Obituaries from the week of February 28, 2007
Lorraine Benson, 81
Funeral services were held on Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 for Lorraine Benson. Services were held at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove, MN with Rev. Bonnie Lomen officiating. Maydra Maas was organist.
Casket bearers were Matthew Sundahl, Kari Ahrens, Bridget Hanson, Stephanie Benson and Ashley Benson.
Lorraine Virginia Benson was born November 23, 1925 to Ferd and Martha (Wotschke) Weilage in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye, MN. She attended school at St. John’s Lutheran School and graduated from Springfield High School.
Lorraine was united in marriage to Darold Vernon Benson on June 7, 1952 at Revere Lutheran Church. Darold passed away on August 24, 1957. Lorraine worked at the hatchery in Revere, was a janitor and bus driver at the Revere school, worked at the grocery store in Walnut Grove and Revere and in her later years volunteered at the museum in Walnut Grove. She was a member of the English Lutheran ladies aid and Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed crocheting, riding bike, bowling, writing, fishing, and spending time with family and friends.
Lorraine Virginia Benson passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2007 at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, at the age of 81 years, 2 months and 29 days.
She is survived by her children: David Benson of Ceylon and Debra (Brian) Sundahl of Jackson; five grandchildren: Matthew (Tara) Sundahl, Kari (Kevin) Ahrens, Stephanie Benson, Ashley Benson, Bridget (Eric) Hanson; five great grandchildren: Brekkyn, Mason, Carter, Audrey, and Brianna; sisters-in-law Doris Lerohl and Carol Friedley.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband and siblings: Elaine Vogel, step-brother Robert Weilage, and step-sister Betty Weilage, brothers and sister-in-law Ronald Benson, Dennis Benson and Margie Hanson.
Burial was in the Lamberton City Cemetery with the Walnut Grove Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
JoAnne Burridge, 69
JoAnne M. Burridge, 69, passed away with her family at her side on January 17, 2007 at Innovis Health in Fargo, ND after her second brave battle with cervical cancer.
JoAnne was born in St. Paul and raised near Cyrus, MN. As a child she enjoyed gymnastics, race skating, horseback riding, gardening and crocheting.
She had many great accomplishments in her life, one of them was being a great mother. She worked for the State of Minnesota and later farmed. She owned and operated the Cozy Grove Motel in Tracy, MN from 1991 to 2003. She enjoyed working and being outside and being with her grandchildren. She took motorcycle rides with her son-in-laws, snowmobile rides and four-wheeler rides with her grandchildren, raking leaves with her grandson.
She leaves behind her three children, Russ (Laurie) Burridge of VT, RoxAnn (Brian) Boit of MN and Kelly and Gary Schaefer of MN; three step siblings, Fred Dorothy of MN, Kathy Jamkowski of MN, James Dorothy of MN, nieces and nephews; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lola F. Dorothy and Russell P. Dorothy, her brother Edward Christopherson, her sister, Carol J. Olson and her granddaughter, Brandy M. Burridge.
A memorial service will be held in July. Memorials may be send to either Kelly Schaefer, 56261 Sartain St., Park Rapids, MN or RoxAnn Boit, 536 Harvey St., Tracy, MN 56175.
Frances Hyatt, 86
Funeral services were held on Friday, Feb. 23, 2007 at the Tracy Area Funeral Home for Frances Hyatt. Rev. Homer Dobson officiated the service with Dolly Hewitt as pianist.
Casket bearers were Robert Hyatt, Jr., Travis Hyatt, Kyle Hyatt, Jamie Hyatt, Charles Vander Brink, Randall Vander Brink, and Joseph Vander Brink.
Frances Josephine Hyatt was born March 15, 1920 in High Lake Township, Iowa to Francis “Frank” and Ora (Murray) Kathman.
She was united in marriage to Harrison “Harry” Hyatt in 1939 in Iowa. Frances worked at the Marshall Produce for many years. Her hobbies included gardening, flowers and cooking. Frances always enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
Frances passed away on February 20, 2007 at Sanford Medical in Tracy, Minnesota at the age of 86 years, 11 months and 5 days.
She is survived by her children Robert Sr. and wife Geraldine Hyatt of Wood Lake, Bonnie Vander Brink of Bellflower CA, Larry Hyatt of Marshall, Debra and husband Maurel Ohman of Tracy; 11 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; brothers Merle “Bud” Kathman and Junior Kathman; sisters Mary Danielson, Vera Schweiso, and Betty Fischer.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter Loretta Kay, grandson Todd Hyatt and siblings Les Kathman, Donald, Gerald “Jack”, Joanne Coyle and Mildred Bruns.
Interment was in Tracy City Cemetery with the Tracy Area Funeral Home handling the arrangements.
Merlin Kosel, 89
Funeral services were held on Monday, Feb. 26, 2007 for Merlin Otto Kosel, age 89 of Sanborn, MN. Pastor Bryan Preil officiated. Military Honors will be performed by the Sanborn American Legion.
Merlin Otto Kosel was born, August 1, 1917 to August and Lillie (Neeb) in North Star Township on his parents farm. He attended Zion Lutheran School, Country School #56 and Sanborn Public School. After schooling he stayed home and helped his ailing father on the farm. Merlin was drafted into the Army in September 1942 and served mostly overseas. He was honorably discharged in December of 1945.
Merlin married Joy Muriel Rasmussen on August 19, 1946 in Jeffers. After 43 years of marriage Joy passed in 1989. Merlin and his brother L.J. farmed and had a carpentry business for 40 years. Merlin and Joy retired in 1979 and moved into Sanborn in 1980. Merlin enjoyed fishing, farming, travel and spending time with his family. He served on the school board, church board, Sanborn Elevator board, Sanborn Holding Company board and American Legion serving as the treasurer.
On November 10, 1990 Merlin married Glee Meyer. Following Glee’s death in 1992, Merlin married Darlene Lavoia on April 13, 1996 at Zion Lutheran Church in Sanborn.
Merlin died on Thursday, February 22, 2007 at St. John Lutheran Home surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his wife Darlene of Sanborn; sons - James (Nancy) Kosel of Sanborn, David (Marlene) Kosel of Wanda, Dale Kosel of Austin; daughters - Annette (Chuck) Sportel of Roseland, MN, Dawn (Rick) Rykhus of Tracy, MN; 10 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; sisters - Gladys Krentz of Kensington, MN and Delores Knoll of Groton, SD; and a sister-in-law - Doris Kosel of Springfield.
He is preceded in death by his parents; son - Keith in 1966; wives - Joy Rasmussen in 1989, Glee Meyer in 1992, and a brother - L.J. Kosel.
Interment will be at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Sanborn, MN, with the Sturm Funeral Home of Springfield handling the arrangements.
E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Lela Longstrom, 87
Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007 at Huber Funeral Home Chapel, 1801 Commerce Blvd., Mound, MN for Lela Longstrom.
Lela Edith Longstrom was born on June 8, 1919 to Howard & Edith (Fredericks) Hudson in Tracy, MN. She attended Tracy area schools and worked at the Tracy Depot.
On April 18, 1937, Lela married Adolph Longstrom in Mpls, MN, where they lived a short time and Lela worked in the Milwaukee Depot. They moved back to Tracy and farmed near Tracy, Garvin and Balaton, before moving to the Mpls area in 1960. They lived in Bloomington, Fridley and Long Lake before moving to the Mound area.
Lela passed away on Tues., Feb. 13, 2007 in Excelsior, MN.
Lela was preceded in death by son, Richard; her parents, Howard & Edith; her brothers, Charles and Howard Hudson; sisters, Dorothy (Bob) Overbey, and May (Earl) Radtke.
She is survived by husband, Adolph Longstrom; children, Alice Kelm of Hutchinson, Jerry (Colleen) of AZ and Zak (Teri) of Becker; 13 grandchildren & several great-grandchildren; nieces & nephews.
Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Minnetrista.
Donald Vroman, 74
Mass of Christian Burial for Donald Vroman, 74, of Marshall, was held on Friday, February 23, 2007, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Interment followed the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Marshall. Military rites were provided by U.S. American Legion Post 113 of Marshall.
Donald Victor Vroman was born on March 20, 1932, in Clifton Township to Alois and Idalie (Vercoutere) Vroman. He attended school and graduated from Milroy High School. Don was drafted into the U.S. Army and from 1952 ?1954 he served during the Korean Conflict. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Minnesota.
On October 27, 1954, Don was united in marriage to Irma Polman at St. Michael? Catholic Church in Milroy. The couple committed their lives to raising six children while building the family farm south of Marshall. Don and Irma moved from the farm to Marshall in 1995, but Don remained active on the farm his whole life. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Don also enjoyed a good joke and was known to tell a few. He was active on the Sodus Township Board for over 25 years. He also belonged to the American Legion and to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.
After a bout with cancer, Don died on Monday, February 19, 2007, at his home in Marshall.
He is survived by his wife, Irma, of Marshall; daughter Rose and her husband Jerry Thomasson of Marshall, their children Matt and his wife Stephanie Thomasson, and Joe Thomasson; daughter Denise and her husband Kent Weedman of Tracy, their children Kurt and his wife Nadine Weedman, Becky and her husband Scott Zick, great grandchildren Konnor Zick and Lauren Zick; Michael Weedman and fiancé Heidi Sterrett; son Greg Vroman of Tracy; daughter Julie and her husband Bernie DeCock of Ghent, their children Adam and his wife Jodi DeCock, great-grandchildren Dillan DeCock and Elizabeth DeCock, and Sarah DeCock; daughter Lisa and her husband Todd Harmening of Marshall, their children Meghan and Emily Harmening; son Paul Vroman and his wife Kim of Marshall, their children Dalton and Kendra Vroman. Don is also survived by siblings Mary and Allen Battle of Memphis, TN, Rosie and Joe Herman of Van Meter, IA, Josephine and Larry Tillemans of St. Joseph, MN, Dick and Helen Vroman of Milroy, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The Rehkamp-Horvath Funeral Home of Marshall handled the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Holy Redeemer School foundation or Prairie Home Hospice of Marshall.