Raymond Nelson, 91

Raymond Nelson age 91 of Balaton passed away Thursday, January 7, 2016 at Morningside Heights in Marshall.  Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 12 at Sillerud Lutheran Church, rural Balaton.  Visitation is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Monday at the church with a prayer services at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to services on Tuesday.  Burial is in Sillerud Lutheran Cemetery.  Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.  Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Raymond Lawrence Nelson was born April 28, 1924 to Lawrence and Minnie (Miller) Nelson in Skandia Township, south of Balaton, Minnesota. He was baptized, confirmed, married, and buried at Sillerud Lutheran Church, rural Balaton.  Ray attended country school in Skandia Township. On December 27, 1947 Ray married Fern Johnson at Sillerud. They were blessed with five daughters and almost 59 years of marriage. They farmed and lived in Skandia Township until 1991 when they moved into Balaton. Ray served his church in many ways for many years. Ray and Fern were Luther League counselors for almost 30 years. He will be remembered by many as the bell-ringer. He was a member of the Balaton Ministerial Association, the Lion’s Club, and the Cancer Support Group of Tyler. Ray loved spending time with his family. His five daughters blessed him with 17 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and one on the way in a few weeks, and three great-great-grandchildren. Ray enjoyed music and he was a singer. He sang in the church choir for 67 years and for hundreds of weddings and funerals of families and friends throughout his life. He enjoyed going to music shows that were in the area, such as the Old Time Fiddlers.  Vacations were spent visiting his children and all the other relatives from the West coast to the East coast, rarely missing a graduation or a wedding.  Ray lived in Balaton until April of 2015 when he moved to Heritage Pointe in Marshall. On October 15, he was admitted to the hospital and then admitted to the Transitions unit of Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on October 26 and admitted to hospice. On Monday, January 4, Ray suffered a stroke and on January 7, he passed quietly to his mansion in heaven.  

Ray is remembered by his five daughters: Linda Nelson of Marshall, Linette (Bob) Fricke of Balaton, Loretta (Larry) Mead of Marshall, Lela (Fred) Rael of Kingman, AZ, and Laurel (Rick) Meyenburg of Montevideo: grandchildren: Teresa Ourada, Tracie Balsley, Troy Eisfeld, Thomas Eisfeld, Patrick Fricke, Jay Fricke, Ryan Fricke, Kelly Severson, Jennifer Hansen, Adam Mead, Valerie Danielson, Antonio Rael, Alicia Harkey, Aaron Rael, Angela Miller, Jarrod Miller, Jesse Gort, and spouses of grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; sisters: ElDora Pederson of Granite Falls and Louise Moe of Savage; and many other relatives and friends.   He is preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and a great cloud of witnesses.

Blessed be his memory.

Roger Schwartz, 78

Funeral Services for Roger Schwartz, age 78 of Tracy, were held on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton, with Rev. Ted Kunze officiating.  The organist was Pat Onken with special music by Heidi Winter.  The pallbearers were Ryan Rowe, Alex Blegen, Skylar Schwartz, Spencer Schwartz, Sterling Schwartz, Tyler Schwartz, Sawyer Schwartz, and John Moline. 

Interment was at Slayton Memorial Gardens Slayton, MN.  Military honors accorded by the Slayton American Legion Post and the Slayton VFW Post. 

Roger Lee Schwartz was born on June 5, 1937 in Tracy, Minnesota to Arthur and Elsie Olsen Schwartz.  He grew up in the Lake Wilson and Ruthton area until the family moved to a farm north of Slayton, MN in 1949.  Roger attended country school and later received his GED in 1984.  Roger enlisted in the Army National Guard on February 6, 1956 and served until February 5, 1959. 

On August 20, 1957 he and Minnie Vogel were married at the First Reformed Church in Slayton.  Following their marriage they lived on several farms in Murray County.  In 1966 they moved to a farm in Lake Sarah Township, Murray County where they farmed for over 30 years.  In 1988 Roger and Minnie began spending winters in Arizona where he worked several years on a pecan farm.  He also enjoyed early morning coffee at McDonalds in Coolidge with his Arizona buddies. After Roger retired from farming he drove semi for his nephew John Moline.  In 2013 they moved to Tracy, MN where Roger soon became a faithful morning coffee customer at the Red Rooster. 

Roger passed away on Friday, January 8, 2016 after a courageous battle against cancer at the age of 78. 

He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton.  Roger loved farming and being outside.  He participated and attended many tractor pulls winning many trophies with his International Harvester 1256 tractor.  His vehicles were known for always being “showroom” clean as was his IH1256 tractor.  Roger was proud of meeting and being on a first name basis with his childhood heroes, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.  Roger especially enjoyed the “Schwartz Summer Bash” held every summer at Scott and Shelley’s home.  This was a gathering of his children and their families that started in 2010 and was known for its annual water balloon fight.  Roger’s greatest joy in life was his family!  He was so very proud of each and every one of them. 

Roger is survived by his wife of 58 years Minnie Schwartz of Tracy, MN; five children and their spouses, Shari and Jeff Blegen of Tracy, MN, Sue and Lee Berlin of Huron, SD, Shirley and Mike Taylor of Lake Park, IA, Scott and Shelley Schwartz of Garvin, MN, and Steve and Beth Schwartz of Volga, SD; 14 grandchildren; four great-granddaughters; two siblings and their spouses, David and Kathy Schwartz and Irene and Jerry Moline both of Slayton, MN, and one brother-in-law, Arnie Guild of Slayton, MN. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter, Tamera Blegen and sister, Marie Guild.

Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements.  To send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com

Jessica Silver (Young), 67

Jessica Silver (Young) passed away suddenly on Christmas Night in Loveland, CO while visiting her daughter Lisa. Jessica was married for over 45 years to Donald Silver, son of Bernard and Nora Silver of Tracy

She was an excellent mother and gardener and enjoyed reading a wide range of topics. She was well-loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.

Jessica is survived by her husband Donald Silver, and daughters Shaena and Lisa.