Edward Hansen, 101

Mass of Christian Burial for Edward Hansen, 101, of Tracy, was held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2015, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie.  Interment followed the service at the Calvary Cemetery in Currie.

Edward Hansen was born to Peter and Ellen Hansen at Currie, Minnesota, on May 20, 1914.  He died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, October 7, 2015, surrounded by his family.  Edward was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Foresters, American Legion, and D.A.V. (Disabled American Vets.)  He attended school at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Currie, Minnesota. 

In 1937, Edward was employed with Greyhound Bus Lines in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and drove for 38 years on different runs to several states.  Edward served in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II. 

On October 17, 1940, Edward and Theresa Silver were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy.  They lived in Tracy until 1957 when they made their home in Mankato, Minnesota.  When Edward retired, they moved back to Tracy in 1977.  Edward enjoyed golfing, riding his bike, and having coffee with his friends.  He and Theresa enjoyed spending their winters in Mesa, Arizona.

He is survived by his wife, Theresa of Tracy, son Dennis (and Mary) of Tracy, daughter Geraldine (and Art) Colby of Charlestown, RI, grandson Christopher (and Carri) Hansen of Mansfield, TX, granddaughter Jennifer (and Tim) Thomas of Carver, MN, twin granddaughters Lori (and Ron) Llopis and Lisa Hansen of Jacksonville, FL, great-granddaughter Summer Llopis, brother Leo Hansen, sister-in-law Mildred Hansen and many nieces and nephews.  His parents and brothers Ray, Herb, Jerome and sister Jean Stephens preceded him in death.

Blessed Be His Memory

Arrangements with Almlie-Horvath Funeral Service.  www.almlie-horvath.com

Edna Lessman, 91

Edna Pearl Lessman age 91 of Tracy, formerly of Lamberton, passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at Sanford Tracy Medical Center.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Monday at the Walnut Grove Funeral Home, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.  Interment is in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery north of Walnut Grove.  Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service - Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

 Edna Pearl was the oldest child of Homer and Ruth (Addison) Fultz,  being  born in Minneapolis, MN on November 10, 1923.  When Edna was a toddler the family moved to a farm northeast of Walnut Grove.  She attended first grade in Walnut Grove and then District’s 57 and 19 through 8th grade and then graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1941.  When Edna was 18 she was baptized at the Congregational Church, Walnut Grove.  After graduation she worked at Schauer’s Variety Store in Walnut Grove and then found work at Northern Pump in North Minneapolis during World War II.  Then she traveled to Virginia and spent a few months working at a medicine company while staying with an aunt.  She came back to Walnut Grove and worked at the Drug Store for a time and met the love of her life and married James Lessman on January 5, 1948 at the Methodist parsonage.  After marriage, Jim and Edna lived in various places around the state – Fergus Falls, Ellendale, Lucan, Lamberton, Tracy and Walnut Grove areas, where Edna was busy as a farm wife and mother to two children.  January of 1979 her husband passed away and then Edna made the move into the city of Walnut Grove and enjoyed working many different jobs – Walnut Grove Tribune office; Plum Creek Cheese; Walnut Grove School kitchen and library and the Wilder Museum.  She enjoyed all these jobs as it brought her into contact with many people and she so enjoyed meeting each and every one.  She served on various community committees and was a member of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliary.  She held positions on the Trinity Lutheran Church Board and was a member of the Women of the ELCA.  In September of 2004 she moved to the Valley View Apartments in Lamberton and made many new friends over the next 10 years.  Edna moved to Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy in February of 2015 where she was content taking part in the activities and meeting more people.  Edna passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at Sanford Tracy Medical Center at the age of 91 years, 11 months and 7 days.

Family was very important to Edna and she cherished all the life events of each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is lovingly remembered by her daughter Joan (Glen) Iverson of Lamberton; daughter-in-law Glenda Lessman of Maple Plain; five grandchildren & thirteen great-grandchildren: Jody (Paul) Hintze & Dawson, Grace, Henry & Hattie of Lakefield; Joyelle (Brad) Kennedy & Hannah, Nathan & Madelyn of Sidney, NE; Josh (Jenny) Lessman & Graham and Charley of Detroit Lakes; Betsy (Brent) Johnson & Allison and Andrew of Madelia; John (Dawn) Lessman & Whitley & Trigg of Sidney, NE.  Two brothers: Charles (Clara) Fultz of Hope, AK & Don (Eunice) Fultz of Shoreview; brother-in-law Bill (Grace) Lessman of Laporte; sister-in-laws: Louella Lof of Park Rapids, & Eleanor Fultz of Marshall; along with many cousins, nephews, nieces & friends.  Edna was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jim (1979), son Allan (2002), grandson Toby Iverson (2015), brother Bernard Fultz (2014), & sister Pauline Hemmingsen (2015).  Edna’s faith has been strong and has carried her through all the ups and downs that life has dealt her.  Blessed be her memory.

Lyle McKenzie, 88

Lyle Elmer McKenzie, 88 of Tracy, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at Prairie View Senior Living Center in Tracy, Minnesota.  Funeral Service were at 11:00 a.m. at Almlie – Horvath Funeral Home in Tracy on Saturday, October 17, 2015. Interment was at Bethel Cemetery in Garvin.  Online condolences may be place at www.almlie-horvath.com.  The Almlie – Horvath Funeral Service of Tracy will be caring for the family.

Lyle was born May 1, 1927 just north of Garvin to Roger Lawrence and Bulah May (Hatton) McKenzie.  He was the third of four children.  While still a toddler, Lyle contracted polio.  As a young boy, he move with his family to Garvin where he attended grade school.  Lyle never let polio get the better of him and used leg braces to walk.  He was in the Twin Cities as a youth where he underwent treatments to ease his polio symptoms.  As a young adult, Lyle moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he worked for 18 years as chef at the Hills Hotel and Coffee Shop.  He was then a chef at the Sheraton in downtown Sioux Falls.  Later in life, he moved to Slayton, and then to Tracy where he was a long time resident of Twin Circle.  In 2009, he moved to the Prairie View Center where he passed away.  Known for his green thumb, he loved growing any kind of plant and also raised all kinds of animals, including chinchillas, chickens, and several breeds of dogs.  When he began using a scooter, he could be seen with his faithful dog Timmy out for a walk/ride or going to visit friends.  Lyle loved to read books, put jigsaw puzzles together and play cards.  What he loved most, though, was spending time with family and friends.  Lyle would faithfully send cards to his loved ones, would remember jokes and humorous events for years, and would never pass up an opportunity to make another person laugh.

Lyle is survived by several generations of nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Dale Roger and Cecil Donald and one sister Lorraine Mae Meek. 

Blessed be his memory.

Ester Rasmussen, 82

Esther Marie Rasmussen, 82, of Walnut Grove, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at Oak Terrace Senior Living in North Mankato. 

Funeral services will be at 10:30 am on Friday, October 23, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove.  Visitation will be from 5 – 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Almlie-Horvath Funeral Home in Tracy with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.  Interment will be in the Walnut Grove Cemetery.  A luncheon will follow the burial at the Walnut Grove Community Center. 

The Almlie-Horvath Funeral Service of Tracy is caring for the family.