Lorraine, Averill, 78

Lorraine E. Averill age 78 of Tracy, MN died Friday, July 13, 2007 at the Marshall Medical Center in Marshall, MN. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. today, Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at the Tracy Lutheran Church, Tracy, MN.

Lorraine Emma Averill was born September 6, 1928 to Luther and Emma (Schafer) Griffith on a farm near Garvin, MN, Lyon County. She was baptized in the Christian faith and attended Tracy Public Schools in Tracy, MN.

On June 19, 1946 Lorraine married Charles D. Averill at the Tracy Methodist Church parsonage. They made their home on a farm south of Tracy and in 1975 Lorraine moved into Tracy. In 2007 she became a resident of the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton, MN.

She was a housewife before going to work as a nurse’s aid for twelve years at the Tracy Nursing Home, then for three years as a home health care provider before becoming Director of the Tracy Senior Center for a year and a half. Lorraine was also a member of the Tracy Hospital Auxiliary and a member of the Tracy Lutheran Church and in the past had been active in the church women’s groups and Bible study club. She enjoyed flower gardening, cooking, spoon collecting and dancing, but her love was spending time with family, especially her grandchildren.

On Friday, July 13, 2007 Lorraine died at the Marshall Medical Center at the age of 78.

Lorraine is survived by her three daughters, Vickie (Kim) Bartness of Marshall, MN, Lori (George) Hebig of Tracy, MN and Diane (Curt) Mercie of Marshall, MN; one daughter-in-law, Becky Averill of Tracy, MN; ten grandchildren; one great grandson, Sander; two sisters, Marilyn Holm of Balaton, MN and Violet DeVries of Rushmore, MN; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Here husband, Charles, parents, one infant son, Robert, one son, Eugene, one daughter, Sandra Minnig, and son-in-law, Bill Minnig, one sister, Ardella Gordon and special friend, Les VandePutte preceded her in death.

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

Don Cahow, 74

Funeral Service for Don Cahow will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, 2007, at Christ Lutheran Church in Marshall. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Rehkamp – Horvath Funeral Home in Minneota and one hour prior to the service at church on Thursday. Interment will be at Diamond Lake Township Cemetery.

Don was born on June 22, 1933, in Tracy to Laura Alice (Bartlow) and Frank Cahow. He attended school in Tracy through the ninth grade. Don then helped on the family farm. In 1952, the family moved from Tracy to Lake Benton where they farmed for many years.

On July 24, 1952, Don and Betty Schnell were married. Don farmed with his father near Lake Benton until his father retired and Don continued to farm the family farm. Don and Betty had five children and were married for 38 years. Betty passed away in December of 1990.

In addition to farming, Don worked at PMC Boatworks in Pipestone, the Lake Benton Tire Shop and Bressler’s Garage in Lake Benton. He also did mechanical and welding work and custom feed grinding for many people in the area. Later in his life, he worked for several neighbor farmers.

On August 1, 1998, Don and Alona Prellwitz were married. Don moved to Minneota where he lived until his death. Don lost his two-year battle with cancer on July 16, 2007. He was 74 years and 24 days old at the time of his death.

Don’s hobbies were gardening, felt picture coloring and he loved science. He always had a fantastic vegetable garden. He loved tinkering with motors and doing home improvements. When he was younger, he spent many hours hunting, especially gopher hunting. The greatest joy of his life was spending time with his family.

Don is survived by his wife Alona of Minneota; sons David (Julie) Cahow of Arco, MN, and Dale Cahow of Lake Benton, MN; daughters Julie Cahow, Mary DeVries and Roxann Cahow, all of Marshall; eight grandchildren Davy Cahow, Stacy Cunningham, Josh DeVries, Dawn DeVries, Samanatha DeVries, Michelle DeVries, Chris Cahow and LaShia Cahow; five great-grandchildren: Karley Cunningham, Cody Cunningham, Isiah Limo, Kaylee Backlund, Kadence Duis Cahow and Braxton Johnson; brother Richard (Lorraine) Wakefield of Tracy, step-children Dorie (Bill) Koska of Wecota, SD, Deann (Jeff) Waller of Anchorage, Alaska, John (Carla) Prellwitz of Hector, MN, David and Daryl Prellwitz of Porter, MN, Marvin Prellwitz Jr. of Marshall, MN; six step-grandchildren: Joshua, Amanda, Matthew and Caleb Prellwitz, Evangeline (Nick) Stoll and Shawn Kontz.

Donald DeBlieck, 82

Funeral services will be held today, Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Park Rapids, MN for Donald DeBlieck. Father Dennis Wieland will officiate. The organist will be Helen Fisher and the music will be led by the St. Peter’s Alleluia Choir.

Casketbearers were grandsons: Sean DeBlieck, Christopher DeBlieck, Wyatt Burford, Adam DeBlieck, Ryan Gilbertson and Anthony DeBlieck.

The honorary casketbearers were the rest of his grandchildren: Matt DeBlieck, Simon DeBlieck, Brett DeBlieck, Joe Gilbertson, Blue Thomas and Laurie Todesco.

Donald Joseph DeBlieck was born on January 3, 1925 in Walnut Grove, MN to Emiel and Cecilia (Landryt) DeBlieck. It was in Tracy, MN that he attended public school, graduating from the Tracy Public High School with the Class of 1943. As a young man, Don enlisted in the United States Army during World War II. He underwent specialized training by the military in counter intelligence and served for a time in Germany earning the rank of Sergeant. Upon receiving his honorable discharge, he returned to Tracy where he farmed with his father.

On November 23, 1949, Don was united in marriage to Patricia Ann Schmidt in Milroy, MN. This union was blessed with seven children: Douglas, Brian, Gwendolyn, Jerome, Tom, Elizabeth and Bradley. The young family made their first home in St. James, MN where Don began working for the JC Penny Retail chain in a career in management that spanned over 14 years and took him to the communities of Appleton and Montevideo, MN and Jamestown, ND. In June of 1965, Don and family moved to Park Rapids, MN where they purchased and operated a local motel for many years. In addition, Don also managed the Eagles Club in Park Rapids during the 1970’s. He and Pat also sold Aloe Vera products through their own retail business.

Don was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Park Rapids and was also active in the work of the local Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Otto Hendrickson American Legion Post #212 and the Park Rapids Eagles Aerie #870. Don loved the out of doors; especially, when he could be hunting or fishing. Each spring he looked forward to planting a large vegetable garden which he nurtured into fruitful abundance to share with his family and friends. He also looked forward to raising beautiful flowers into colorful splendor for all to see and enjoy. Don was an avid handyman who enjoyed working with plumbing and carpentry projects. Above all, Don devoted his life to his family whom he loved with all his heart.

Don passed away on Friday, July 13, 2007 at the Lakewood Care Center in Staples, MN.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife for nearly 60 years, Pat of Park Rapids; six children: Douglas (Rosemary) DeBlieck of Bemidji, MN, Brian (Carol) DeBlieck of Cottage Grove, MN, Gwen (Terry) DeBlieck of Colorado Springs, CO, Jerry (Becky) DeBlieck of Osage, MN, Elizabeth (Steve) Burford of Wilton, MN and Bradley (Lois) DeBlieck of Gastonia, NC; 21 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; one brother, Norman (Edith) DeBlieck of Tracy, MN; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Don was preceded in death by his son, Tom in 1973; his parents and four brothers.

Interment will be made in the St Peters Catholic Cemetery, Park Rapids, MN. Military honors will be conducted by the Star of the North Marine Corps Honor League.

The Jones-Pearson Funeral Home of Park Rapids handled the arrangements.

Doris Kropp, 86

Funeral services were held Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Milroy for Doris Kropp, age 86 of Milroy, MN.

Doris Mae Kropp was born January 10, 1921 to Thomas and Annie (Haag) Fletcher in Vesta, MN, Redwood County. Her family moved to a farm near Lucan, MN when she was three years old and she was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lucan. She was later confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended country school, then later attended both Lucan and Milroy Public Schools.

On February 1, 1938 Doris married Herbert Kropp and they made their home near Lucan on a farm. They moved to a ranch near Leader, MN in 1974 and remained there until shortly after Herbert’s death, when Doris moved back to Milroy, MN. Doris was a farm wife that will always be remembered by her family for her working alongside her husband on the farm. They were well known for their raising Arabian horses for many years.

Doris was a past member of the Lucan and Leader Lutheran Churches, as well as, a current member of the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Milroy, where she was active over the years in all of them in the church women’s groups, holding many offices. She enjoyed both vegetable and flower gardening, sewing, quilting and baking, but loved spending time with family, especially her grand and great grandchildren.

In August of 2006 Doris became a resident of the Tracy Nursing Home in Tracy, MN for a short time and then moved to Valley View Nursing Home in Lamberton, MN, where she died Friday, July 13, 2007 at the age of 86.

Doris is survived by her one son, Keith (Gail) Kropp of Walnut Grove, MN; two daughters, Karen Webster of Shakopee, MN and Julie (John) Brakke of Milroy, MN; two daughters-in-law, Erma Kropp of Vesta, MN and Marie Clausen of Belview, MN; nine grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her husband, Herbert, parents, two sons, Richard and Bruce and one son-in-law, Dick Webster preceded her in death.

Interment was in the Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery in Milroy. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handled the arrangements.

Ben Lanoue, infant

Mass of Christian Burial and a Celebration of Life for Ben Lanoue, son of Andy and Connie (Dudgeon) Lanoue was held Saturday, July 14, 2007 from St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Milroy.

Ben Andrew Lanoue was born July 11, 2007 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He lived for 47 minutes, then his heart was just too tired, and he went to be with Jesus. He lived for thirty-five beautiful weeks inside his Mama. He was so brave and so strong, and touched countless hearts on this journey.

He was preceded in death by his Grammy Donna Dudgeon, great grandparents George & Ardell Arnoldi, Ray Dudgeon, Camille & Mary Lanoue and Ernest & Mary Thooft.

He is survived by his Mama & Daddy, Grampy Jack Dudgeon & Carole Pollard, Grampy & Grammy Vince & Jeanette Lanoue, Great Grandama Rose Dudgeon, 27 cousins, and his aunts and uncles: Ken & Cheryl Lanoue, Steve & Cindy Sauer, Paul & Marlene Soupir, Brian & Beth Lanoue, Michael & Jane Binzak, Gary & Victoria Lanoue, Tom & Sara Lanoue, Josh & JoAnn Seaton, Paula Dudgeon, Jeff Dudgeon, Joel & Lisa Dudgeon, Russ & Angie Dudgeon and Dave & Cindy Blank.

He knew only love.

Interment was in Our Lady of Victory Catholic Cemetery in Lucan. Arrangements were handled by the Tracy Area Funeral Home.