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Obituaries from the week of January 3, 2007

 

Lucille F. Buck, 89

Lucille F. Buck age 89 of Walnut Grove passed away on Friday, December 29, 2006. Funeral services were held Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at the Tracy United Methodist Church.

Lucille F. Buck was born in Superior, IA on March 19, 1917, the daughter of H.D. and Edith (Hildreth) Hewitt. She was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist Church. Lucille attended school in Walnut Grove for 11 years, then graduated from Tracy High School in 1935.

Lucille married Wayne Finger on November 24, 1938 in Boone, IA. The couple farmed for a number of years at Terrill, IA before moving to the Tracy – Walnut Grove area. After Wayne’s death, Lucille married Melvin “Bucky” Buck on December 28, 1969. They lived in the Amiret area until retirement.

Lucille worked as a waitress, a bookkeeper for Bill’s Fairway and as Postmaster of Amiret. Melvin & Lucille spent their retirement between their lake home at Lake Sarah, and Florence, AZ. Lucille was a member of the United Methodist Church, where she served as church organist. She belonged to an extension club, and the Tracy flower club. She enjoyed reading Danielle Steele novels. Lucille loved music, and was an accomplished pianist. She loved growing flowers, especially roses. More than anything, Lucille loved her family.

Lucille Buck is survived by her husband Melvin of Walnut Grove; children: Larry Finger and wife Denise of Smithville, MO, Bette Ourada and husband Steve of Walnut Grove, and Duane Finger and wife Marilyn of Kimball. Also surviving are her seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents H.D. & Edith Hewitt, first husband Wayne Finger, and brother & sister in law Ken & Ruth Hewitt.

Interment was in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. The Tracy Area Funeral Home handled the arrangements.


 

Ruth Giese, 94

Ruth Victoria Giese age 94 of Marshall, MN formerly of Balaton, MN died Thursday, December 28, 2006 at the Morningside Heights Healthcare Center in Marshall. Service were held on Monday, January 1, 2007 at the St Peter’s Lutheran Church in Balaton.

Ruth Victoria Giese was born September 18, 1912 to Charles and Ada (Voss) Giese on a farm in Holly Township, Murray County, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended Balaton Public Schools, graduating from Balaton High School in Balaton, MN. When Ruth was seven years old her mother died and she went to live with her aunt and uncle, Paul and Anna Giese in Balaton.

For thirty two years, Ruth worked for the Balaton Post Office as Assistant Postmaster. She retired and continued to live in Balaton caring for her Aunt Anna until her death. She then spent many years with family on Swan Lake near Fergus Falls, MN, where she helped care for them. She was very proud of her German heritage and often said, “Don’t worry about me, I am a tough German.”

Ruth was a member of the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Balaton and had been active in the churches women’s groups in her younger years. She enjoyed travel, which she did for numerous years to Sedona, AZ and San Diego, CA to visit family. Ruth also enjoyed quilting and bingo. In 1993, Ruth became a resident of Hill Street Place in Marshall, MN before moving into Morningside Heights Healthcare Center in Marshall in 2005, where she will be remembered for her memory skills, friendly countenance and her ability to get around on her own, especially to bingo.

On Thursday, December 28, 2006 Ruth died at the Morningside Heights Healthcare Center at the age of 94.

Although Ruth never had any children, or married, she will be lovingly remembered by her extended family. She is survived by her three nephews, Dennis (Jo) Giese of Yankton, SD, Wayne (Dorie) Giese of Canby, MN and Michael Giese of Tracy, MN; one niece, Beverly (John) Eisenholer of New York Mills, MN; one sister-in-law, Elda Giese of Tracy, MN; and two cousins, Grace (Russell) McCalley of San Diego, CA and John (Mary Ann) Wold of Hendersonville, NC and great nieces and nephews.

Her parents, aunt and uncle, Anna and Paul Giese, three brothers, Emil, Ernest and Harold, one niece, Murial Jones, and cousins, Sophia Wold, Minnie Giese and Alice Corsini preceded her in death.

Interment was at the St Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery in Balaton. The Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton handled the arrangements.


 

Death notice

Donna Mae Lovejoy of Lamberton, MN died December 31, 2006 at her home in Lamberton. Services are pending at this time. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements.


 

Jeff Peterson, 49

Jeff P. Peterson, 49, of Oronoco, MN, died Friday, December 29, 2006 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Jeffrey Paul Peterson was born September 19, 1957 in Tracy, MN to Clair M. and Joanne N. (DeVetter) Peterson. He graduated from Tracy High School, Tracy, MN where he was class president, Captain of the football team, played basketball, co-captain of the baseball team and was in band. He also played American Legion baseball and for the Tracy city team. Jeff attended Wadena Technical Lineman School in 1978; he later moved to Tyler, MN where he worked for the Lyon-Lincoln Electrical Co.

He moved to Rochester, MN and married Teresa Hokins on November 24, 1984 in Rochester, MN. The couple and their family moved to Oronoco, MN in December, 1997. He has been an employee of Rochester Public Utilities since September, 1984. Jeff enjoyed camping, Harley Motorcycles, nature, hunting, snowmobiling, and spending time with his family and dogs. He was a member of Evangel United Methodist Church of Rochester.

Jeff is survived by his wife Teresa, Oronoco, MN, a daughter Rebecca A. Kruger, Newark, CA and a son Chad J. Peterson, Rochester, MN. He is also survived by three brothers; Michael (Lynn) Peterson, Denver, CO, David (Pat) Peterson, Omaha, NE, and Gerald (Kimarie) Peterson, Buffalo, MN; two sisters; Patricia Peterson (Tom Stimpert), Brooklyn Park, MN and Laurel (Shad) Peckenpaugh, Germantown, WI. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grand parents, parents, a sister Diane and a brother Larry.

A Memorial Service was held Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at Evangel United Methodist Church in Rochester.

A private family committal of his cremains will take place at a later date. The Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home of Rochester, MN handled the arrangements.


 

Harold Radke, 82

Harold R. Radke age 82 of Tracy, MN died Sunday, December 24, 2006 at the Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Services were held on Thursday, December 28, 2006 at the Tracy United Methodist Church.

Harold Robert Radke was born June 26, 1924 to Gustav and Lillie (Leonard) Radke in Tracy, MN. He was baptized in the Christian faith and attended Tracy Public Schools. As a young man, Harold worked as a hired man for several area farmers.

In 1944 Harold married Elizabeth (Betty) Van Meveren in Tracy and they had two children before her death. On May 24, 1944 he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served overseas during World War II. On February 20, 1946 Harold received his Honorable Discharge and he returned to Tracy, where he began working for Blinkman Body Shop and then Borner Ford Dealership in Tracy.

On October 19, 1963 Harold married Kathleen Haney in Redwood Falls, MN at the Methodist church. They made their home in Tracy and Harold began working for the Bud Hayes Ford Dealership in Tracy. In 1964 he opened his own business called Harold’s Southside Body Shop in Tracy and operated until 1988 when he sold the business. In 1990 Harold and his wife, along with their son, Todd opened a business called Minntronix in Tracy. In 2000 they sold the business and retired.

He was a member of the Tracy American Legion and the Tracy VFW. Harold enjoyed woodworking, model trains, coin-collecting, fishing and playing the accordion.

On Sunday, December 24, 2006 Harold died at the Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 82.

Harold is survived by his wife, Kay of Tracy, MN; two sons, Robert (Lavonna) Radke of Rapid City, SD and Todd Radke of Tracy, MN; one daughter, Joanne (Arthur) Stevens of Garvin, MN; seven grandchildren; nineteen great grandchildren; two brothers, Wes (Pat) Radke of Tracy, MN and Charles (Linda) Benson of Walnut Grove, MN; three sisters, Della Van Meveren of Tracy, MN, Edna (Toots) Sater of Seaforth, MN and Judy Glass of Coon Rapids, MN; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents, first wife, Betty, one sister, Iona and four brothers, Arthur, Clifford, Robert and Morris preceded him in death.

Interment was at the Tracy City Cemetery. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements.


 

Becky Scott, 51

Becky Ann Scott, age 51 of Oakdale, MN died Friday at the Greeley Health Care Center in Stillwater after a lengthy illness.

A private memorial service was held December 27, 2006 at the Maple Oaks Funeral Home in Maplewood.

She was born March 7, 1955 in Tracy to Lawrence and Carol Thoma. She graduated from Tracy High School in 1973. Upon graduation, she worked for 3M for five years and for the Minnesota Department of Transportation in St. Paul for 25 years.

She married David Scott on October 30, 1992 and the couple lived in the Twin Cities area.

She is survived by her husband, David, her brother Scott (Nancy) Thoma, step daughter Kelly Scott of Oakdale and nieces Hillary and Heather Thoma.

She was preceded in death by her parents.