Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Marie I. Brown, 90

Marie I. (Mrs. Claude) Brown, age 90 of Dundas, died on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at Three Links Care Center, Northfield.

Mass of Christian Burial was held at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, Faribault on Monday, June 27, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. with The Reverend Kevin Finnegan officiating. Interment was at Meadow Ridge Memorial Park, Faribault.

Marie Irene, the daughter of Dr. Edward P. Mulcahy and Marie (Blanchette) Mulcahy was born in Detroit, MI. During her infancy, her parents moved back to Minneapolis after her father became ill. He had taught flying lessons during the First World War and was injured when a student of his crashed the airplane and had to be hospitalized in a Minnesota hospital. Marie and her mother then resided with her Mother’s family (the Blanchettes) until her dad was released from the hospital several months later. Edward became a dentist afterwards and practiced in Minneapolis.

Marie attended the St. Anthony of Padua School through the 7^th grade, Thomas Lowry School in 8^th grade, and graduated from Edison High School in 1938. While at Edison High School, she was a member of the National Honor Society, received a Quill and Scroll Pin, and became the News Editor of the ”Edison Record”, the School’s newspaper. She also belonged to many other school clubs. Marie graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dental Hygiene in 1940 and has always maintained her Dental Hygiene License since 1940.

On February 17, 1941, Marie was united in marriage to Claude E. Brown at the new St. Charles Borremeo Parish. Marie and Claude lived on a farm near Faribault, MN; and then in October of 1941, they moved to a farm, near Dundas, MN where she resided until her death.

For a period of time, Marie served on the “Little Prairie School Board”, Rice County Extension, Community Garden Society, Northfield Hospital Auxiliary, Community Bible Study, St. Lawrence Church Bible Study, was a Rice County Farm Bureau lifelong honorary member, an honorary parent member of the Northfield F.F.A., two community birthday clubs, the “Little Prairie” Community Club, and was also a member of Divine Mercy Catholic Church Parish of Faribault.

Marie especially enjoyed the traditional family Christmas Eve celebration at her home; family birthday parties visiting with family and friends, and she loved all her “grandbabies” dearly and her travels to Maine, Virginia, California and Ireland.

She is survived by four children, C. Patrick (Maxcine) Brown of Faribault, Dennis Michael (Mary Ann) Brown of Dundas, Dr. Richard Wallace Brown of Tracy and Dr. Kathleen Marie (and Dr. William Brockway) Brown-Brockway of Tracy; 18 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a step mother, Dorothy (Divine) Mulcahy; her husband, Claude E. Brown; and a son, Thomas E. Brown.

Visit boldtfuneralhome.com for information and guest book.

Lorraine Kreucher, 82

Lorraine Isabel Kreucher, 82, passed away Saturday, June 25 2011, surrounded by loving family.

Lorraine was born August 9, 1928, the youngest of 8 girls. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, George and Justina Kreucher, sisters; Regina Hilgesen, Isabel Bibby and Beatrice Stefanick.

She is survived by sisters; Rosalia (Harold) Baskin, Florence Cecere, Helen (David) Jones and twin sister Elaine (John) Gorshe, and many loving nieces, nephews and friends. Lorraine’s mass of Christian Burial is on Wednesday, June 29 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Anoka, Minnesota. Internment is Saturday, July 2, at Calvary Cemetery, Tracy.

Family members say that her love of life and family was an inspiration to all who knew her.

Gladys Leppke, 80

Funeral services were held on Friday, June 24, 2011 for Gladys Olga (Drake) Leppke. Pastor Allen Lonnquist officiated. Organist was Karen Mamer with soloist Jason Jorgens. Casketbearers were Scott Drake, Myron Drake, Evan Griffiths, Kyle Miller, James Bach and Duane Hastad.

Gladys Olga Drake Leppke was born on June 17, 1931 to Frank and Olga (Grau) Drake in rural Murray County, MN. She was baptized June 3, 1934 at Tracy, MN by Rev. T.H. Tyohsen and confirmed in May of 1970 at St. John’s Lutheran Church by Rev. D. Zimmermann. She attended several country schools until the family moved into Tracy and there she graduated from Tracy High School in 1949. She worked at the local Dime Store until an opening became available at Stone Hill Creamery. The creamery was later purchased by what was to become AMPI and she was transferred to Clarkfield in 1956.

She was then introduced to Curtis Leppke, of Boyd. They were married on November 23, 1969 at the Clarkfield Methodist Church. She continued to work for AMPI until just before son Randall came, two months early. She was then a stay at home mom until friend at AMPI, Leo Flattum, who was mayor of Clarkfield, needed a secretary, In 1981 she began working part time for the City of Clarkfield, three days a week and on Wednesdays (‘Chicken Day’) at her sister Darlene’s Roxy Café. After the June 16, 1992 tornado, the restaurant closed and Gladys went full time for the city. She worked for the city until she retired in January 1997. (She was called back to fill in twice.)

As a member of the Clarkfield Methodist church and St. John’s Lutheran Church, she was a Sunday School teacher and enjoyed teaching the little children. She loved to sew, garden, cook and read until medical conditions caused her not to be able to do these things.

Gladys passed away on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dawson at the age of 80 years and 4 days.

She is survived by husband Curtis, son Randall, sister-in-law Ardys Drake of Tracy, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Olga Drake, brother Marvin Drake, sisters Emma Griffiths, Dorothy Drake and Darlene Drake, two nieces, a nephew, mother-in-law Alma Leppke and brothers-in-law Wilfred, Ervin and Kermit Leppke.

Interment was in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Omro Township, Yellow Medicine Co., MN. The Lynner Funeral Home of Clarkfield handled the arrangements.