William Abernethy, 93

William James (Jim) Abernethy passed away on August 23, 2009 at Alexandria Hospital, Alexandria, Virginia. 

He was born on a ranch near Williston, ND on July 8, 1916, to Louise Marie Barbara Wischhof and David Arthur Abernethy.  About two and a half years later, the family moved to Minnesota.  Mr. Abernethy received his early education in Tracy, MN and attended the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University.

Abernethy served on active duty first with the U.S. Field Artillery and later the U.S. Army Air Force from early 1941 until mid 1946.  He was commissioned a Lieutenant in 1942 and served as Commandant of Cadets at an Advanced Single Engine Flying Training School in Florida, where he met and married Roberta Carter Gammon in 1945.  Two daughters were born to this couple.  After release from active duty, he continued serving in the Air Force Reserve until he retired in 1976.

Early in 1945 Abernethy was reassigned to the Continental Air Forces at Bolling Air Force Base, later the Strategic Air Command.  In 1948 Abernethy was assigned to the headquarters of the United States Air Force, where he continued on a number of assignments.  In 1960 he was detailed to work for Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, who was then creating the Defense Agencies.  After 14 months of this detail, Abernethy was designated Deputy Director of Personnel for the Defense Supply Agency.  He later became Director of Personnel, Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he was responsible for civilian and military personnel matters for both the Secretary’s Office and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  In 1971 Abernethy was selected to return to the United States Air Force as its Director of Civilian Personnel, responsible for about a half million civilians around the world.  Abernethy retired from Federal employment in 1974.  During his civilian career, Abernethy was awarded several of the highest civilian Service Awards in both the Office of the Secretary of Defense and HG, USAF.  His career was recognized in the 1976 issue of Who’s Who in America.

Following his retirement, Mr. Abernethy engaged in numerous consulting ventures, and established his own consulting business late in the 1970s.  He specialized in organization, management and personnel matters, as well as small business ventures.  The business was discontinued in the late 1980s, when he and his wife sold their Fairfax, Virginia home and moved to Melbourne, Florida.  He continued to advise small business through volunteering with Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).  Abernethy has consulted at all levels of Federal and State governments, and has aided numerous clients, some as far away as Mobile, Alabama and Austin, Texas, to become financially and managerially successful business owners.  In 2002 Abernethy and his wife returned to Virginia and moved into Goodwin House in Alexandria, Virginia and his wife passed away that year.

Both in Fairfax, Virginia and in Melbourne, Abernethy was active in the Episcopal Church.  While a member of the Board of Trustees for the Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, Melbourne, the school built a high school, located on Pineda Causeway.  He was active in the Episcopal Chapel at Goodwin House.

Mr. Abernethy is survived by two daughters, Ms. Roberta A. Jones of Rushland, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Grady K. (Barbara) Carlson of Vienna, Virginia, one granddaughter, Ashley Milton Carlson of Wesclaco, Texas, and three grandsons, William Conrad Carlson and Robert Lamar Carlson, both of Vienna, Virginia, James Charlton Jones of Lee’s Summit, Missouri and one great-granddaughter, Isabelle Roberta Jones of Lee’s Summit, Missouri.  He is also survived by two brothers, Raymond Abernethy, of Palm Springs, CA and David Abernethy of Apple Valley, MN. 

He was preceded in death by siblings Eunice Abernethy Galstad, Eugene Abernethy and Harry Abernethy.

A memorial service will be held at Goodwin House Chapel in Alexandria, VA at 3 p.m. on September 12, 2009.  The cremains will be placed in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

 

 

Donald Becken, 85

Donald Becken, of Hallock, MN passed away on Tuesday, September 1, 2009.  Donald had been living in Tracy with his daughter and son-in-law Jim and Ade Miller.  Funeral services are set in Hallock on September 19.  A complete obituary will be published next week.

 

 

Kenneth Bicek, 61

Kenneth R. Bicek, 61, of Le Sueur, formerly of New Prague, died on Friday, August 28, at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN.  Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 at the Presbyterian Church, Le Sueur, MN, with Rev. Newell Krogmann and Deacon Leonard Shambour officiating   Burial will be in Tracy City Cemetery, Tracy, MN on Thurs. Sept. 3, at 2:00 p.m.

Kenneth was born on April 7, 1948 to Dr. Ernest and Elaine (Martin) Bicek in Tracy, MN.  He graduated from Tracy High School in 1966, and went on to attend the United States Air Force Academy for two years before attending & graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1970. 

He married Katherine Fritsche of New Ulm, MN in 1968, had three children, and later divorced.  His professional career included jobs as a technician for the Minnesota Valley Breeders Association and a salesman for Lakeland Veterinary Supply. In 1979, he founded B&B Vet Supply in New Prague, MN (currently in Montgomery, MN), and worked there until his death. 

He was active in the Presbyterian Church, the Community Garden in Le Sueur, MN, G.O.P. politics, Minnesota Lamb & Wool Producers, Pork Producers and many other agricultural groups.  He especially enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with family and friends at his lake cabin on Minnesota Island, Leech Lake in Walker, MN.

He is survived by his Fiance’ / Best Friend Deb Shambour, of Le Sueur, MN; children; Dr. Heidi (Jeff) Peters of Excelsior, MN, Dr. Andrew (Alison) Bicek of Elk River, MN, Ellen (Dan) Slater of Minnetrista, MN Deb’s daughter, Christy (Eric) Smykalski of Le Sueur, MN; 11 grandchildren; mother; Elaine Bicek of Tracy, MN, sister, Diane (David) Schnelli of Springfield, OR; brothers          Chuck (Susan) Bicek of Boise, ID and David Bicek of Bemidji, MN

He is preceded in death by his father, Dr. Ernest K. Bicek

The Kolden Funeral Home, Le Sueur, MN handled the arrangements.

 

 

Milton Moen, 84

Milton Milford Moen, 84 of Tracy passed away on July 19, 2009 at Sanford Hospital from complications following surgeries.

A memorial service for Milt will be held on Sept. 11, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Tracy Lutheran Church.

Arrangements are being held by Tracy Area Funeral Home.

 

 

Anita Weisbrich, 94

Anita H. Weisbrich age 94 of Tracy died Monday, August 24, 2009 at the Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy.  Funeral services were held Friday, August 28, 2009 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy.  Interment was in the Calvary Cemetery. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handled the arrangements.

Anita Helena Weisbrich was born May 4, 1915 to Nicholas and Erna (Hannapal) Rolling in Armstrong, IA. She was baptized in Armstrong and confirmed in Tracy, MN. She attended Tracy Public Schools, before enrolling in the American School of Beauty in Minneapolis, MN. She owned and operated Anita’s Beauty Shop in Minneapolis, before moving to Balaton, MN and reopening her beauty shop there.

On August 26, 1940 Anita married Charles J. Weisbrich in Minneapolis at St. Charles of Borromeo. They made their home in Balaton for a short time and then moved to Tracy, MN. In Tracy, Anita worked in the Tracy Nursing Home, as an activity director, and a nurse’s aid.

She was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy and active in the church women’s groups, alter guild, Rosary Society and Catholic Daughters of America. Anita was also an accomplished painter, enjoyed floral arranging, and traveling. She and her husband spent many winters in Apache Junction, AZ.

In 2005 Anita became a resident of the Prairie View Health Care Center in Tracy, where she died Monday, August 24, 2009 at the age of 94.

Anita is survived by her two sons, Gary (Kay) Weisbrich of Lamberton, MN and Terry (Shay) Weisbrich of Half Moon Bay, CA; three daughters, Mary Lou (Marty) Nelson of New Ulm, MN, Patti (Gary) Amundson of Pequot Lakes, MN and Debi (Todd) Pack of Bemidji, MN; sixteen grandchildren; twenty six great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; one sister-in-law, Ann Rolling of Tracy, MN; nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Her husband, Charles, one son, John, one daughter, Janet Cyr, and three brothers, Harold, Herbie and Don Rolling preceded her in death.