Twyla Crouse, 85

Twyla LaVon Crouse, born in Tracy, MN on December 29, 1930 passed away in St. George, UT on August 1, 2016.  She and her surviving husband, Darrell Crouse, celebrated their 68^th wedding anniversary on June 30, 2016.

Twyla is also survived by her three children, Steven Crouse (wife Melissa) from Crownsville, MD; Kerry Crouse (wife Carol) from Cashmere, WA; and Darla Hunt (husband Tim) in St. George, UT.  She has three living sisters; Cleone Denzine (husband Lloyd) in Mesa, AZ; Cynthia Moat from Lakeville, MN; and Allyson Cammauf  of Marshall, MN.  Twyla had so much love for her six grandchildren:  Jesse and Erin Crouse, Jessica and Casey Crouse and Tyler and Chelsea Hunt.  She also has two great-grandchildren, Danielle and Autumn Tomlinson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Lillian Thomas; one sister, Joan; one granddaughter Sherry.

Twyla lived an active retirement life, enjoying traveling and volunteering for the Red Cross, taking Darrell and Twyla across the country.  Both Darrell and Darla were at her beside when she passed away.

A private family service was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy on Friday, August 12, 2016 for Bradley Andrew Hartman, infant son of Tony and Emily (Vandendriessche) Hartman of Independence. 

Bradley Andrew Hartman was born on Tuesday, August 9th, 2016 at 4:54 a.m. at University of Minnesota Riverside Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota.   He weighed 3 lbs 0 oz and was 16 inches long.  Bradley passed away at birth as a result of a birth defect, and he was carried by angels to heaven to be cradled in the hands of God.  He spent the day of his birth surrounded by his loving family.

Bradley is survived by his parents Tony and Emily Hartman, big brother Ramsey, paternal grandparents Nels and Robbin Christensen, and maternal grandparents David and Carolyn Vandendriessche; uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Already there to welcome Bradley into heaven are uncle Jon Hartman and great-grandparents Merle and Virginia Hartman; Paul and Alice Vandendriessche; and Andrew and Irene Wieme.

Arrangements with Almlie - Horvath Funeral Service of Tracy, MN.

Opal Horsman, 94

A private family service will be held at a later date for Opal Elizabeth (Olson) Horsman, 94, of Tracy.  Opal died Monday, August 15th, 2016 at the Prairie View Senior Living Center in Tracy.

Arrangements with: Affordable Cremation of Southwest Minnesota www.affordablecremationmn.com

Cynthia Livingston, 74

Cynthia (Cynde) Loy Livingston was born on February 13, 1942 in Tyler, MN to Herbert and Amy (Rasmussen) Livingston. She passed away on August 6, 2016 in Eau Claire, WI from pancreatic cancer.

Cynde graduated from Balaton High school in 1960.  Her first job was as a telephone operator in Tracy. After that, she worked and lived in MN and WI doing office work, running a hardware store and raising her two children. She received her Bachelor degree from Southwest State University in 1982 and began her social work career in Wisconsin where she retired in 2004. When she returned to Balaton in 2004, she worked at the Balaton School as an aide and librarian and then as the librarian at the Tracy Library. In 2008-2009, Cynde proudly served as Balaton’s first woman Mayor. She was an active member of the Balaton Historical Society, Balaton and Tracy book clubs and served on the Southwest Regional Development Commission Board in Slayton. Cynde loved her work as a reporter and photographer for the Balaton Press Tribune. She truly enjoyed capturing pictures and writing stories about people and events in her hometown.

Cynde had a real talent for art, especially painting and drawing. Her other hobbies included reading, knitting, crocheting and playing cards and games with family and friends. She loved taking care of flowers, especially roses and enjoyed sharing them with nursing home residents and others.

Cynde is survived by her son, John of Eau Claire, WI; daughter Julie of Sutton, Nebraska; 7 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson; three sisters – Joan Ziemke of Tracy, MN,  Linda Towne of Clearwater, MN and Celeste Livingston of New York, NY; one brother, Brian Livingston (and Sue) of Slayton, MN; and other close family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother and two brother-in-laws, Melvin Ziemke and Ronald Towne.

 A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 27th at 1:00 PM at the First Congregational Church in Garvin, MN. Everyone is encouraged to wear red since this was Cynde’s favorite color. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to hospice or a local charity.

Dawn Ruppert, 93

Dawn Ruppert age 93 of Tyler passed away Saturday, August 13, 2016 at her home in Tyler.  Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 17 at St. Dionysius Catholic Church in Tyler.   Burial was in the St. Dionysius Catholic Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com – Tyler  Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Lyla Dawn Ruppert was born August 9, 1923 in Tracy, Minnesota to Claud and Lyla (Bugher) Greenman. Dawn is survived by her children: Brian (Trisha) of Helena, Montana and Thomas (Kathy) of Tyler; 4 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Theodore, daughter Ann Marie, and sibings: Marvel March and Madeline “Bertie” Colburn.

Darrell Snodgress, 89

Darrell Duncan Snodgress died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family in Soldotna, Alaska on August 7th, 2016. 

He was born on April 19, 1927 in Murray County, Minnesota the second of four children born to Harry and Cora Snodgress.  He graduated from nearby Marshall High School and entered the United States Army in 1945.  He served in China at the end of World War II in the Nanking Army Headquarters Command. 

He returned to Minnesota in 1946 to begin farming with his uncle until a sense of adventure and economic opportunities led him to California where he met his wife to be Ila Vivian Youngblood while working at McClellan Air Force base as an aircraft mechanic.  They were married on December 19, 1954 in Sacramento and he dedicated himself to the Lord Jesus Christ in 1955. 

Darrell and Vivian were blessed with four children Dan (1958), Terrell (1959), and twins Janet and Jane (1961).  He moved his young family to Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula in 1966 where he and his business partners relocated their company, Peninsula Ready-Mix.  He remained active and working for Best Transit Mix until just weeks before his death. 

He was preceded in death by his sisters Starr Cox, Audrey Munson, brother William Snodgress, and great-granddaughter Myra Ann Snodgress. 

He is survived by his wife Vivian of 62 years, four children, nine grandchildren [Kate, Cole and Courtney (Dan); Dane, Derek, Dustin and Jena (Janet); and Nathan and Isaac (Jane)], and two great-grandchildren Moriah and Hannah (Kate).   

Indeed, family was his greatest joy especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren with whom he spent countless hours entertaining, challenging and enriching.  He was particularly committed to guiding them into faithful service of the Lord for whom he loved and served for 61 years.  He also dedicated his time and resources to building Assembly of God churches throughout the Kenai Peninsula, and was a stalwart member of the Peninsula Christian Center in Soldotna for many years.  He was a lifelong hunter and gun collector, and loved the Alaskan outdoors. 

A memorial service was held Saturday, August 13th at 1:00 pm, Soldotna Bible Chapel 300 W. Marydale Ave, followed by a time of fellowship and reminiscing with pie and ice cream social.  He will be interred at Soldotna Community Memorial Park.  His family asks that friends consider donating blood and blood products to the Blood Bank of Alaska in his memory.

Arrangements made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai, Alaska.