Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Beverly J. Adams, 85

Beverly Joyce (Mickelson) Adams, age 85, of Minnetonka, MN, formerly of Tracy, MN died June 25, 2012 at North Memorial Hospital in Minneapolis. Services are pending. Washburn-McReavy in Hopkins, MN is handling arrangements. They can be contacted at 952-938-9020.

A complete obituary will be published next week.

Jean M. Miller, 77

Jean M. Miller age 77 of Tracy passed away Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday at Tracy Lutheran Church. Visitation is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Sunday at the Tracy Area Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Interment is in Ruthton Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Jean Miller was born August 17, 1934 in Tyler, MN to Alfred and Mildred (Martinson) Andersen. She graduated from Ruthton High School in 1952. Jean attended Mankato State University receiving a two year certificate in education. She later continued her education receiving a BA in Education at Mankato State University. She taught school at Belle Plaine, Arlington, Butterfield-Odin, Marshall, and Balaton, before teaching in Tracy. Jean taught school for 47 years, 38 of them in Tracy. On June 25, 1961 she was united in marriage to Jack Miller in Ruthton. In 1962 they moved to Tracy where she has resided since. Jean also taught community education classes which were very important to her. She assisted children with reading after school. Jean was a member of card clubs, playing Bridge and 500. She was also a member of the Tracy Education Association, Minnesota and National Education Associations, and Tracy Lutheran Church. Jean loved to crochet and knit, make greeting cards, and the color yellow. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, bowling, biking, and was becoming a Twins fan.

Jean is survived by Jack, her husband of 51 years on Monday, June 25; her older brother Doug’s daughter Cathy; her twin brother Jack’s children Sue, Steven, and Scott; cousins Curt Christiansen of Lake Shetek and Dolores Porter of Mankato; special friend Verla Gayle Stoffel of Slayton; and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, and brothers Doug and Jack.

Hazel J. Molitor, 80

Hazel J. Molitor age 80 of Lynd, MN, formerly of Tracy, MN, died Monday, June 18, 2012 at the Priarie Home Hospice House in Marshall, MN. Services were held Thursday, June 21, 2012 at First Baptist Church in Marshall. Interment was held in the Tracy City Cemetery. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handled the arrangements.

Hazel June (Van Klei) Molitor was born July 16, 1931 to William A. and Frances V. (Johnson) Van Klei in rural Chandler, Murray County, MN. She married Calvin Jokstad on September 15, 1948 and they had three sons, Carlyle, Carlton and Carl.

On November 29, 1968 Hazel married C. J. “Cy” Molitor in Honolulu, HI and they had two daughters, Kimberlee and Kellee. Hazel was a very loving, caring and protective mother and housewife. Her children, including her step-sons, were all very dear to her. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when she was approximately 45 years old, but that did not seem to slow her down at first, but did in later years.

She was a devout Christian and one of her joys was hearing the many different ministers on Television. If you were to come and visit her almost any time of the day she would have a Christian Program on. She also loved to watch birds in her back yard, and had many feeders there for them.

Hazel became a resident of the Prairie View Healthcare Center for a short time before moving into the Prairie Home Hospice House in Marshall, MN, where she died Monday, June 18, 2012 at the age 80.

Hazel is survived by her husband, Cy Molitor of Lynd, MN; two sons, Carlton (Cheryl) and Carl Jokstad of Tracy, MN; two daughters, Kimberlee (Jason) Winters of Mason City, IA and Kellee (Michael) Vivens of San Antonio, TX; two grandchildren, Trevon and Mikayla Vivens; three step-sons, Steven of Camano Island, WA, Rance (Sonia) of El Paso, TX and Ronald Molitor of Camano Island, WA; one sister, Jean Waage of Marshall, MN; one brother, Pete Van Klei of Friendship, WI; nieces, nephews and friends.

Her son, Carlyle, her parents, her in-laws, two sisters, Mathilda Kubica and Zelma Benson, two brothers, Arie “Ike” and John “Jack” Van Klei, brother-in-law, Gaylen Benson, half-sister, Georgia Hein and half-brother, Arie Van Klei preceded her in death.

Alice Nelson, 87

Alice Julia Nelson, age 87, of Mesa AZ, formerly of Tracy, MN died June 18, 2012 at Alott of Care Assisted Living home in Mesa. Services were held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Mesa. Internment was at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Mesa.

Alice was born August 9, 1924 in Tracy to Alphonse and Sidonie Cooreman. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and attended Tracy Public Schools. As a young woman, she worked at Dietz Drug Store and at Zeke’s Cafe.

On October 3, 1945, she was united in marriage to Robert W. Nelson. They farmed northeast of Tracy for many years. She worked as an operator at Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. until it closed and then at the JC Penney store in Tracy. In 1973 she transferred to the JC Penney store in Mesa, AZ and worked in the credit department until she retired. She continued to live in Arizona for 39 years.

She enjoyed cooking, traveling and spending time with her three daughters and their families, her grandchildren and her many friends. She always had a smile for everyone, was a gracious hostess to everyone at her home and found the positive side of life.

She is survived by her three daughters: Linda Rogers (Art) of Tracy, MN; Julianne Stachmus (Roy) of Gold Canyon, AZ; and Brenda Ankert (Juergen) of Mesa, AZ; nine grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Alphonse and Sidonie Cooreman, brothers Joe and George Cooreman and sisters Mary and Madeline Verstraete.

Rhoda Isabelle Priebe, 97

Funeral services for Rhoda Isabelle Priebe were held at the United Methodist Church in Slayton, MN, on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Lori Van Holtum officiating. The organist is Janet Voges with special music by Craig Priebe. The pallbearers are her grandchildren. Interment is at Slayton Memorial Gardens, Slayton, MN. Visitation was one-hour prior to the services at the United Methodist Church in Slayton.

Rhoda Priebe was born on July 24, 1914 in Lake Sarah Township, Murray County, Minnesota to Ernest and Laura Mason Hanover. Rhoda was baptized at the Church of Christ Church in Tracy, MN. In 1922 the family moved to Tracy where Rhoda graduated from Tracy High School in 1932. She then attended normal teacher training. On July 12, 1934 she and Donald Priebe were married at Church of Christ Church in Tracy. Following their marriage they lived in Slayton for a short time before moving to a farm in Skandia Township, Murray County. Rhoda and Don spent their winters in Mesa, AZ for many years. In 2001 they moved to Sunrise Terrace Apartments in Slayton. Don passed away on February 4, 2004. Rhoda remained at Sunrise Terrace until 2008 when she became a resident of the Maple Lawn Nursing Home in Fulda. Rhoda passed away there on Saturday, June 23, 2012 at the age of 97. Rhoda was a past member of the United Methodist Church in Balaton and was currently a member of the United Methodist Church in Slayton. Rhoda enjoyed spending time with her family, traveling, dancing, golfing and playing cards.

Survivors include her three children and their spouses, Bruce and Lila Priebe of Edina, MN, David and Lavon Priebe of Plymouth, MN, and Barbara and John Williams of Huntington Beach, CA, five grandchildren and their spouses, Collette Morgan, Craig and Anna Priebe, Carla and David Diepholz, Curtis and Kathleen Priebe and Christine and Tony Pruessing, seven great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Donald Priebe, one great great-grandson, her sister, Stella Olsen, and her brother, Ralph Hanover.

Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements. To send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com.

Milton Jerome Stirn, 83

Milton Jerome Stirn, 83, was born on July 30, 1928, in Currie, MN, the son of John Baptiste and Matilda Mary (Heinrich) Stirn. He was raised in Currie and graduated from Immaculate Heart of Mary High School. Following his education, he served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict and was awarded 3 Bronze service stars.

Milton was united in marriage to Agnes Campbell in Currie at the IMH Catholic Church on August 6, 1953. He owned and operated Milt Stirn Trucking which provided corn shelling, feed grinding and trucking services in the Currie area for many years.

Milton won a contract to deliver government commodities to local schools which he operated for several years. Following the commodity contract expiration, he and Agnes went on the road with Klein Amusements and operated a mini-donut stand. They were a standard feature at many local events for many years. Many people enjoyed the warm sugary mini donuts that they sold. They made many friends on the carnival route and he will be missed by them.

Milton was a retired member of the Currie Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a past member of the Currie City Council and a past Commander of the Currie American Legion Post, where he initiated the veteran’s memorial project which is now located at the End-of-Line County Park.

Milton was a member of IHM Catholic Church in Currie. He loved camping, traveling and especially enjoyed visiting with his children and grandchildren. Milton passed away at his home in Currie on Friday, June 22, 2012.

Grateful to have shared his life are his wife, Agnes of Currie; five children, Steve (Barb) Stirn of Worthington, Debra Enderson of Tracy, Michael Stirn of Marshall, Lori (John) Carlson of Tracy and Scott (Abby) Stirn of Currie and one sister, Florence Hartman of Slayton. He will also be missed by his sixteen grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

Milton was preceded in death by his parents; one step granddaughter; one great granddaughter; three brothers, Kenny, Art and Bill and four sisters, Josephine, Helen, Agnes and Betty.

Memorial services were held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at 10:30 a.m., at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie, MN, with Father Jeffrey Dobbs officiating. Burial, with military rites, will be held in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery in Currie.

Visitation were held on Monday, June 25, 2012, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m., at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie, MN and also on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the church.

Benson Funeral Home in Worthington is in charge of the arrangements.

Florence A. (Kyhl) Thomson, 95

Florence A. (Kyhl) Thomson age 95 of Alexandria and formerly of Devils Lake, ND, died on Monday, June 25, 2012 at Lakes Area Assistant Living in Alexandria. A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 29, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Devils Lake, ND. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

She is survived by her daughter Karen (Grant) Eidsness of West Fargo, ND; sons Kent (Diane) Thomson of Alexandria; Kyhl (Marlene) of Green Leaf, WI; and Kevin (Pam) Thomson of Green Leaf, WI.

Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. www.andersonfuneral.net