Norma Benson, 79

Norma Jean Benson age 79 of Tracy, formerly of Salem, SD, passed away Sunday, October 21, 2012 at Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy after an extended illness.  Memorial services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the Tracy Area Funeral Home.  Visitation is 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.  Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 27 at Christ Lutheran Church in Salem.  Interment is in Canistota Cemetery.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Norma Jean Benson was born June 24, 1933 in Canistota, SD to Herman and Emma (Hoiten) Wittrock.  She graduated from Canistota High School in 1951 and attended nursing school in Brookings. 

On January 3, 1954 she was united in marriage to Roger Benson at the Lutheran church in Canistota.  Norma moved to Salem in 1962 where she worked at Feterl Manufacturing for 30 years.  She retired in 1996 and traveled to Arizona for 8 years.  In 2004 Norma moved to Tracy where she volunteered at the Tracy Hospital.  She entered Prairie View Healthcare Center in April, 2011 where she has resided since.  Norma was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Salem.  She enjoyed reading, doing word search puzzles, crocheting, and going out to eat for dinner.  Norma loved spending winters in Arizona and having her cup of coffee outside in the morning. 

Norma is survived by her husband of 59 years, Roger; children: Brad (Lisa) Benson of Salem, SD, Scott (Wendy) Benson of Monticello, UT, Julain (Keith) Rayman of Tracy, and Melissa (Brad) Anderson of Sioux Falls, SD; 10 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; brother Luverne Wittrock of Osakis; and many other relatives and friends. 

She is preceded in death by her parents and brother Les Wittrock.

 

Doris Leonard, 90

Doris C. Leonard age 90 of Tracy, formerly of Minneapolis, passed away Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at Sanford Tracy Medical Center as the result of a stroke.  Services will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Doris C. Leonard was born June 9, 1922 in Minneapolis, MN to Arnie and Selma (Johnson) Ostby.   Doris worked in New York and Washington DC.  In 1945 she married Joseph Leonard in New York.  After her marriage she moved to Minneapolis where she continued working.  Doris moved to Tracy four and a half years ago to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.  She moved into Prairie View Healthcare Center last year where she made many friends, including residents and staff.  The staff gave her the nickname “Giggles”.  Doris enjoyed needlework, spending time with her family, and loved her cat “Mitsy”. 

Doris is survived by her daughter Linda (Dennis) Fultz of Tracy; daughter-in-law Mary Leonard of Brooklyn Park; grandchildren Jay (Sheila) Fultz and Jennifer (Jason) Kainz, both of Tracy; great grandchildren: Nathan and Elizabeth Fultz, and Addison Kainz; brother Bernard (Sylvia) Ostby of Texas; and many other relatives and friends.  She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Joseph, and son Steve Leonard. 

 

Dennis ‘Dutch’ Weigelt, 69

Dennis “Dutch” Duane Weigelt, 69, of Freeman, SD died at Sioux Falls Veteran’s Administration Hospital on Thursday, October 18.

“Dutch” was born August 4, 1943, Tracy, MN. He graduated from Tracy High School in 1961, and enlisted in the U.S Marine Corp in June of 1961. After his honorable discharge he graduated from Mankato State College with a degree in Accounting. He continued his service to his country by serving in the Army Reserves. He spent a majority of his career as an auditor in various jobs and locations and semi-retired in 2004.

He was a member of Memorial Lutheran Church and enjoyed volunteering for the Veteran’s Administration Hospital shuttling veterans to appointments and transportation to other veteran hospitals. Later in life, he discovered his talent of singing, and enjoyed sharing his gifts with others by performing Karaoke.

Survivors include his three children, Stephanie (Darin) Friese, Sioux Falls, Matthew (Chris) Weigelt, Cape Coral, FL, Michael (Kris) Weigelt, Sioux Falls; 8 grandchildren; sisters, Judy Williams and Janet Weigelt, and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tycho and Bernice Arnt Weigelt and sister, Betty Enger.

Visitation will begin at noon Monday at Miller West Funeral Chapel, 6200 W. 41st Street, with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Services will begin at 11:00 am Tuesday at Memorial Lutheran Church, 5000 S. Western Avenue, Sioux Falls. Burial will follow at the Walnut Grove Cemetery, Walnut Grove, MN.