John Almlie, 86

John H. Almlie, age 86 of Fountain Hills, AZ, formerly of Tracy, MN died on Friday, December 19, 2014 at his home in Fountain Hills.  A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM Friday, January 9, 2015 at the Shepard Of The Hills Lutheran Church in Fountain Hills.  Interment will take place immediately following the service in the church columbarium, with a luncheon served in the church fellowship hall following the burial. 

The family requests memorials to be given to the John Almlie memorial fund at Shepard Of The Hills Lutheran Church.  A memorial service will also be held in June at Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy, with military honors.    Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com.  The Almlie-Horvath Funeral Service of Tracy is handling the arrangements.

 

Jeane Carter, 79

Jeane Mae Carter age 79 of Walnut Grove passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at Prairie View Senior Living. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 3 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Burial will be in Walnut Grove Cemetery at a later date. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service - Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Jeane was born to Harley and Helen (Peterson) Hollingsworth on May 3, 1935 along with triplet sisters Joyce and Joane in the Slayton Hospital. Jeane grew up on a farm and attended school in Holly Township, graduating from Walnut Grove High School in 1953. Following high school, she worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell Telephone and taught piano and accordion lessons to local students. On April 4, 1964 Jeane was united in marriage to Paul W. Carter at Holly Methodist Church. Together they farmed south of Walnut Grove until Paul’s death in 1992. Jeane continued to live on the farm until moving to Country View Assisted Living in June 2005. She moved from there to Prairie View Nursing Home in June 2012. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church serving as LCW President and a Sunday School teacher. Jeane was involved in Walnut Grove Keenagers, Neighborhood Birthday Club, Holly Extension Club, and Card Club. She was a member of the Walnut Grove bowling league and enjoyed Wii bowling after she retired her ball and shoes. Jeane enjoyed gardening, quilting, and playing games, cards, and Bingo. She also loved traveling, reading, and spending time with her family. Jeane was very kind and gentle; she had a loving and generous heart, and was always giving to others.

Jeane is survived by her three children: Patricia (David) LeClaire of Currie, Craig (Linda) Carter of Walnut Grove, and Sandra (Robert) Wenszell of Rochester; eight grandchildren: Adam (Chrissy), Paul, Katlin, and Justin LeClaire; Colton and Leah Carter; and Carter and Isaac Wenszell; two great-granddaughters Karsynn and Charlee LeClaire; three step-great-grandchildren: Jocy, Kaylan, and Jett Glenn; two sisters Ludema Kassel and Joyce (Stanley) Severson; and sisters-in-law Janice Carter, Helen A. Hollingsworth, and Helen D. Hollingsworth.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Paul, brothers Leonard, Chet, and Vernon Hollingsworth, and sister Joane Schmalz.

 

Vernon Grinde, 94

Vernon Grinde, age 94 of Tracy passed away on Monday, January 5, 2015 at Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2015 at Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy. Visitation will be held from 4 – 7 pm on Sunday at the Almlie – Horvath Funeral Home in Tracy and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com. The Almlie – Horvath Funeral Service of Tracy is caring for the family.

 

Elaine Kronke, 93

Elaine Irene Kronke, age 93, of Marshall, passed away Thursday, January 1, 2015, at Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall.  Funeral services were held Monday, January 5, 2015, 11:00 a.m., at First Lutheran Church in Marshall.  Following the luncheon, interment was in St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Balaton.

Pastor Scott Fuller officiated the service. Myra Kronke was pianist with special music by Beth Wilson.

Active casket bearers were Bob Wendorff, Darrel Wendorff, Jim Julien, Jon Kronke, Joe Silva, John Silva, Josh Elefant.

Honorary casket bearers were Gary Wendorff, Ron Wendorff, Rick Wendorff, Jon Wendorff, Nathan Julien, Bryce McCourt, Andrew McCourt, Don Lavoie, Kenneth Bump, Charlotte Grow, Elsie Paul, Marie Walters.

Elaine Irene Wendorff was born on May 10, 1921, at home in Ash Lake Township, Lincoln County, Minnesota.  She was the daughter of Edward and Emma (Nottelman) Wendorff.  Elaine was baptized as an infant and was confirmed in her youth in the Lutheran faith.  She attended country schools and received a diploma from the elementary branches of Lyon County Public Schools in 1936 before helping her parents on the home farm and being hired by other farm families as a housekeeper.

On September 5, 1942, Elaine was united in marriage to Arthur Kronke while he was stationed at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington during WWII.  With Arthur overseas, Elaine came back to Minnesota and worked in Minneapolis and Garvin.  Reunited, the couple farmed near Amiret and Tyler before retiring from farming in 1949.  They lived in Florence, Lynd, and Marshall.  Elaine and Arthur were blessed with 4 children: Dennis, Diane, Dorene, and Darla. They shared over 46 years of marriage before Arthur passed away on Valentine’s Day, 1989.

In the 1950s, Elaine worked as a cook at The Steakhouse in Marshall.  In 1960, Elaine purchased the Valley Café in Browns Valley and operated it until 1963 when the restaurant burned.  Elaine worked as a cook at the Browns Valley Public School until the family moved back to Marshall in 1964.  Elaine managed the coffee shop in the Atlantic Hotel for 10 years until the building was condemned.  She then worked as a cook at the Chalet, Club 59, and the Corner Bar.  In 1979, Elaine moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, to be near her daughters Diane and Darla.  While there, she worked as a cook at the Havasu Regional Medical Center.  In 1987, Elaine moved back to Marshall and volunteered for Western Community Action.  She was also an active volunteer for Weiner Memorial Auxiliary and Avera Hospital.  She was a member of the Eagles, American Legion, and VFW Auxiliary groups.  She was a faithful member of First Lutheran Church in Marshall.  Her other enjoyments included sewing, crocheting, cutting hair, cooking, baking, dancing, and playing cards.

Elaine Kronke died on New Year’s Day, 2015, in Marshall, Minnesota at the age of 93 years, 8 months and 22 days.  Blessed be her memory.

Elaine is survived by her children, Dennis (Myra) Kronke of Marshall, MN, Diane (Al) Silva of Jefferson City, TN, Dorene (Thomas) McCourt of Boston, MA, Darla (Gene) Elefant of Tuscon, AZ; 12 grandchildren, Jodi, Jon, Jenny, Jana, Travis, Joseph, John, Jessica, Bryce, Andrew, Lacey, Josh; 20 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Elaine is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Emma Wendorff; husband, Arthur Kronke; 4 brothers, Wilfred, Leonard, Gordon, and Lloyd Wendorff; 3 sisters, Lily Schuler, Fern Julien, and Marie Wendorff.

Memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church in Marshall, or to the Arthur J. and Elaine I. Kronke Scholarship (checks can be made out to SMSU Foundation or donations can be made online athttp://www.smsufoundation.org and click “Contribute Now”), or to a dementia-related cause of donor’s choice.

Arrangements by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall, Minnesota. Guest Book and tribute wall available online at www.hamiltonfh.com.

 

Sister Susan Jane Neisen, CSJ, 71

Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Susan Jane Neisen, CSJ, was at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014 at Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel, 1880 Randolph Ave., St. Paul. Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials may be sent the Ministries Foundation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Willwerscheid Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 651-228-1006.

She entered the CSJ community in the fall of 1961. She was a teacher, nurse and AIDS hospice advocate. Her ministries included: Sarah’s, and Oasis for Women, Dwelling in the Woods, Open Arms, St. Mary’s Health Clinics. She asked to be remembered as a loving person.

Survived by brothers, Tom (and Marie), Rich, Mark (and Jennifer), Doug (and Laura); sister-in-law, Gen; sisters, Mary Mills (and John) and Therese Van Nevel (and Charles); numerous nieces and nephews; other family; friends; and her Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates.

She was preceded in death by grandparents; parents; brother, Steven; and cousin, Terry Ohlsen.

 

Patricia Norton, 90

Patricia Jane Norton of Port Angeles, Washington passed away at the age of 90 on November 26, 2014.
She was born on October 20, 1924 in Okabena, Minnesota, to Art and Clara Ruthenbeck. She was raised in Kinbrea and Tracy, MN. She was raised in her strong faith at Tracy Lutheran Church and graduated from Tracy High School in 1942.
Pat moved to Seattle, Washington, in 1944 with her sister, Sheryl, to work for Boeing as “Rosie Riveters” building B-29s during World War II.
She married Walter C. Myers in 1945, and after living in Minnesota, the couple moved to Port Angeles with their son Michael in 1955.
Son Daniel was born in 1956 and daughters Becki and Bobbi in 1965.
Patricia worked at Viking Sewing Center with Marcelyn and Clint Hulse, teaching many in Port Angeles to sew.
She was active in the Quilt Club and aerobics at the pool. She loved quilting and continued creating beautiful treasures until her passing.
She was a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and worked at the Wonderbread Thrift Store.
Patricia and Walt divorced in 1982.
She married John W. Norton on June 26, 1984. They enjoyed 30 years of marriage until his passing September 20, 2014.
She leaves behind her children, Daniel (Corlene) Myers, Michael (Lynn) Myers, Rebecca (Laura) Myers and Roberta Wilcox; stepdaughter Diane (Randy) Chadwell; and stepson-in-law Bill Shelton.
She also leaves behind her sister, Sheryl (Dave) Swanbeck; brother Richard Ruthenbeck and his partner, Joyce Darnell; grandchildren Courtney Myers, Dathan Myers, Griffin (Ann Mary) Myers, Adam Myers, Cori Wilcox and Michelle Kern; stepgrandchildren Stephanie-Norton-Johnson, Jon Shelton and Brian Shelton; great-grandchildren Elijah, Sophia, Noah and Julia Myers; and stepgreat-grandchildren Adrian, Dylan and Hannah Johnson, and Travis Shelton.
She is also survived by her friend of many years and daily walking companion, Dana Seibel.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John W. Norton, stepdaughter Denise Shelton and first husband, Walter C. Myers.
A celebration of life was held December 13, 2014 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Angeles, Washington.