Elizabeth “Betty” Engesser, 82

 

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Engesser age 82 of Tracy passed away Thursday, February 12, 2015 at Prairie View Senior Living.  Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 19 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy.  Visitation is one hour prior to services.  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.

Elizabeth Ann Byrne was born August 6, 1932 in Dovray Township, Murray County, Minnesota to Eugene “Ownie” and Georgia (Carter) Byrne.  She moved to Tracy when she was 9 years old and attended Tracy Public schools receiving her GED in 1975.  Betty worked in various restaurants as a waitress.  After the tornado struck Tracy she was hired as a teacher’s aide.  Betty continued as an aide for 16 years until she retired. 

On August 6, 1951 she married Earl Engesser at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy.  To this union three children were born: Denise, Dennis, and Darcy. 

Betty was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she taught CCD for 5 years.  In her younger years, Betty loved dancing and riding on the motorcycle with Earl.  She spent time gardening, canning, and camping, and having coffee with friends.  Betty enjoyed reading, especially romance and mysteries, doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles, and watching old movies.  She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Betty is survived by her children Denise (Joseph) Chavez of Grants, NM, Dennis (Paula) of Worthington, and Darcy (Benton) Johnson of Marshall; 5 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren with another due in April; sisters-in-law Betty Engesser of Tracy, Shirley Martin of Balaton, and Verna Swift of Balaton; brother-in-law Jerry Engesser of Tracy; special friend Sharon Hohler of Tracy; and many other relatives and friends. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Earl, sisters Opal and Joyce, and brothers Perry and Eugene. 

 

Father Robert Jude, 92

 

Father Robert Jude, assistant priest at St. Mary’s Parish in Tracy from 1949-52, died Dec. 29, 2014, at the age of 92.

Mass of Christian Burial for Father Jude was held at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Maple Lake on Jan. 5, 2015, with burial in the St. Timothy Cemetery.

Father Jude was ordained in June of 1949, after studying for five years at St. Paul Seminary.  His first assignment was at St. Mary’s Parish in Tracy, where he assisted Father Henry Cahill.  After Father Cahill died in 1952, Father Jude was transferred to Red Wing as a parish assistant and chaplain to the Red Wing Training School for Boys.

Subsequent parishes includes St. Bridget in north Minneapolis, five years; St. Stephen’s in south Minneapolis, five years; Most Holy Trinity in St. Louis Park, two years;  Church of St. Canice, in Kilkenny, two years;   St. Peter’s Parish, Delano, one year;  Clearwater, eight years; and chaplain at St. Mary’s Home in St. Paul. Father Jude is survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins.  The Maple Lake native was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Margaret Jude,  and brothers, John and Clifton.

 

Robert Reiter, 75

 

Robert Philip Reiter, age 75 of Golden Valley, MN passed away Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Waters of Plymouth. 

Robert was born October 30, 1939 in Currie, MN to Philip and Emma Reiter.  He attended school and graduated from Immaculate Heart of Mary School. 

He was united in marriage to Colleen Curtis on December 2, 1961 in Slayton, MN.   After a 30-year career in banking he spent the last 16 years creating and growing Central Portfolio Control (CPC) with his son-in-law, Mark Hedge.  He loved his work, but more importantly loved his family, which was at the heart of everything he did.  He found profound joy in helping others and always rooted for the underdog.  His keen sense of humor, love of life, love for people and his family will be remembered and greatly missed. 

Preceded in death by his parents Philip and Emma Reiter, mother and father in-law Glenn & Mary Curtis, brother-in laws Danny Curtis, Ron Peterson and Ken Surprenant. 

He is survived by wife Colleen; children, Ruthanne LaQua, Susan (Cary) Bergstrom, Nancy (Mark) Hedge, Peggy (John) Griffith, Thomas (Annie) Reiter; grandchildren, Max, Maddie, Bridget, Jack, Sean, Sadie, Shelby, Tess, Gabrielle, Collin, William, Landon and Ava; sisters, Bev Peterson, Brenda (Paul) Haugen and Bernie (Craig) Johnson; brother, Roger (Vonnie) Reiter; nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, February 17th at the Church of St. Margaret Mary in Golden Valley, Minnesota.  Interment Gethsemane Cemetery.  Memorials preferred to: the National Parkinson’s Foundation.

Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel  763-537-4511 handled the arrangements.