Evelyn Atkins, 83
Evelyn Atkins, 83 of Walnut Grove passed away Thursday,
December 27, 2007 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls,
SD following a brief illness.
Funeral services were held at St. Olaf Lutheran
Church in rural Walnut Grove on Monday, December
31.
Evelyn Atkins was born March 12, 1924 in Lime Lake
Township, Murray County, Minnesota to Nicholas and
Marie (Ring) Weis. She was baptized and later
confirmed on May 1, 1949 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church,
and graduated from Westbrook High School in 1943.
Evelyn was united in marriage to Edward H.
Atkins on December 29, 1944. They lived in
Holly Township in Murray County, where they farmed
until 1991. When they retired they moved to a small
acreage near Walnut Grove, where they have resided
since. Evelyn was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran
Church, serving in the women’s groups, such
as WELCA, Circle and altar guild. She had
been a member of several card clubs over the years,
enjoyed gardening, especially her flower bed, baking
and cooking. Her family was her greatest joy
and she enjoyed spending time with them, especially
her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband Edward Atkins of
63 years; one daughter Linda and special son-in-law
Roger Engler of rural Walnut Grove, one son Wayne
Atkins of Redwood Falls; 3 grandchildren Sherri
(Jay) Hupp of Mankato, Ricky (Lori) Atkins of Rapid
City, and Jamie (Kim) Atkins of Cottage Grove; great
grandchildren Cole and Claire Hupp, Ben and Chris
Atkins, and Gabe, Dominic and Noah Atkins; sister-in-law
Katherine Weis of Worthington and numerous other
relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers
Phil, Nick and Wally Weis and sister Lil Norstegard.
Burial was in the church cemetery. The Walnut Grove
Funeral Home is handled the arrangements.
Herman Wilking, 75
Funeral services for Herman Wilking were held Friday,
December 28, 2007 at Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy,
MN.
Herman Edward Wilking was born December 27, 1931
to Edmund C. and Bertha M. (Hatton) Wilking on his
grandparents farm in Custer Township, Lyon County,
MN. He was baptized in the Garvin Congregational
Church on July 24, 1937. He attended Garvin Public
School and later Tracy High School, graduating in
1950. In 1952 Herman joined the Tracy Lutheran Church
and was confirmed that fall. As a young man he worked
on many area farms and after graduation, for Hemmingsen’s
Auto Sales.
In January of 1951 Herman entered the U. S. Navy,
where he served during the Korean War on the aircraft
carrier, the US Kula Gulf, until his discharge in
September of 1953, when he returned to the Tracy
and Garvin area and went to work for the Garvin
Elevator for 18 years.
On June 17, 1953 Herman married Goldie Sorbel at
the Tracy Lutheran Church and they made their home
in Garvin, MN and raised four sons, Donald, David,
Darrell and Duane. After his years with the Garvin
Elevator, Herman went to work for the Tracy Elevator
for the next 17 years. In 1990 they moved to Tracy.
He also was employed by Schott Corporation in Marshall,
MN and as a maintenance man at the Tracy Nursing
Home. He retired in October of 1998.
His hobbies included raising horses, horse back
riding with his boys, dancing, traveling, camping
and in his later years golfing, horse shoe league
and playing pool at the Senior Center in Tracy.
He enjoyed watching his sons and grandchildren participate
in their school activities and sports and took great
pride in his family, and having his home and yard
look nice.
For many years Herman was an active member of the
Garvin American Legion, serving as Adjutant and
as a Garvin City Council member. He served as fire
chief on the Garvin Fire Department and also as
a Garvin Police Officer. He was a member of the
Tracy Lutheran Church and served as a deacon and
as an usher. Herman also volunteered at the Tracy
Area Food Shelf and Meals on Wheels. He also was
a past member of the Tracy Lions Club.
In early November Herman was diagnosed with cancer
and on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 he died at his
home surrounded by his loving family at the age
of 75.
Herman is survived by his wife, Goldie of Tracy,
MN; four sons, Donald (Lanae) of Lakefield, MN,
David (Kathy) of Tracy, MN, Darrell (Karen) of Sioux
Falls, SD and Duane (Carol) of Ivanhoe, MN; eleven
grandchildren, Dillon (Dee Dee), Dru (Kaycee), Dustin
(Abby), Nicole (Al) Fredrickson, Darin (Emily),
Rachel, Shenandoah (fiancé, Thomas Massman),
Shelby, Chelsie, Alisha and Janelle; one sister,
Wilma Berg of Tyler, MN; one brother, Lee (Rosalyn)
Wilking of Long Point, IL; many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Interment was at the Hoiland Cemetery, rural Tracy.
The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handled the arrangements.
Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com.
Betty Westphal, 62
Betty J. Westphal, age 62, of Amiret, died Sunday,
December 30, 2007 at the Prairie Home Hospice House
in Marshall. Funeral services are scheduled
for 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 4, 2008 at Tracy
Lutheran Church in Tracy. Burial will be in the
Tracy City Cemetery. Visitation will be held
at the Hamilton Funeral Home on Thursday, January
3, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a prayer service
at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior
to the service on Friday, at the church.
Betty Jean Swan was born March 30, 1945 in Tracy,
Minnesota to Hilding and Blanche (Kadolph) Swan.
She was baptized and confirmed at the Sillerud
Lutheran Church. She attended the Balaton
schools and graduated from Balaton high School in
1963. She then went on to the Nettleton Business
College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Betty
then worked at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls.
On August 31, 1968, Betty was united in marriage
to Don Westphal at Sillerud Lutheran Church and
they lived in rural Amiret. Betty was a home
maker until 1994 when she started working at the
Best Western hotel in Marshall. She retired
in 2006.
Betty enjoyed life, she taught Sunday School, was
a member of the church circle, and a member of the
extension club. She also enjoyed gardening,
cooking, watching TV and movies, shopping, her grandchildren,
and spending time with family and friends.
Betty is survived by her husband Don of rural Amiret;
children, Lynn (and Rick) Miller of rural Garvin,
Todd Westphal of Brookings, SD, and Scott Westphal
of Brookings, SD; grandchildren, Ryan and Jessica
Miller of rural Garvin; mother, Blanche Swan of
Tracy; and sister, Phyllis (and Gary) Hansen of
Tracy.
She was preceded in death by her father, Hilding
Swan.
Online condolences available at www.hamiltonfh.com.
The Hamilton Funeral Home of Marshall is handling
the arrangements.
Jerome Starken, 85
Jerome W. “Joe” Starken, 85, formerly
of Oak Ridge, TN, passed away December 16, 2007
in Madison, TN.
Jerome graduated from Tracy High School in 1940
and joined the Army on Dec. 8, 1941. He served in
Africa and was part of the invasion of Anzio Beach
in Italy.
He retired in June 1992 after 37 years as an electrical
engineer with the Martin Marietta Energy Department
of Oak Ridge.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Jean
Starken, both parents Matt and Cora Starken, one
nephew Paul Ludeman and two sisters, Gloria Hamilton
and Mary Lou Ludeman.
Survivors include daughter Diane and her husband,
Dr. Michael Brannom of Madison, TN, brother George
Starken, Chestertown, MD, two sisters Nancy Sanderson
and Sandi Rettmer of Tracy; granddaughter Lorie
and her husband Stephen and one great-granddaughter
Stephanie Parris all of Bristal, VA.
Adolph Longstrom, 91
A Memorial Service was held Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007
at 11:00 a.m. at Huber Funeral Home Chapel in Mound,
MN for Adolph Longstrom. Mr. Longstrom passed away
on December 19, 2007.
Adolph Eugene Longstrom was born on April 13, 1916
in Garvin, Minnesota to Gustaf Adolph Longstrom and
Emilia Anderson.
On April 18, 1937 Adolph married Lela Edith Hudson
in Minneapolis.
Adolph was preceded in death by his wife, Lela; a
son, Richard; his parents, Gustaf and Emilia; his
brother, Clarence; and sisters, Agnes (Ed) Almjheld,
Helen Shoemaker and Elizabeth (Don) Weidaurer.
He is survived by children, Alice Kelm of Hutchinson,
Jerry (Colleen) of Arizona and Zak (Teri) of Becker;
13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; nieces
and nephews.
Interment Fairview Cemetery, Minnetrista. Huber Funeral
& Cremation Services Mound Chapel handled the
arrangements
