Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Marie Flesner, 93

Marie Johanne Flesner, age 93 of Tracy, passed away of natural causes on Friday, October 07, 2016 at Friendship Village Health Center in Bloomington. A memorial service is open to the public at 11:00 am Saturday, October 15^th at the Tracy Alliance Church. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm Friday at the Tracy Area Funeral Home, and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. A private family interment will be held at Gales Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com to Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home.

Marie was born April 6, 1923 on the farm in North Hero Township, Redwood County, MN to Wilhelm and Johanne (Deling) Hoffrogge. She graduated from Tracy High School in 1941. Marie was united in marriage with Shirley Arthur Flesner on September 21, 1943 at Nettiewyynnt Methodist Church in Gales Township. Together they farmed with Shirley’s brother Richard Flesner near Milroy for a few years, then near Garvin until 1948. In 1949 they moved to Ann Township south of Revere and farmed for fourteen years. In March 1963 they bought a farm near Renville, operating it for two years before purchasing in Gales Township. Shirley retired from farming in 1993 and in 1995 they moved into Tracy. Marie was very active at the Tracy Alliance Church where she served with the Women’s Missionary Prayer Fellowship, and taught toddlers in Sunday School for decades. Marie shared their home by hosting church speakers and visiting pastors, and extended family. Marie enjoyed reading, embroidery and crochet, and rider mowing the lawn. Most of all, she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Marie is survived by her children: Barbara (James) Rightler of Eden Prairie, Bruce (Anna Jeanne) Flesner of rural Tracy, Terry (Carol) Flesner of Walnut Grove, Timothy Flesner (Dianne Williams) of Bloomington and Brian (Donna) Flesner of Tulsa, OK. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren; sisters: Margaret Flesner of Phoenix, AZ and Minnie (Glen) Kronback of Lamberton; and many other relatives and friends.

Preceding Marie in death are her parents, husband Shirley in 2008, infant son Jonathan, and siblings: Wilhelm Hoffrogge, Anna Pederson, John Hoffrogge, Remmer Hoffrogge, Lena Dehne, Helka Gunder, Henry Hoffrogge, Herman Hoffrogge, and Elfreda Carlson.

Lois Marie Lau, 87, of Tracy, MN passed away on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at the Sanford Medical Center in Tracy. Funeral services were held 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy. The Life Remembrance Center (formerly Almlie-Horvath) of Tracy is caring for the family.

Lois Marie (Moline) Lau was born on Monday, February 18, 1929 in Tracy, Minnesota to Walter and Olga (Apelquist) Moline. She was baptized and confirmed at Tracy Lutheran Church and graduated from Tracy High School in 1947. After graduation, she attended Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter for a couple years.

On June 28, 1952, Lois was united in marriage to Douglas Allen Lau at Tracy Lutheran Church. They made their home on a farm east of Tracy where Lois raised her children. She loved to read, listen to WCCO, watch football and other sports, and never missed an episode of Jeopardy. Lois was loved by her family and many friends.

On Tuesday, October 4, 2016, Lois passed away at the Sanford Medical Center in Tracy, MN at the age of 87 years, 7 months and 16 days.

She is survived by her children Julie Ann (David) Schilling of Tracy, Jeffrey (Billie Jo) Lau of Tracy and Jack (Sandy) Lau of Tracy; grandchildren Dustin (Julie) Alcorn-Webb, David (Kasey) Alcorn, Kimberly (Kory) Burch, Kayla (Bruce) Lavender, Courtney (special friend Adam Debbaut) Lau, Sammuel (fiancé Mackenzie Radel) Lau, and Victoria (special friend Jared Towne) Lau; 10 great-grandchildren and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Douglas Lau, and three brothers Merrill, Pedie and Del Moline

Marc E. Mattson age 48 of Tracy, formerly of Balaton passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at Sanford Tracy Medical Center. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 10 at Sillerud Lutheran Church, rural Balaton. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Marc E. Mattson was born January 28, 1968 in Tracy, Minnesota to Marvin and Mary Ellen (Skaug) Mattson. He was baptized and confirmed at Sillerud Lutheran Church near Balaton. He graduated from Balaton High School and went on to continue his education at Alexandria Vo-Tech for Law Enforcement for one year. He then attended Granite Falls Vo-Tech for two years, studying electronics. Marc began working at Schott Corporation in Marshall, then Minntronix in Tracy, before moving to the Twin Cities to work for a short time. Marc then returned to Balaton when he began working for Rycan Technologies as a Network Administrator. In this role, he worked full time at Avera Marshall as a contract employee and eventually transitioned to employment directly through Avera. A portion of his job was setting up computer systems in neighboring Avera facilities. Marc made sure everything he did was precise, and he did it with a smile.

Marc was united in marriage to Geri (Verdick) Erbes on June 28, 2014 at Sillerud Lutheran Church. Together they made their home in Tracy. Marc was a member of the Balaton Fire Department for 20 years. He had many talents and interests; he loved astronomy, stars and planets, and he enjoyed watching all sports. He loved stock car racing, proudly racing car #28 at Slayton, Jackson and Worthington. Marc loved spending time with Geri and her children, who were very important to him. He was a humble man who always thought of others and loved to help however he could.

Marc is survived by his wife Geri; parents Marvin and Mary Ellen Mattson of Balaton; step children: Hailey Erbes of Tracy, Allen Erbes of Tracy, Madison Majeres of Hutchinson; brother Michael Mattson (special friend Kris Priebe) of St. Cloud; nieces and nephews: Derek Michalski, Mindy Michalski, Eric Mattson, Marissa Mattson, Kacy Clark, Peyton Clark, and Lindsay Mattson; father-in-law Don “Gassy” Verdick; and many other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, sister Maren Michalski, nephew David Mattson, and mother-in-law Sandy Polzine.

Mildred Marian Otto age 95 of Tracy, formerly of Walnut Grove, passed away Thursday, October 6, 2016 at Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 10 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove. Interment is in Johnsonville Township Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service - Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Mildred Marian (Manke) Otto was born July 3, 1921 in Tracy, Minnesota to William and Bertha (Gilb) Manke. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Mildred graduated from Tracy High School in 1939 and Mankato Teachers College in 1941. On July 8, 1944 she was united in marriage to William Otto at Faith Lutheran Church in Tracy. Mildred was a farm wife until 1984. She was in charge of taking care of the 300 chickens every year on the farm. Mildred was an animal lover and had a special touch for them. She taught school in Amiret for 3 years, and in Lucan and Wabasso public schools from 1964 until the early 1980’s. The couple moved to Walnut Grove in 1983 where Mildred lived until moving into O’Brien Court where she has resided for the last 5 years. Mildred was a member of Trinity Johnsonville Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Walnut Grove where she taught Sunday School and was Superintendent for many years. She was also a member of numerous community organizations. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, and other needlework, doll collecting, reading, square dancing, and going for car rides. She was an avid Vikings fan. Mildred loved spending time with her family and grandkids, going to their sporting events, and various family activities.

Mildred is survived by her children: Bill (Twyla) Otto of Walnut Grove, Nancy Otto Baeza of Tucson, AZ, and Jeff (Monica) Otto of Lucan; grandchildren: Troy (Jen) Otto and Tim Otto, Daniel Baeza and Kellee (Jesse) Baeza Castro, Zach (Becca) Otto, Matt and Jacob Otto; great grandchildren: Sawyer and Skylar Otto, Carter Otto, Anthony, Valles, and Joseph Baeza; 5 step great grandchildren; 3 step great-great grandchildren; sister Marj Peterson of Tracy; sister-in-law Delores Manke of Marshall; and many other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband William in 1989, brother Robert Manke, and many brothers and sisters-in-law.