Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Donald Cooper, 94

Donald Cooper age 94 of Tracy passed away Saturday, April 4, 2015 at Prairie View Senior Living. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Tracy Area Funeral Home. Visitation is one hour prior to services. Burial is in Tracy City Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Donald Cooper was born July 2, 1920 on the family farm in Springdale Township near Walnut Grove, Minnesota to George and Alta (Doble) Cooper. He grew up on the farm and attended country school District 24, Springdale Township through 8^th grade. Donald worked on the family farm with his dad and brother, Henry. He and his brother raised registered Hampshire hogs for 44 years. They also fed 350 cattle each year. Sometime in the 70’s they sold two loads of cattle at Sioux City, Iowa for $57.00, which was the highest price in the USA that day. He bought a mare and raised several foals to sell. Donald’s favorite TV shows were Chuck Pasek and John Deere Bandwagon. Cattle and farming were the love of his life. In October 2005, Donald entered Prairie View Healthcare Center where he has resided since.

Donald is survived by his sister Florence Nuese of Marshall, brother Harold (Joyce) Cooper of rural Tracy, and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Ruby Cooper, brother Henry Cooper, and nephews Bruce Cooper in 1963 and Allen Cooper in 2010.

Betty Lorraine Fennern, age 82 of Wanda died Monday, April 6, 2015, at Seasons Hospice in Redwood Falls.  Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield Chapel and will continue on Thursday from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Sanborn.  Service will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church in Sanborn on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 10:30 a.m.  The clergy will be Pastor Matthew Sprunger.  Interment will be at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Willow Lake Township.  Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield.  On line condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.  

Betty Lorraine Fennern was born March 14, 1933 in Burnstown Township, Brown County to William and Bertha (Krueger) Gentz.

She was united in marriage to Ivan Fennern on September 29, 1956 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Springfield. The couple lived in the Wanda area until 1994 when they moved to Norway Lake near New London, MN. Following Ivan’s death in 1998, Betty returned to the Wanda area in 1999.

During her working years, Betty worked at Barron Fabrication, Sanborn Mfg., Wabasso Nursing Home, Wabasso School, Marshall Produce, St. John Lutheran Home, and owned the Red Rooster Cafe. Betty loved her place on Norway Lake where she enjoyed fishing, water-skiing, cooking and entertaining guests. She also enjoyed camping, hunting, planting flowers, and playing cards. Betty cherished her grandchildren and had many fond memories of her trips to Hawaii, Florida and Branson, MO.  

She is survived by children: Dale (Mary) Fennern of Sanborn, Jolene (John) Salfer of St. Michael, and Brenda (Ken) Hagert of Wanda; grandchildren- Robbe Fennern, Elise Schoer, Cody Fennern, Ethan Fennern, Amara Penske, Andrea Penske, Brandon Penske, and Kendra, Andrew, Alex, Zack, Charlie, Shylin, Emma and Jenna Hagert; 3 step-grandchildren; great-grandchildren- Avery, Aedan, Addison and Axel Schoer, Kade Fennern, Brayden Reeves, and Ivan Honzay; 2 step-great-grandchildren; and brother William Gentz.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ivan in 1998; and siblings- Esther Sabinske, Lydia Krause, Arthur Gentz, Walter Gentz, Ellda Steckman, Wilbert Gentz, Norma Wall, and Victor Gentz.

Marlin I. Frisvold, age 88 of Garvin, passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton, MN. Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2015 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Balaton. Burial followed at the Modum Cemetery, rural Garvin. Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com. The Almlie – Horvath Funeral Service of Tracy is caring for the family.

Marlin Iver Frisvold was born on February 10, 1927 to Ingvald and Mabel (Nyberg) Frisvold in Tracy, Minnesota. They lived on a farm near Tracy for a couple years and in 1957, they moved to a farm in Garvin. Marlin was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith, and enlisted into the United States National Guard.

Marlin was united in marriage to Dorothy Pagel at the Garvin Congregational Church in Garvin and they made their home on a farm outside of Tracy for a few years before returning to Garvin where they lived the rest of their lives together until Dorothy’s passing in 2011. Marlin was a farmer his entire life and also sold Watkins products. He sold organic eggs to various supermarkets in Marshall, Tracy, and Slayton. He was also a member of the Garvin First Responders.

Marlin enjoyed raising chickens, horses, watching Western movies, and was also a Justice of the Peace Officer in Garvin for a period of time.

On Tuesday, March 31, 2015, Marlin passed away peacefully at the Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Balaton at the age of 88 years old.

Marlin is survived by his children, Michael Bethune of St. Paul, Donald Bethune of Garvin, Dale (and Mary Kay) Frisvold of Garvin, Marlene Frisvold of Garvin, and Susanne Frisvold of Marshall; three grandchildren, John Frisvold, Kathrine Miller, and Jessica Miller; two brothers, Raymond Frisvold of Brooklyn Park, and Ingvald Frisvold Jr. of Villard; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, parents Ingvald and Mabel, one brother Richard Frisvold and two nieces Lori and Cindy.

Longtime St. Paul resident Inez Gugisberg, died March 25, 2015 after being blessed by 95 years of life. A memorial mass was held on April 1, at Maternity of Mary Catholic Church, St. Paul. Private interment will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Paul AAUW (Scholarship Fund), MN Camp Fire (Camperships) or donor’s choice.

Inez was born February 26, 1920 to Everett Hiram and Marie (Windschitl) Riley. Following Tracy High School Class of 1938 graduation, Inez earned her teaching degree in education from Mankato State in 1942. Her first teaching job brought her to Gibbon, MN where she met her future husband.

Inez and Don were married in Corpus Christi, TX on August 5, 1944. Following Don’s Naval service, they moved to St. Paul. Inez taught PE and English at Murray HS until they started a family when she became a full time homemaker and volunteer.

Survivors include 4 children, son Mark (Sue) of Longville; son Kim (Chris) of Ft. Dodge, IA; daughter Jill Wall (John) of Maplewood; son Grant (Heidi Kassenborg) of Afton; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Born on November 4, 1923 to Charlie and Mattie and raised in Lake Benton, MN, Dick served his nation as a Soldier in WWII and his community as a Volunteer Firefighter in Balaton, Minnesota where he spent many years employed at the Grain Elevator.

Best known as a husband, father, friend, and family man; Dick was married to the former Janice Osborne of Balaton for over 51 wonderful years and raised two sons, Kyle and Russ.

Preceded in death by his parents, four sisters, and two brothers. Dick is, and will be, dearly missed by the multitude of family and friends to include his beautiful bride, Janice, sons Kyle and Russ, daughter-in-law Robin, five grandchildren and one great grandchild, and sister, Marion Fehrman.

A memorial service in Balaton and burial in Lake Benton will be announced at a later date.

Alice Vandendriessche age 90 of Tracy passed away Saturday, April 4, 2015 at the Sanford Tracy Medical Center. Mass of Christian burial was held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 8 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy. Interment was in Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Tracy. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Alice Marie Vandendriessche was born June 15, 1924 near Ivanhoe, Minnesota to George and Elisa (Mayaert) VanDeWiele. She was baptized in the Catholic Church at Ghent and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy. Alice’s family moved to Minneota and later to Walnut Grove where she attended District #22 school through the 8^th grade. She then stayed home to help with her younger siblings and worked the land. She spent much time in the tractor.

Alice married Paul Vandendriessche on February 7, 1946 in Tracy, and together they farmed north of Tracy. They moved into Tracy in 1974. Alice served as an officer in many church organizations and taught CCD. She belonged to St. Mary’s Mission Group and the Garden Gate Flower Club. Alice enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, and quilting, as well as gardening, reading, and crossword puzzles. She also loved fishing, playing golf at the Tracy Country Club, and arts and crafts.

Alice is survived by her children: James (Jeanine) of Tracy, Marianne (Bernie) Boerboom of Walnut Grove, David (Carolyn) of Tracy, Nancy (George) Andert of Slayton, Steve (Carol) Buyck of Garvin, Janet (Greg) Holland of Arizona; 21 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; siblings: Julie (Jim) Claeys of Ghent, Richard (Pearl) VanDeWiele of Walnut Grove, Maurice (Judy) VanDeWiele of Tracy; sisters-in-law Bev VanDeWiele of Tracy, Iona and Dorothy Vandendriessche, both of Marshall; and many other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Paul, 2 great-grandchildren, brothers Oscar (Rita), August (Marlene), and Ray, and sister Mary (Don) Vandeputte.