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Obituaries from the week of March 31, 2010

Sharon Elliott, 59

Sharon Elliott, 59 of Savage MN passed away on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, MN.  She was born October 18, 1950 in Tracy, MN to parents Frank and Madeline(Cooreman) Verstraete.  She married Charles Elliott on October 31, 1970 in Tracy, MN and they were blessed with two sons.

From the time she was a little girl, Sharon lived her whole life with a bold attitude, loud presence and, at times, highly colorful vocabulary that would come to define a significant piece of this truly remarkable woman.  Sharon loved fiercely and was “mom” to many of her friends’ children and sons’ friends.  She had the softest heart for the animals (both pet and wild) and was mother, grandmother and guardian to many lucky furry creatures who she spoiled endlessly with treats and toys.  She loved to cook, garden, knit, shop.  Sharon was a doer and she worked harder than most and took great pride in the way things were done – her way.

Wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend, you will be with us always in our hearts and minds, today and forever.  There will never be another who could fill your size 5 shoes with such fire and spirit.  We’ll miss you always.  We love you.

Sharon will be loved and forever missed by her husband, Charles “Chuck” Elliott; sons, Adam (Lisa Mauer) Elliott of Minneapolis, Jared (Sheiela Shetka) Elliott of Prior Lake; brother, Gary (Patricia) Verstraete of Landgon, KS. 

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Per Sharon’s wishes there will be no services.

 

 

Albert Heacock, 80

Albert (Bert) Heacock was born July 8, 1929, in Reading, KS, to Emory and Eva Heacock, and died March 21, 2010, at his home surrounded by his family.

He will be greatly missed by Elsie, his wife of 55 years; sons, Willy (Christina), Wade (Ann); daughters, Kathy (Bruce) Schultz, Karen (Tracy) Hanson; three grandchildren and three great grandchildren; one brother and two sisters

Bert worked for Lad’s Manufacturing and Repair in Walnut Grove for 31 years.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 10, at 1:30 pm at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 3200 East 6th Street, Sioux Falls, SD.

Services entrusted to Heartland Funeral Home. www.heartlandfunerals.com

 

 

Annabelle Kramer, 90

Funeral services were held on Thursday, March 8, 2010 at the Strike Funeral Home in Cambridge, MN for Annabelle Kramer.  Rev. Bob Jonsson officiated with Ruth Larson as pianist. 

Annabelle was born in Angora, MN on February 5, 1920 to Benjamin and Anna Sherman.  She attended Cook High School, Bethel Academy and Cable Secretarial College.  Annabelle worked as a secretary for Lampert Lumber Company and as the secretary to the Dean of Bethel College.  It was at Bethel that Annabelle met her husband, John Kramer.  They were married in 1948 in St. Paul.  Together they served churches in Lake Norden, SD; Maynard, MN, Oakland, NE, Forest Lake, Slayton and Stacy, MN.

Annabelle’s faith was the primary focus of her life.  Her greatest joy was serving the Lord and raising her family to know Him.  Serving with John in small rural churches for mot of their ministry she led prayer and Bible Study groups, played the piano and served where needed.  Annabelle treasured life long friendships and considered it a blessing to be able to reconnect with college, pastoral and missionary friends during their retirement years.

Annabelle Kramer passed away on march 16, 2010 at GracePointe Crossing East Gables at the age of 90 years, 1 month and 11 days.  Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. John; brothers, Roger, Earl, Ben and Maurie; and sister, Grace.

Annabelle is survived by her 6 children, Dawnelle (Mark) McCloskey of Arden Hills, Sherill (Dale) Peterson of Garvin, Beth (Allen) Wold of Wheaton, Pamela (Mike) Horazdovsky of Anchorage, AK, John D. (Rebecca) Kramer of Arden Hills, Carol Lee (Gary) Compton of Aberdeen, SD; 17 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lee (Cora) Sherman of Nova Scotia, Homer (Jackie) Sherman of Arizona; two sisters, Blanche Sanders of Roseville, Gayle (George) Peterson of Circle Pines; and by many other relatives and friends.

Interment was at Lake Sarah Baptist Cemetery, Slayton, MN.

 

 

Albert Messenbrink, 84

Albert H. Messenbrink age 84 of Tracy, MN died Thursday, March 25, 2010 at the Good Samaritan Care Center is Westbrook, MN.  Services were held Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at the Church of Christ in Tracy.  Interment will be in the Amo Methodist Cemetery, later in the spring.  The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the arrangements.

Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com 

Albert Herman Messenbrink was born May 8, 1925 to George and Anna (Grunewald) Messenbrink on a farm between Windom, MN and Jackson, MN, in Jackson County.  He was baptized and confirmed in Trinity Lutheran Church in Jeffers, MN and attended Country School District #54 in Cottonwood County.  During the Depression years, Albert’s father became ill, so he left school to work on the farm.

On March 15, 1949 Albert married Berniece G. Carter and they made their home on a farm near his father’s farm for several years.  They moved to Glenwood, MN in 1954, before returning to the Westbrook area in 1956.  Over the years Albert continued to farm and worked several other area businesses including, Westbrook Elevator, Toro in Windom, MN, Hog Buying Station in Dovray, MN, Anderson Livestock, also of Dovray, Konkel Tree Service, and Herder Tree Service.  He moved into Tracy, MN in 1975 and retired there in 1988. 

Albert’s love of the land drew him into farming and gardening his whole life.  He often joked about how his father bought him a four tined fork and a shovel, as his first toys when he was born, so that he could grow into them.  He grew many varieties of beautiful flowers in his gardens.  Albert also enjoyed fishing, playing cards and Twins baseball. While residing in Tracy, he lived with special friend, Helen Olson and remained very close to her daughter, Barbara Herder over the years. 

In 2009 Albert entered the Murray County Hospice House in Slayton, MN for a short time, before becoming a resident of the Good Samaritan Center in Westbrook, MN, where he died Thursday, March 25, 2010 at the age of 84.

Albert is survived by his one daughter, Leslie (Leo) Hofstadter of Currie, MN; two sons, Thomas (Linda) Messenbrink of Avoca, MN and Scott (Judy) Messenbrink of Pine, CO; a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren; one brother, Harold (Effie) Messenbrink of Houston, TX; one sister, Claudette Carter of Jeffers, MN; one brother-in-law, John Lange of Windom, MN; nieces, nephews and friends.

His parents, one sister, Regina Lange, one sister-in-law, Theresa Messenbrink and one brother-in-law, Ivan Carter preceded him in death.