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Obituaries from the week of Aug. 31, 2011

Melvina Aaberg, 85

Melvina Lorraine Aaberg, of Mankato, died in a car accident near the town of Nicollet on Monday, August 22, 2011, just two days after her 85th birthday.

The funeral service was held Saturday, August 27th at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Mankato. The burial service followed at the Scarville Synod Cemetery. 

Melvina was born on August 20th, 1926 on her parent’s farm near the town of Garvin Minnesota. She was the youngest of 5 children born to Edward and Jennie Olson. Melvina’s father died when she was only 16 months old, and her mother passed away shortly thereafter when Melvina was just 4 years old. Following the death of her parents Melvina was raised by her Uncle Olaf and Aunt Marie, while her 4 brothers, Gerhard, Orlando, Marvin, and Leonard continued to live at the family farm.

Melvina graduated from Bethany Lutheran College in 1947 and went on to teach at Norseland Christian Day School, and later at Mt. Olive Lutheran School.

She married Rev. Theodore A. Aaberg in 1951 and they had 5 children, Ted, Sarah, Marie, Jonathan, and Joel. Her husband Theodore passed away in 1980. Despite the hardship of being widowed at a relatively young age, Melvina managed to purchase a home which served as the family gathering place for many Christmases and other happy occasions, not only for her children, but also her 4 beloved granddaughters, Jennie, Shawna, Abby, and Clair.

Melvina worked as a secretary at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary for 28 years, and then at the Bethany Archives until her death.  Her many interests included, writing her memoirs, traveling, baking, listening to music, and keeping up with friends and family.

Melvina was preceded in death by her husband Theodore, her brothers Gerhard, Orlando, Marvin, and Leonard, and her infant grandson Ronald William Mehlberg, Jr.

 

Virginia Fetter, 88

Memorial Services for Virginia Fetter will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie, MN on Friday, September 2, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Jeffrey Dobb officiating.  The organist is Patty LeClaire.  The song leader is LoAnn Hansen.  Interment is at Tracy City Cemetery Tracy, MN. 

Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday.  Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton in charge of arrangements. To send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com.

Virginia Fetter passed away on August 21, 2011 at the age of 88.

She was born March 2, 1923 and was raised on a farm in Currie, Minnesota with her ten siblings.  She graduated from Tracy High School in 1941 and worked in a defense plant in California until her marriage to Loren Fetter on April 29, 1944. She and Loren were active in Tracy community groups until their move to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1963.  Virginia retired from the Arizona Air National Guard in 1985. 

She is survived by three children, Jacqueline (Gary) Ruppert of Currie, Minnesota, Joey (William) Ridenour of Paradise Valley, Arizona and Steven (Sheree) Fetter of Gilbert, Arizona; sister, Betty Kass and brother, Donald LeClaire; 12 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Loren Fetter, her parents, Henry Alfred and Elizabeth LeClaire and brothers and sisters; Odell Myhro, Henry LeClaire, Lucretia Anderson, Dwaine LeClaire, Rosemarie Ruppert Hansen, Vernon LeClaire and James LeClaire.

 

Irene Verstraete, 94

Irene E. Verstraete, age 94, of Marshall, passed away at the Minneota Manor on Sunday, August 28, 2011. Mass of Christian Burial was held today, Wednesday, August 31st at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Burial was in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.  Condolences may be sent to www.hamiltonfh.com.

Irene Elizabeth Kosse was born on April 13, 1917 near Tracy, Minnesota to parents Gerhard H. and Mary (Lingschiet) Kosse. She was baptized, received First Communion and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy.

On December 30, 1936, Irene was united in marriage to August “Gust” Verstraete at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. They lived in Tracy until moving to the Marshall area in 1961, Irene was a devoted wife and mother, and really enjoyed taking care of the grandchildren. Other enjoyments in her life were, the Birthday Club, the Card Club, volunteering at the nursing home and playing bingo.

Gust passed away on September 21, 1982. Irene joined him in death at the Minneota Manor on Sunday, August 28, 2011. She had reached the age of 94 years, 4 months and 15 days.

She will be missed by her five children, Janice (and John) Nelson of Slayton, Pat (and Nels) Myhre of Minneota, Dolores (and Dennis) Charbonneau of Parkers Prairie, Bob and Mary Verstraete of Hugo and Dean (and Sally) Verstraete of Minot, ND; sixteen grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Clara Andrews of Tracy; and brother-in-law, Roy Aschenbrener of Inver Grove Heights.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Gust; daughter and son-in-law,  Mary and Bill Huskamp; grandson, Dennis Verstraete; and great granddaughter, Brenna Hanson.

Irene was a faithful member of Hoy Redeemer Church where she was active in the Marshall Council of Catholic Women, cooked for various church functions and was on the funeral committee for many years.