LeRoy Mickelson, 87

I was born July 16, 1919 to John and Ellen (Jarshaw) Mickelson on a farm in Murray County, MN. My early schooling was at District #79, a walk of over a mile. Next was high school at Ruthton, MN, graduating in 1937. I operated the farm for two years until my parents retired.

I married Beatrice Johnson in 1939 and a short time later we lived in Balaton, MN. There I was introduced to the funeral business, and also started the first school bus service. Six years later I sold out to the School District. In the summer months I worked with large construction equipment as a union operating engineer in St. Paul, MN.

I was always interested in many things and usually had many projects going at one time. Moving to Tracy we bought a lot and together with my wife, who was an excellent woodworker, we built our own home. Because she was a teacher we spent 2-3 years to really finish the work.

We had a farm so I purchased the machinery and livestock and operated with hired help, until 1995, when it was rented out. During that time I was in the insurance business many years and then moved to the Tracy Police Department, as head dispatcher. I was then offered the job of City of Tracy Assessor, which I went to school to study for the exams and also attended many classes at Southwest State University. At age 65 I retired, but only for two months. I was asked to join the funeral business once again, and for the next twenty years helped both Tracy funeral homes.

I wouldn’t trade my life for anything. Every job was interesting, but my true love was the land and farming operations. I miss my parents, my infant son, Lonnie, my brother and sisters, and the many departed friends. What I learned about myself was that I felt very close to God when I would go to the farm. God’s creation was everywhere. All you had to do was look at who created all this.

- LeRoy Mickelson 12/27/2005

On Monday, March 26, 2007 LeRoy died at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy at the age of 87.

LeRoy is survived by his wife, Bea of Tracy, MN; his son, Lanny of San Diego, CA; family friend, Alise Creque of Las Vegas, NV; nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

His parents, infant son, Lonnie, one brother and four sisters preceded him in death.

Lee Larsen, 83

Lee Larsen was born July 30, 1924 to Tom and Clara (Ziemke) Drever on a farm northwest of Walnut Grove, MN. She passed away on February 13, 2007.

Lee came “out west” to Forks, WA during WWII to work as a nurse then a dental assistant. She lived with several girl friends in a small apartment.

One day some of her girl friends were meeting up with a group of guys at Angle Lake, Bill Larson (Dad) happened to be one of them. Bill and Lee were married in July of 1949. This July would have been their 58th wedding anniversary. Some friends called Bill and Lee the 49’ers. (Married in ‘49 and moved west).

Their first house was filled with found memories. Living on Mercer Island Bill worked on his accounting degree and Lee ran a day care. It was here that their son Bob was born, and Lee helped with Bill’s folks.

After their daughter, Judy, was born they moved to Garden Grove, CA, moving back to Seattle in 1962. They lived in the Seattle area until their kids graduated from high school and they both retired, Lee from the bank, and Bill from Boeing. For retirement they moved across the Cascades to Desert Aire over in Mattawa, WA.

To keep their 49’ers title they traveled all around the U.S. nearly every winter. In 1986 Bill and Lee were disappointed to not be in the Seattle area for Christmas, so Judy and Bob’s family went to meet them in Florida.

Everywhere they moved Lee had no problems settling down and meeting people, she had her hands into different clubs. Lee was very active in the Lutheran Church and the Ladies Golf Club. When people would come over to visit them, it wouldn’t take long before they would end up in their back yard - the golf course. Lee would tell them that in order to play golf here at Desert Aire, you must have a rock iron. Keeping everyone puzzled, they would soon learn that you need an old iron that you don’t mind hitting the rocks with. She grew up with brothers that loved to play jokes.

Bill and Lee moved back to the west side of the Cascades in 1997, to be close to their family. While living at Casa Da La Plaza, Lee kept busy with activities and with the Classic’s group at the church.

Lee loved people, loved helping others and really lived by the golden rule. She never complained and always found the good in others.

Besides her two children and grandchildren, Lee is survived by sister Dorothy (Weber) Pauling of Shoreview, MN and brother Ken (Connie) Drever of Tracy.

Fylla Paulsen, 89

Funeral services were held on Monday, April 2, 2007 at Tracy Lutheran Church for Fylla Marie Paulsen.

Fylla died on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at Augustana Chapel View Care Center in Hopkins, MN. She was 89 years of age.

Fylla was born May 13, 1917 in Askov, MN to Niels and Anna Miller. She grew up in Askov, surrounded by a large, loving family, steeped in wondrous Danish traditions, and enriched by deep involvement in the Danish Lutheran Church. She graduated from Askov High School and also spent time at the Danebo Folk School in Tyler, MN.

On May 1, 1937, Fylla married Carl Christian Paulsen in Askov. They moved to Tracy, MN in January, 1952. Fylla was employed as office manager for Dr. Warner Workman and Dr. Norman Lee for 27 years. She was a member of numerous community organizations, including the Tracy Hospital Auxiliary, Home Health Care Board, Tracy Library Board, Tracy Lutheran Church Council, Meals on Wheels and Business and Professional Women’s Club. And, she served many in ways unknown to others.

Fylla is survived by a son, Curt and wife Cathy of Chanhassen, MN; a daughter Karla and husband Robert Emerson of Alpharetta, GA; grandchildren, Julie and husband Peter Keller of Minnetonka, MN, Ann and husband Jim Cahill of Minnetonka, MN and Leif and wife Christine Emerson of Alpharetta, GA; sisters, Erna Orser of Royal Oak, MI and Else Undem Hinds of Park Rapids, MN; great grandchildren, Evan, Ben, Eric and Ellie; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl, who died in 1991; infant granddaughter, Kristen Marie Emerson; sisters, Valborg Nedegaard of Askov, MN and Ruth Anderson of New Haven, CT; and brother, Viggo P. Miller of Washington D.C.

Memorials preferred to Tracy Lutheran Church Radio Broadcast Fund. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handled the arrangements.