Marvin Becker, 71

Marv Becker age 71 of Garvin passed away Monday, December 15, 2014 at his home.  Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 20 at Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin.    According to Marv’s wishes, no public burial will be held at this time.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Marvin Gene Becker was born February 26, 1943 in Tyler, Minnesota to Joe and Dorothy (Verdoes) Becker.  He attended country school and Ruthton High School.  Marv worked a variety of jobs around the area.  He belonged to several Balaton and Garvin softball and pool leagues.  Marv enjoyed spending time outdoors, trapping, hunting, and ice fishing.  He loved going to auctions and playing cards. 

Marv is survived by his wife Lenny; four children; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister Sharon (Kenny) Blom of Raymond; and several other relatives and friends. 

He is preceded in death by his parents. 

 

Robert “Bob” Mumby, 69 

Robert “Bob” Mumby of Arlington, SD died on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at the VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.

Robert Mumby was born on September 26, 1945 to William and Verne (Patterson) Mumby at Tyler, MN. Bob served in the US Navy from 1962 until 1966. He drove truck for Dakota Express in Sioux Falls and for Schwans at Marshall MN. Bob was married to Darlene “Nick” Green and they were married for 43 years.

Bob had many hobbies in his life, fishing, camping, making clocks, making home made beer and many flavors of wine and his famous schnapps.

He is survived by his wife Nick of Arlington, two sons, Aaron (Tara) Mumby of Volga, SD and Rob (Diane) Sierra of Wood Lake, MN, his grandchildren, Shaylee, Staysha, Klyer Mumby and Jackie and Gerald Maxwell; a sister, Betty Towne of Tracy, MN and many friends.

Services for Mr. Mumby were held at 2:00 pm on Friday, December 19, 2014 at the Johnson-Henry Funeral Home in Arlington.

 

Raymond Peterson, 83

Raymond Harold Peterson age 83 of Tracy passed away Friday, December 19, 2014 at Prairie View Senior Living.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 23 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy.  Visitation is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Monday at the Tracy Area Funeral Home with a CCW Rosary at 4:00 p.m. and prayer service at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.  Burial is in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Ray Peterson was born September 29, 1931 in Redfield, South Dakota to Anton and Sylvia (Strunk) Peterson.  The family moved to Garvin in 1932 and he was baptized there at the Congregational Church.  Ray attended Garvin Public School and Tracy High School.  After leaving school, he was a gandy dancer for the railroad and joined the US Army from 1950-53.  Ray served as a radio operator during the Korean War.  Following his discharge, he returned to Garvin working at the creamery.  On October 17, 1953 Ray was united in marriage to Helen Toupal.  He held various jobs including lineman for the telephone company and worked as a carpenter for local businesses.  In 1963, Ray and Helen moved to Illinois where he worked building boats before driving truck for Royal Crown Cola.  Upon returning to Tracy, Ray worked as a carpenter eventually going into business for himself.   He worked at St. Mary’s for a year as environmental engineer. He built many houses and farm buildings and continued doing handy work throughout the community in later years.  Ray was a member of the VFW, American Legion, and First Shift Coffee Watch at the Red Rooster.  He enjoyed a good game of pool, woodworking, building doll houses, and making clocks.  He had the amazing ability to look at a space in a building or room and visualize its potential. 

Ray is survived by his wife Helen of 61 years; children:  Patricia (Jerry) Fogelson, Vickie (Richard) Unger of St. Ann, MO, Anthony (Peggi) Peterson of Tracy, Thomas Peterson of Crest Hill, IL, Timothy (Pam) Peterson of Sioux Falls, SD and Terry (Bobbie) Peterson of Chatfield, MN; 13 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; brothers Arthur and Carl; and sisters Nina, Eleanor, and Eva; with many nieces and nephews. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Louis, Lyle, Ivan, and Robert, and grandchildren Justin and Nathan Peterson and Richard Unger III.  He was blessed with many friends.

 

 

Don Swanjord, 70

Don Edward Swanjord, 70, of Balaton, died suddenly on December 18, 2014 in Richmond, Virginia. He was the husband of Charlotte Wendel of Marshall.  Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 30 at Sillerud Lutheran Church, rural Balaton.  Visitation is 6:00-8:30 p.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton with a prayer service at 8:30 p.m.  Burial is in Zion Lutheran Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Balaton Historical Society.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Don was born in Tracy, Minnesota on March 7, 1944, son of Norman and Evelyn (Daniels) Swanjord, and brother of Kent. He grew up on the Swanjord family farm where his love of the area’s community and history was developed. After high school in Balaton, Don graduated from Carleton College in 1964, majoring in History. He then attended Yale University where he studied Ancient Middle East Languages. Don was fluent in at least 6 languages and there was seemingly not a musical instrument he could not play. Don received a PhD in Education from the University of California. Don’s love of history, language and community were an important staple of his life.

Don married Texas Sabine Whiteman (deceased) on November 18, 1976 in New Haven, CT. Don and Texas lived in Iran, Yemen, Kuwait, and Iraq where they taught and administered education programs for several American universities and for the US Department of State.  Since 1992, Don made his primary residence in Balaton while maintaining a second home in Madison, Connecticut. Don was a director of the State of Minnesota English as a Second Language program with responsibilities for programs throughout the state. Recently, Don taught adult education classes in a variety of subjects relating to Islam and the Middle East, to capacity classes at SMSU.  Don taught classes at SMSU and SWSC and was Superintendent of Schools in Balaton. Don was a founder of East River Farm in Guilford, Connecticut, the Yankton Country School and WALA in Minnesota.

Don was also a founding member of the Balaton Historical Society. Don was especially interested in preserving the structures, stories and history of Balaton. Through his wonderful work he was able to rescue many of the area’s unique historically significant buildings (including houses, churches, and school buildings) and record the wonderful and diverse history of Balaton and the surrounding area, securing it for future generations. Since 2004, Don was proprietor of Balaton House Bed and Breakfast, and wrote Grace and God’s Words: Sillerud Lutheran Church at 125 years: 1873 - 1998.

Don married Charlotte Wendel on October 19, 2013. They supported each other’s interests and made many trips during their time together, including a visit to Charlotte’s relatives in Sweden and a cruise on the Saint Lawrence River. Don was an excellent musician and provided piano accompaniment at his church and at Charlotte’s ballet school.

In addition to his wife, Don is survived by his brother, Kent  Swanjord, and his wife Patricia; his nephews Scott Swanjord and Grant Swanjord and their spouses and children; his step children, Mark Whiteman, Leigh Whiteman, Kevin Whiteman, Jason Whiteman, Bradford Whiteman, their spouses, children and grandchildren; Charlotte’s daughters Holly Isaac, Kristen Klingenberg, and Danielle Gies and their spouses and children; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews, other relatives and many, many friends.

 

Merlyn Triplett, 63

Merlyn A. “Trip” Triplett, age 63, of Brookings, died Monday, December 22, 2014, at the United Living Community.  Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 26, 2014, at First Lutheran Church with entombment to follow in the church cemetery. Visitations will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Eidsness Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. 

 Trip was born on January 24, 1951, in Tracy, MN, the son of Marlo and Martha (Gilb) Triplett.  He received his education in Tracy, MN, and was a graduate of the Tracy High School in 1969. Trip continued his education at Canby Vo Tech, where he received his Associate Degree.  At that time, Trip began his employment at 3M in Brookings, SD.  He was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Delores Allen, on July 24, 1971.  Trip continued his employment at 3M for the next 36 years.

Trip and Delores enjoyed riding their Harley Davidson’s and put many happy miles on together including an annual trip to Sturgis with their friends.

Survivors include his wife, Delores; sons, Jay (Toni) Triplett of Brookings, Dean (Melanie) Triplett of Blaine, MN,  and Lee (Krista) Triplett of Shakopee, MN; seven wonderful grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Bill) Fogelson, Diane (Tom) Russ and Donna (Robert) Caron; one niece, Rebecca (Mike) Bartz, and one nephew, Mark Triplett.  Trip was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, LeRoy; one sister, Patricia.