in Tracy. Starting in 1934 Ruth worked as a nurse for doctors W.G. Workman and Hoidale until 1943 when she traveled with Bill to his Army basic training in Oregon and Missouri. There she continued working as a nurse. When Bill shipped out to Europe, Ruth returned to Tracy. In 1945 she was an attendant for Mrs. G.I. Joe at the Tracy Box Car Days celebration. After Bill’s return, they made their home in Tracy for the rest of their lives.

Until retiring in 1975, Ruth worked for doctors Workman, Norman Lee and Lyle Benson at their clinic in the Masonic Building in downtown Tracy. Several generations of patients attest to her humor and her skill in giving injections. After her husband and his brother, Brick, sold Craig Brothers’’ Pool Hall in Tracy, Ruth and Bill traveled to many parts of the U.S. on tours with friends and relatives.

Ruth was an active member of the Tracy United Methodist Church, and also her church circle. She was actively involved in the Tracy Senior Center, where she served on the Center Council. She was a past member of the Tracy American Legion and Tracy VFW auxiliaries. Over the years, Ruth belonged to numerous card groups and was an excellent player - Poker, Bridge, 500, Thirteen and an amusing and lively companion.

In June of 2004 Ruth became a resident of the Tracy Nursing Home where she died Wednesday, October 4, 2006, at the age of 91.

Ruth is survived by nieces and nephews.

Her parents, husband, Bill, one sister, Martha Wixon, four brothers-in-law, and three sisters-in-law preceded her in death.

Interment was in Tracy City Cemetery, with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy, MN handling the arrangements.

Sylvia Peterson, 72

Funeral services were held on Monday, October 2, 2006 for Sylvia A. Peterson of Sarasota, FL (Manatee County).

She was born April 20, 1934, in Slayton, MN and came to Sarasota three years ago from Gary, IN. She retired as a teacher’s aide. She was a member of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church in Sarasota.

Sylvia died September 28, 2006.

Survivors include her husband of 41 years, Charles; sons Verlon Johnson Jr., Steve Johnson and Scott Loudermilk, all of Bradenton, FL and David Loudermilk of Crown Point, IN; a sister, Sandy Polzine of Tracy, MN; brothers Arthur Stevens of Garvin, MN, Milo Stevens of Mount Vernon, WA, Roger Stevens of St. Paul, MN and Doug Stevens of Kensington, MN; 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Burial was at Skyway Memorial Gardens in Palmetto.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 600 U.S. 301 Blvd. W., Suite 136, Bradenton, FL 34205.