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Obituaries from the week of December 6, 2006

 

Myrna Filter, 68

Funeral services were held for Myrna Filter, age 68 of Tracy, MN, on Saturday, December 2, 2006 at the Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Marshall, MN.

Myrna Louise Filter was born March 27, 1938 to Henry and Arlene (Edwards) Dilly in Sibley, IA, Osceola County. She was baptized in the Christian faith and, at the age of two, moved with her family to a farm near Russell, MN, where she attended Russell Grade School. The family moved then to a farm near Rose City, MN and Myrna attended Alexandria High School for two years. In 1951 her family moved to Tracy, MN and she graduated from Tracy High School.

On July 13, 1956 Myrna married Charles Filter in Fort Sill, OK and they made their home in Tracy. Myrna worked as a waitress for seven years at the Red Rooster Cafe in Tracy and then as a cashier for Fairway Foods and Red Owl Grocery in Tracy for 25 years.

Myrna was a past member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Tracy, where she taught Vacation Bible School and after its closing, became a member of the Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Marshall, MN. She enjoyed bowling, fishing, horse shoe, canning and playing the accordion.

On Tuesday, November 28, 2006 Myrna died at the Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 68.

Myrna is survived by her husband of 50 years, Chuck Filter of Tracy, MN; one daughter, Shelly (Randy) Grant of Lynd, MN; two sons, Steve (Viola) Filter of Norfolk, VA and Henry (Katherine) Filter of Portland, TX; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one sister, Cookie (Don) Williams of Ashby, MN; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her parents, one brother, Elwyn Dean Filter and one sister, Marlene Olson preceded her in death.

Interment was at the Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home handling the arrangements.


 

Robert Weilage, 73

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy, MN for Robert William Weilage.

Robert “Bob” Weilage was born January 2, 1933 on a farm north of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota to Ferd and Martha (Wotchke) Weilage. In 1940 they moved north of Springfield, in 1946 moved north of Garvin and in 1948 moved to Monroe Township, where he lived and farmed since. Bob retired from farming in 2003, but continued to live on the farm.

He volunteered as the head usher at his church, where he also served as a Deacan and participated in Bible Study. In 1993 he started volunteer work at the “Wheels Across The Prairie Museum”, where he continued to volunteer. Bob was a major contributor to the museum all of those years. His hobbies included collecting toy tractors and baking pies and cookies.

Robert William Weilage passed away November 30, 2006 at his home in rural Tracy, at the age of 73 years, 10 months and 28 days.

He is survived by his half sister Lorraine Benson of Revere, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Betty and half-sister Elaine Vogel. Memorials are preferred to Zion Lutheran Church in Tracy, MN.

Arrangements were handled by Tracy Area Funeral Home.


 

Leta Woodford, 83

Leta Woodford, age 83, of Morgan, died Sunday, December 3, 2006 at Gil-Mor Manor in Morgan. Funeral Services were held Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. from the United Methodist Church in Morgan with burial in the Morgan City Cemetery.

Leta Ellen Woodford was born April 3, 1923 at St. Charles, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Myrtle (Wolverton) Ragan. As a young girl, the family moved to Morgan where they operated Ragan’s Café. It was also in Morgan where Leta completed her education and helped with the family business.

She was united in marriage to Elmo Woodford on March 10, 1948 in Redwood County. After their marriage, they lived in rural Morgan, where together, they farmed. Elmo died August 10, 1967. Later that Fall, Leta moved into town, working in the kitchen at Gil-Mor Manor. She later worked at Control Data in Redwood Falls, retiring in 1961.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Morgan, and was active in the United Methodist Women. Her hobbies included cross stitching, cooking and baking. She was very particular with her housekeeping and loved her dogs and birds, which were her family pets and companions.

Leta is survived by her two children; Roy Woodford and wife, Joan of Tracy and Dale Woodford and wife, Margo of Morgan; grandchildren, Jason and friend Shannon Abel, Jami, Travis and fiancé Amy Barnes, Derek and Sarah Johnson and Michael and fiancé Kim Mathiowetz.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Elmo, son Roger, a brother Robert in infancy and a sister Aletha Ragan.

Nelson-Martin Funeral Service of Morgan is handling the arrangements.


 

Donald Neisen, 86

Mass of Christian Burial for Donald Neisen, 86, will be 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2006, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 – 8 p.m. with a CCW Rosary at 4 p.m. and a parish prayer service at 7 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Thursday at Rehkamp – Horvath Funeral Home in Marshall. Interment will follow the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Marshall. Military Honors provided by U.S. American Legion Post 113 of Marshall.

Donald Peter Neisen was born on June 5, 1920, in Marshall to Mathias (Matt) and Maria Ida (Buesgens) Neisen. He attended St. Joseph’s Academy for eight years and then attended Marshall High School where he graduated in 1938. Don then attended Curtis Wright Aeronautical Tech School in California where he graduated in 1941. Don attended and taught at Navy Teachers Training Center in Chicago and then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served for three and one half years. He discharged from the Air Force at San Pedro Air Base in California.

Don then returned to Marshall where he was employed by the Marshall Ice Cream Company “Perfection Ice Cream” for some years and at the time of his father’s death in 1960, Don became manager of the company. The company was later sold to Langenfelds of South Dakota and after some traveling, he took on the employment as Office Manager for Gesme’s Printing and Office Supply where he remained until his retirement in 1985.

His hobbies included woodworking, stamp collecting, gardening, music and traveling. Don was active in church work including choir, serving as an altar boy, Knights of Columbus and when the Diocese of New Ulm took over a mission in San Lucas, Guatemala, he and Father Greg Schaffer drove to Guatemala, taking supplies and getting established. Don was the editor for a small mission monthly bulletin which went out to over five thousand supporters and collected funds to support the mission.

Don died on Friday, December 1, 2006, at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy, MN.

He is preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and two brothers.


 

Leo Shoeman, 96

A Memorial Service will be held for Leo R. Shoeman, age 96, of Tracy on Saturday, December 9, 2006 at 2 p.m. at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of service with the family present at 1 p.m.

Leo Russell Shoeman was born July 4, 1910 to Walter and Effie (Campbell) Shoeman in Waukee, IA, Dallas County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended country school. Around the year 1920, Leo moved with his family to a farm in the Tracy, MN area, where he attended Tracy Public Schools, graduating from Tracy High School in the late 1920’s. He then farmed with his family for several years, before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in April of 1931. After his training at the U.S. Naval Station at Great Lakes, IL, he was stationed as, Seaman 2nd Class, on the USS West Virginia in Norfolk, VA until his Honorable Discharge in March of 1935. He then returned to the Tracy area.

On December 17, 1936 Leo married Thelma Greenman in Elkton, SD and they made their home in Tracy. Over the years Leo worked at the Tri-County Co-op station, Drever’s Super Valu and for the U.S. Postal Service, as a mail carrier for many years. After his retirement he enjoyed fishing, bowling, auctions and sales. He was active for many years at the Tracy Senior Center and was a member of the Tracy Lutheran Church.

On Monday, November 27, 2006 Leo died at his home in Tracy at the age of 96.

Leo is survived by his four daughters, Mary Lou (Marlin) Kukas of Brooklyn Center, MN, Shirley (Gary) Siegrist of Minneapolis, MN, Janice (Lloyd) Nevin of Blaine, MN and Lois (Don) Reynolds of Charlotte, ND; one son, Russell (Joyce) Shoeman of Anchorage, AK; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; one brother, John H. Shoeman of Currie, MN; nieces and nephews.

His parents, wife, Thelma, one son, Robert, one brother Lawrence, and one sister, Kathryn, preceded him in death.

Interment will take place privately, at the Tracy City Cemetery. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements.


 

James E. Edwards 76

Memorial services for James E. Edwards, age 76 of New Hope, MN will be Friday, December 8, 2006 at 10 a.m. at the Brooklyn United Methodist Church, 7200 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center, MN. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

James Edwards was born in Tracy, MN on January 15, 1930. Jim served in the Korean War, worked 24 years at JC Penneys and was a former owner of Coast-to-Coast in Brooklyn Park.

James died Sunday, December 3, 2006 in St. Louis Park, MN.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Nona; son, Bruce (Debra) Edwards; daughters, Susan (Michael) Looby, Nancee (Jeff) Frybargar; sister, Delores (Dave) Luikart; seven grandchildren, Kristen, Elizabeth, Lauren, Daniel, Sara, Christopher and Lindsey; five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his daughter, Patricia.

Inurnment will be at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. The Evan-Nordby Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

If so desired, memorials may be given to the James E. Edwards Memorial Fund.


Larry D. Larsen, 60

Funeral services for Larry D. Larsen, age 60 of Balaton, MN, will be held Friday, December 8, 2006 at 2 p.m. at the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Balaton. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday, December 7, 2006 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Balaton and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Larry Dean Larsen was born February 20, 1946 to Darrel and Arlene (Brokke) Larsen in Tracy, MN, Lyon County. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended Walnut Grove Public Schools. Larry grew up on a farm in the Walnut Grove area and farmed with his father as a young man.

Over the years he worked for Swift’s, Meadowlands and Schwan’s in Marshall, MN, and currently was employed by Lloyd Goltz Tiling of Tracy, MN.

On October 30, 1993 Larry married Sharon Green at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Balaton, MN where they made their home.

Larry was a member of the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and had served as an usher for several years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his younger years and also was a Minnesota Vikings fan. He also enjoyed getting together with friends for coffee and playing cards with his family.

On Sunday, December 3, 2006 Larry died at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester at the age of 60.

Larry is survived by his wife, Sharon Larsen of Balaton, MN; his father, Darrel Larsen of Tracy, MN; one step son, Larry (Karisa) Larsen of Florence, MN; one step daughter, Lori (Dean) Duscher of Pipestone, MN; one grandson, Brandon Duscher of Pipestone, MN; one brother, Randy (Darla) Larsen of Walnut Grove, MN; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

His mother, Arlene Larsen, and two aunts, Opal Larsen and Ellen Andrews preceded him in death.

Interment will be at the Walnut Grove City Cemetery in Walnut Grove, MN. The Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton is handling the arrangements.