Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Laura L. Anderson, 81

Laura L. Anderson age 81 of Walnut Grove passed away unexpectedly on Friday, February 10, 2012. Funeral services for Laura L. Anderson, age 81, of Walnut Grove, MN were held Tuesday, Februaryt 15, 2012 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Interment as in Walnut Grove Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service - Walnut Grove Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Laura L. (Rust) Anderson was born August 19, 1930, to Diedrich and Pauline (Schlemmer) Rust on a farm near Vesta. She attended Public School District 68 in Redwood County, Echo High School, and Mankato Teacher’s College. She taught elementary education until her marriage to Ted H. Anderson on June 8, 1951, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vesta. They made their home for 62 years on their farm southeast of Walnut Grove in Ann Township. It was there they raised their ten children. After her family was grown, she worked in the library and computer room at the Walnut Grove School until her retirement in 1992. For a period of time she read and recorded books for handicapped students at SSU. Laura was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove and over the years served on the church council, was a Sunday school teacher, president and treasurer of the ELCW, circle chairman, sang with the choir and served as Lutheran Brotherhood communicator for a number of years. For many years she enjoyed raising a large garden, sewing, and doing lawn work. She shared an interest with her husband in breeding Quarter horses. Laura was an avid reader, loved to travel and enjoyed letter writing and exchanging messages with friends and relatives on line.

She is survived by her husband Ted; children: Paula (Bruce) Brown of Savage, Harlan (Joan) Anderson of Norwood Young America, Samuel Anderson of Mankato, Alison (Butch) Schmidt of Alexandria, Owen (Kathy Young) of Mitchell, SD, Faith (Peter) Maguire of Walnut Grove, Hope Anderson of Milroy, Signe (Greg) Hansen of Walnut Grove, Sheldon Anderson of Gillette, WY, Elizabeth (Larry) Peters of Lindsborg, KS “Yup, there’s 10”; 18 Grandchildren: Matthew Brown, Jason Anderson, Jamie (Schmidt) Storms, Nathan Brown, Anthony Maguire, Jeramie Anderson, Angela (Anderson) Lueck, Amy (Anderson) Grass, Nichole (Maguire) Burns, Kristen Anderson, Sophie (Hansen) Jenniges, Jon Hansen, Katie (Hansen) Cooley, Claire, Grant, Olivia, Kayla, and Laura Peters; 23 Great Grandchildren - “could be more”; Sister Mildred Kotval of Redwood Falls; and many nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by a grandson Adam Schmidt.

Ruth Anderson, 87

Services for Ruth R. (Wegner) Anderson were held on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at the English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Interment was in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. The Almlie Family Funeral Homes of Tracy, Westbrook and Balaton handled the arrangements.

Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com.

Ruth Rachel (Wegner) Anderson was born February 21, 1924 in Lamberton, MN to William and Martha (Grundt) Schuck. She was baptized on March 11, 1924 and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Ruth grew up in Lamberton and attended Lamberton Public Schools.

On October 18, 1941 Ruth married Donald Wegner in the Zion Lutheran Church in Lamberton. They made their home on a farm near Lucan for a short time before moving near Morgan, MN. They moved to a farm near Walnut Grove, MN and remained there until 1957, when they moved into Walnut Grove. Shortly after moving to town, Ruth began working at the Walnut Grove School as a cook until her retirement in the late 1970’s. She then worked at the Christian Manor in Tracy for several years.

In 1995 Ruth married Leonard Anderson and they made their home in Tracy, MN. She later became a resident of O’Brian Court Senior Apartments and in September of 2011 she became a resident of Morningside Heights in Marshall, MN.

Ruth was a member of the English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove and was active in the church women’s groups, Circle and also taught Sunday School. She enjoyed old movies; big band music and going to dances with her husband Donald. Her family will always remember what a great cook she was and how she loved spending time with family.

On Saturday, February 4, 2012 Ruth died, surrounded by her loving family, at the Avera-Marshall Medical Center in Marshall, MN at the age of 87.

Ruth is survived by her two sons, Tom (Joan) Wegner of Apple Valley, MN and Rick (Cynthia) Wegner of Courtland, MN; two daughters, Diane (Vance) Dudgeon of Lake Crystal, MN and Patty (Tim) Guetter of Marshall, MN; eleven grandchildren, Lisa, Leslie, Josh, Jeremy, and Lacey Wegner, Chris, Troy, Cory, and Clay Dudgeon, Jordan Guetter, and Chelsea Plafcan; nine great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Anngala Giesler of Prescott, AZ; nieces, nephews and friends.

Her two husbands, Donald and Leonard, her parents, infant granddaughter, Katie, one brother, Art Roeder, and two sisters, Charlotte Miller and Dorothy Howe, preceded her in death.

R. D. “Dick” Knakmuhs, 85

Funeral services For R.D. “Dick” Knakmuhs, 85, of Walnut Grove, MN were held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, February 11, 2012 at English Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Interment was in Walnut Grove Cemetery. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service - Walnut Grove Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Dick Knakmuhs was born February 6, 1927 on the family farm to Paul and Effie (Jackson) Knakmuhs. He was baptized at Tracy Lutheran Church. Dick attended country school District 22 and graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1945. He joined the US Army in 1945 and attained the rank of SSGT. After his honorable discharge in 1947, Dick returned to Tracy where he worked at the Ford garage until 1960. On September 3, 1948 Dick was united in marriage to Shirley Embree. He purchased the insurance agency in Walnut Grove in 1960 and moved to Walnut Grove. Dick started the Knakmuhs Agency and was active with the business through its 50^th anniversary in 2010. He was very active in the community. In addition to being a founding member of numerous civic and service organizations, he served 39 years for the Redwood County Mutual Insurance Group (including 34 years as President), 20 years as fire chief, 12 years on the school board, and on church council for many years in various capacities. Dick enjoyed farming, working, and playing cards with the boys at the barn.

Dick is survived by his wife Shirley of 63 years; children: Michele (John) Bisbee of Fairmont, Melinda (Steve) Kubias of Cottage Grove, Kevin Knakmuhs and Kerry (Becky) Knakmuhs all of Walnut Grove, and Marilee (Jon) Saxhaug of Fulda; 17 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; and 2 great great grandchildren. Dick is also survived by siblings: Virene Shea and Lloyd (Shirley) Knakmuhs all of Walnut Grove, and Floyd (Ruth) Knakmuhs of Westbrook. He is preceded in death by his parents and several siblings.

Adeline McClain, 87

Mass of Christian Burial for Adeline “Pat” E McClain, 87, of Cottonwood, formerly of Marshall will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2012, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Visitation will be Friday from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with a Parish Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at Rehkamp – Horvath Funeral Home in Marshall. Visitation will continue from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Interment will follow the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Marshall.

Adeline “Pat” E. Deithman was born April 13, 1924 to Frank and Mary (Gross) Deithman near Wadena, MN. She attended Lyman Country School District 102. When Adeline was fourteen years old she moved with her one brother and parents to Coleraine – Bovey area. She graduated from John C Greenway High School in 1943 and move to Minneapolis. Pat attended the Parisian School of Cosmetology while working nights in a defense factory. She graduated from the Parisian School and did her internship for one year. She owned and managed Jean’s Beauty Shop in Minneapolis until her marriage to Howard W. McClain of Tracy, MN. Pat and Howard were married February 7, 1946 by Father H Cahill at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy. They farmed in the Tracy Amiret area until 1951 and then moved to the Wood Lake area and continued farming until 1983. While in the Wood Lake area they were charter members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Cottonwood, MN. Adeline was a Eucharistic minister, a catechism teacher and on the board of directors. In 1978, Pat attended Pipestone Vocational Tech School and became a home health aide. She worked for Lyon County Community Nursing until 1986 when she was in a car accident. In 1982, she and Howard move to their home in Marshall. Pat and Howard attended church at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, where she was a Catholic Daughter. She was a lifelong member of the Hospital Auxiliary and a member of Prairie Home Hospice. She loved to play cards and bingo. One of her greatest joys was seeing the first robin in the spring.

Adeline “Pat” died Monday, February 13 at the Fieldcrest Apartments in Cottonwood, MN. She is survived by her son Donald (and Nancy) McClain of Wood Lake, daughter Deborah J. McClain of Woodbine, IA, grandchildren, great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Howard, her parents, five brothers and three sisters

Vivian K. Ockenfels, 91

Vivian K. Ockenfels age 91 of Wausau, WI, formerly of Currie, MN died Thursday, February 9, 2012 at Mount View Care Center in Wausau. Services will be 1:00 PM Monday, February 12, 2012 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM until the time of service at 1:00 PM Monday only. Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery in Currie. The Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home-East Chapel is handling arrangements. The Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy is handling the service on Monday.

Online condolences may be placed at either: www.petersonkraemer.com or www.almliefh.com

Vivian Kathleen Ockenfels was born February 26, 1920 in Currie, MN to Hans and Camilla (Reiersen) Johnson. On June 23, 1941 she married Joseph Ockenfels in Currie. He preceded her in death in 1980.

Vivian was a member of the St. Anne’s Guild, Catholic Daughters, Alter Society and Rosary Society in Currie. Among her favorite pastimes, she enjoyed reading, taking walks and traveling with family and friends. Most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Survivors include, five children, Mary (Roger Holt) Diekmann of Pipestone, MN, Joe Jr. (Maribelle) Ockenfels of Phoenix, AZ, Jerry (Maria) Ockenfels of Minneapolis, MN, Gene Ockenfels of Currie, MN, and Joanne (Roy) Hatton of Weston, WI; 14 grandchildren; many great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

Besides her parents and husband, Joseph, she was preceded in death by one son, Michael Ockenfels, one grandson, Steven Diekmann and one brother, Vincent Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Mount View Care Center, 2400 Marshall St., Wausau, WI 54403.