Arlys Ankrum, 83

Arlys Ankrum was born September 17, 1931 in Tracy, Minnesota to Charles and Mary Ockenfels Ankrum.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith.  Arlys has made Prairie View in Slayton her home since 1985. Arlys attended the Murray County DAC.  Arlys passed away on Monday, June 15, 2015 at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 83. She enjoyed music, watching videos and shopping. Funeral services were held at the Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton, MN on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 with Fr. Gregory Parrott officiating.  The pallbearers were her family and friends.  Interment was at Calvary Cemetery in Tracy, MN.

Survivors include her three siblings; Robert Ankrum and his wife, Marianne, Dorothy Drackley and Charlene Lenertz and her husband, Dave all of Tracy, MN; one brother-in-law, Vernon Klaassen of Tracy, MN and several nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Mavis Amundson and Gail Klaassen, and two brothers-in-law, Harley Amundson and Teddy Drackley.

Phyllis Jean (Sherman) Craft, 82

Phyllis Jean (Sherman) Craft, age 82 passed away on Monday, May 18, 2015 at Hemet Valley Hospital, Hemet, CA after a short illness.  She was born March 22, 1933 in Tracy, MN.

She worked for Union Bank as a Customer Service Manager.  After retiring, Phyllis and her husband Leroy traveled around the country with their 5th Wheel Trailer for approximately 5 years before settling in Indio, CA for 10 years, then Hemet, their home for the last 10 years.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Leroy Craft of Hemet, CA; daughter Cheryl (Lance) Snoke of Valencia, CA; granddaughters Amanda (Eddie) Teran and Emily Snoke of Valencia, CA; great-granddaughter Chloe Teran of Valencia, CA; brother Bob (Virginia) Sherman of Citrus Heights, CA.  She was preceded in death by her parents and several siblings.

Per her request no services are planned.  Phyllis will be greatly missed by all who loved her.

Elaine Lessman, 85

The funeral service for Elaine Lessman, 85, of Walnut Grove, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2015, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove.  Visitation will be Thursday from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Almlie-Horvath Funeral Home in Tracy.  Visitation will continue from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove.  Interment will follow the service at the Gales Township Cemetery in Rural Walnut Grove.

Elaine Thelma (Johnson) Lessman was born on July 20, 1929, in Tracy, MN, to Andrew and Meta (Tomschin) Johnson.  She was baptized at her home and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, in Tracy, in 1943.  Elaine attended Tracy Public School and graduated from High School in 1947.  After graduating, she worked for her father at his convenience store until she was married.  On September 26, 1951, she married Henry Lessman at her parent’s home.  The couple was married for 54 years.  They farmed north of Tracy for four years and then north of Walnut Grove for 24 years.  The couple moved into Walnut Grove in 1979.  Elaine worked at the Bakery Café and Sarah’s Kitchen for eight years.  She worked in the lunchroom at the Walnut Grove Sales Barn as a waitress and fry cook until it closed.  Elaine was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Johnsonville where she taught Sunday School, was a Circle Chairman and held office in the Ladies’ Aid.  She was currently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. 

She enjoyed her farm life, helping Henry with chores and doing field work.  She also enjoyed her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  After retirement, she and Henry traveled on many bus and camper trips.  She enjoyed doing puzzles, reading, watching T.V. and having coffee with friends.

Elaine died on Friday, June 12, 2015, at the Redwood Area Hospital in Redwood Falls, MN.  She is survived by four sons:  Patrick, Bruce, Paul and Jay (and Cindy), and two daughters:  Caroline Alcorn and Julie Tuinstra, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her husband Henry, parents, son Timothy and one son in infancy, sister Victoria Hanson, brother Junior Johnson and infant twin siblings Elmo and Margareta. 

Gordon Schmidt, 69

Gordon Charles Schmidt, 69, of Hastings, MN passed away unexpectedly Saturday while gardening at the Minnesota Veterans Home of Hastings.

Born May 18th, 1946, in Tracy MN, he was a son of Annabelle (Pape/Schmidt) Turbes (d. 2009) and Kenneth Schmidt (d. 1962). Gordon grew up in Milroy, MN and graduated from Milroy High School in 1965. Upon graduation, he was drafted by the US Army and served in Vietnam for 3 years. He married his high school sweetheart, LeeAnn Marie Dudgeon on May 4, 1968, but later divorced after 12 years of marriage.  They had three children:  Denise, Janell, and Kenny. He remarried, Guilda Mae Allen, March 24, 1984, that also resulted in a divorce in 1988. Gordon had worked as a farmer for 20 years on the family’s second generation farm south of Milroy along with his brother, Allen Schmidt. He spent the winters building custom cabinetry and other woodworking projects; worked for the Redwood Country Highway department; and was a volunteer for the Milroy Fire Department. In 1987, the family moved to Minneapolis where he worked in factory manufacturing around the Twin Cities before joining the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings in 2003. It was there where he resumed his passion for woodworking and other creative inspirations.  He was involved in building furniture for the department of veteran affairs, commissioner’s office, and veteran’s organization throughout the state.  His master craftsmanship has also won him national recognition in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival three times for his custom designed clocks. Earlier this year, he had submitted another piece of artwork, a grande two and half foot Dutch wooden clock, for the 2015 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival being held in Durham, North Carolina in October. 

He enjoyed traveling, fishing, camping, gardening, crafting, the many activities held at the veterans home, and spending time with family. He was a member of the St. Michael Roman Catholic Church while living in Milroy. He regularly donated his time in maintaining the St. Michael Cemetery while farming in Milroy. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War serving as a private for communications in the U.S. Army.  He was an active member of the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings such as working in their woodshop making flag cases; creating art projects such as stain glass and quilting; gardening; and providing fresh vegetables to the home. 

He is survived by his children: Denise Marie and Keith Olson of Corning, New York; Janell Marie Schmidt of Redwood Falls; and Ken Ray Schmidt of Alexandria.  His Grandchildren:  Derrick Michael Rovira of Anaheim, CA; Kaitlyn Rose Ochs of Redwood Falls, Madison Anne Olson and Jackson Peter Olson of Corning, NY.  His siblings: Genevieve and Kenneth Gjerde, Sr. of Minneapolis, MN; Marlene and Thomas Glomski of Surprise, AZ; JoAnne Stattleman of Pine River, MN; Janice and Peter Donavan of Palos Heights, IL; Allen (“Butch”) and Carol Schmidt of Marshall, MN; and Rosemary and LeRoy Brau of Redwood Falls, MN. In addition to his father and mother, he is preceded in death by his former wife, LeeAnn, and his grandson, Darrin Michael Rovira.

The life celebration was held on Thursday, June 11, 2015 the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings. The location of the celebration will be outside of building 25 by the gardens; the gardens that were groomed and maintained by dad.

Final resting place is in the St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery in Milroy, MN.

In lieu of flowers, that plants (vegetables and fruit) and planting flowers be sent to the Minnesota Veterans Home in Hastings, or donations can be made to the home in Gordon’s honor. For questions or information on donating, please contact Ellen Nelson at (651) 539-2444 and visit the Hastings Giving Guide for ideas on how to give: http://mn.gov/mdva/homes/hastings/hastingsgivingguide.jsp#.

Michael Voss, 63

Michael John Voss, 63, Mayer, AZ, formerly of Garvin, died in his home, with his wife, Julie, at his side, on Saturday, June 6, 2015, after a year long battle with cancer.

He was born May 18, 1952 to Duane and JoElyn Voss, at the Slayton Hospital. He was baptized in the Hoiland Church east of Garvin, confirmed at Tracy Lutheran Church, and graduated from Tracy High School in 1970.

He attended Crookston Community College for a couple years, then took a job running a backhoe for a Fargo contractor. He later moved on to the Denver area and ran a lawn care business for several years before moving on to the Mayer AZ area where he worked for a local contractor as a backhoe operator for several decades.

On July 3, 2006 he returned to Valhalla to marry the love of his life, Julie Abbott, and returned back to Mayer to make a home with Julie on a newly purchased acreage and new home. He loved his new life with Julie, his dogs, fishing, and especially goods times with friends and family. A good laugh came easy to Mike.  During his last year, he spent an amazing amount of time getting to know Jesus better, and in the last weeks prayed for Him to take him quietly in his sleep, which is how he passed, with the incredible help and support from the local Hospice group.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his step daughter, Heather; sister Cindi (Alan) Krafve; three brothers, Steve, Tom (Mary), and Mark (Marsha); and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at the Garvin Lutheran Church on June 20th, at 1 p.m., officiated by pastor Drake Snell. Music will be presented by Amanda Voss, and songs written for Mike by Dennis Morgan.

Elenora E. Wichmann, 99

Funeral Services for Elenora E. Wichmann, age 99 of Balaton, will be held 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2015 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Balaton.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2015 from 5-7PM and one hour prior to the service on Friday, both at church.  Interment to follow at St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Almlie-Horvath Funeral Service.

Elenora Wichmann passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Sunday, June 14, 2015 at her home in Balaton.

Elenora Esther (Sprenger) Wichmann was born in Parker, SD on July 1, 1915; the second of six children to Rev. Henry C. Sprenger and Emma Sprenger.  Elenora graduated from Marshall High School in 1933.  After graduation she attended Bethany College and continued her schooling in Cedar Rapids, IA.  On November 9, 1941, Elenora married Lawrence Wichmann at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Balaton. They were wed by Elenora’s father and Alma Schwan made the wedding cake.  From this union they were blessed with their five children LaVonne, Lynn, Lyle, Lowell, and Ruth Ann.  Elenora worked as a bookkeeper for many years at Dr. Rohlin’s Optometry, Ben Franklin, and G&S Implement.  Aside from work, Elenora enjoyed cooking, sewing, and knitting.  She was the Lyon County’s Farm Bureau Cake Baking Champion and was awarded a trip to Lake Koronis.  Elenora took a great deal of pride in the local Balaton community and tried to shop locally as often as she could.  Her motto was always “faith, family, and friends” and was proud of all three. She was a member of the Sewing Club, Extension Club, and very active in St. Peter’s Church.  She sang in the choir, and was a member of the Ladies Aid and the Martin Luther Ladies Auxiliary.

Elenora is survived by her sons, Lynn (Kim) Wichmann of Balaton, Lyle Wichmann of North Mankato, and Lowell (Peggy) Wichmann of Balaton; her daughter, Ruth Ann (Leon) Johnson of Okabena, MN; brother, Vernon Sprenger; sister-in-law, Delores Sprenger; ten grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and many other loving family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence; infant daughter, LaVonne; two brothers, Walter and Norman Sprenger; and two sisters, Esther Schultz and Rhoda Knudson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and Ridgeview Hospice.