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Obituaries from the week of Feb. 2, 2011

Ronald Gilb, 67

 

Funeral services for Ronald G. Gilb of Tracy, MN, formerly of Avoca and Milroy, MN, were held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 29, 2011 at Tracy Lutheran Church.   The interment will be at the Lucan Cemetery in the spring of 2011. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handled the arrangements. Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com

Ronald Glenn Gilb was born May 14, 1943 to Alvin and Mary (Bott) Gilb in Milroy, MN.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended Milroy Public Schools, graduating from Milroy High School in 1961.

On August 24, 1963 Ronald married Mary A. Johnson at the Willow Lake Lutheran Church, south of Tracy, MN.  They made their home on a farm near Cottonwood, MN, then Minneota and Milroy.  In 1968 he retired from farming and went to work for the Redwood Falls High School for five years.  He and his wife then owned and operated the Lakeside Drive-inn in Cottonwood for two years, before he went to work for the city of Marshall, MN for over twenty years.  He started with downtown Marshall Maintenance and then later to the Marshall Airport, where he became the airport maintenance manager.  He won several awards at the airport for excellence in field and lighting maintenance from the Minnesota Council of Airports.  He always took pride in his work and was a perfectionist in any job he took on. 

Ron loved animals, especially horses, which he broke and trained for many people over the years.  He was an excellent rider and enjoyed horseback riding.  He also enjoyed attending rodeos, playing pool, poker, watching all sports on television, especially tennis and football, and his many special four-legged friends too.  Jake, Tank, Max and Tuffy to name a few, but he especially loved spending time with his family.

In August of 2009 Ronald became a resident of the St. John’s Lutheran Home in Springfield, MN, where he died, surrounded by his loving family, Monday, January 24, 2011 at the age of 67.

Ron is survived by his wife, Mary Gilb of Tracy, MN; one son, Joey (Elvia) Gilb of Fresno, CA; two daughters, Cammy (Bob) Gould of Marshall, MN and Ronda (Ryan) Kumerow of Sterling, ND; twelve grandchildren, Lee Gilb, Ronald Gilb, Faren Gilb, Cody Gould, Bobby Gould, Shelby Gould, Dee-Dee (Paul) Alter, Mary (Joe) Jackson, Marlina (Joe) Gunia, Nirisa Kumerow, Edwin Sanchez, and Kevin Sanchez; seven great grandchildren, Tristan Alter, Rafe Alter, Autumn Jackson, Zoey Jackson, Avianne Gilb, Lelyn Gunia and Jolene Gunia; one sister, LaDonna (Harlan) Raddatz of Redwood Falls, MN; five sisters-in-law, Joanne Mueller of Apple Valley, MN, Muriel (Harlan) Campbell of Tracy, MN, Judy Johnson of Buffalo, MN, Darlene (Dean) Albertson of Walnut Grove, MN and June Gilb of Walnut Grove, MN; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

His infant son, Ricky, parents, grandparents, one brother, Kenneth, one brother-in-law, Donald Mueller and many aunts and uncles, preceded him in death.

 

Victor Swanson, 100

 

Victor W. Swanson age 100 of Walnut Grove passed away Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy.  Funeral services were held Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. .  Interment was in Walnut Grove Cemetery.  Online condolences may be sent at www.walnutgrovefuneralhome.com.  The Walnut Grove Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. 

Victor W. Swanson was born June 13, 1910 in North Hero Township, Redwood County, Minnesota to John and Gunhilda (Johnson) Swanson.  He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and was a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove.  Victor attended District 19 country school. 

On August 7, 1935 he was united in marriage to Sadie Farr in St. Paul.  Together the couple settled two miles north of Walnut Grove, where they lived until 1948.  They then moved on to the Swanson home place which became a century farm in 1983.  Victor and Sadie lived there until August of 2003 when they moved to O’Brien Court in Tracy.  They enjoyed 69 years of marriage until Sadie’s death on December 27, 2004.  Victor became a resident of Prairie View Healthcare Center in July 2009.  Victor’s love was farming and raising livestock, but he also enjoyed woodworking, and playing cards and marbles with family and friends.

Victor is survived by his children: Eugene (Marilyn) of Walnut Grove, John (Carol) of Walnut Grove, Jillene (Eldon) Kathman of Buffalo, Richard (Faith) of Walnut Grove, and Ruth Ann (John) Thompson of St. Paul; 12 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Sadie, daughter Arlene Purdy, 1 granddaughter, 3 brothers, and 3 sisters. 

 

Harold Wall, 82

 

Funeral services for Harold L. Wall were held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 28, 2011 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton. Interment will be in the spring of 2011, at the Lakeside Cemetery in Balaton. The Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton handled the arrangements.

Harold L. Wall was born May 4, 1928 to Oscar and Helga (Linde) Wall in St. Johns Township, near Pennock, MN, Kandiyohi County.  He was baptized in the Lutheran faith and confirmed on April 18, 1943.  Harold attended country school and then as a young man, worked on the family farm.  In November of 1950 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 10th Mountain Division in Ft. Riley, KS before he received his honorable discharge for medical reasons in 1951 and returned to his home in Minnesota.

On December 19, 1970 Harold married Emma M. Matzke in Glenwood, MN, where they made their home.  In 1973 they moved to a farm northeast of Balaton, MN and continued to farm until his retirement in 1996.  That year they moved into Balaton, where he lived till his death.

Harold was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton and the Balaton American Legion.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, collecting antiques and raising sheep during his many years of farming.

On Monday, January 24, 2011 Harold died, surrounded by his loving family, at the Tyler Health Care Center at the age of 82.

Harold is survived by his wife, Emma Wall of Balaton, MN; two sons, Michael (Kimberly) Wall of La Vista, NE and Scott (Laurie) Wall of Marshall, MN; three grandchildren, Christopher, Ashley and Ethan Wall; one sister, Evelyn Evers of Comfrey, MN; one sister-in-law, Gertrude Wall of Glenwood, MN; many nieces, nephews and friends.

His parents, five brothers, Arnold (Clara) Wall, Walter (Bertha) Wall, Arthur (Betty) Wall, Irvin Wall and Marvin (Lucille) Wall, three sisters, Ada (Ole) Olson, Esther (Walter) Magnuson and Clara (John) Nagle, and one brother-in-law, Martin Evers preceded him in death.