Ross Albertson, 52

Ross J. Albertson, age 52 of Hastings, MN died Sunday, December 4, 2016, in Hastings.

Ross Jay, the son of Arlin and Judy (Gilb) Albertson was born February 26, 1964 in Tracy, MN and was a 1982 graduate of Walnut Grove High School.  He worked as a heavy equipment operator with DSM Excavating in Hastings and was a member of the Eagles Club in Hastings.  Ross married Connie Nelson on March 25, 2014 in Las Vegas.

He was preceded in death by his father, Arlin Dale Albertson in 2013.

Ross is survived by his wife, Connie; step daughter, Rebecca Nelson; grandchildren, Haylee and Isabella; mother, Judy Boe of Owatonna; brother, Grant Albertson; sister, Abby Albertson and step brother, Corey Albertson; also many other relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Ross’ Life will be held Noon Friday, December 9, 2016 at Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 201 East 7th St., Hastings, with Gordon Gathright officiating.   Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Arrangements are being completed by Caturia-Smidt Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Hastings.

Cynthia Burt, 63

Cynthia M. Burt, 63, of Colman, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2016 at Dougherty Hospice House, Sioux Falls.

Cindy was born July 23, 1953 in Tracy, MN to Ron and Dorrene (Hanson) Nelson. She attended school in Tracy, MN; LaSalle, MN; and Colman, SD. She received her GED in 1976 in Marshall, MN.

Cindy was married to David Rykhus from 1971 – 1976. She married Dan Burt January 19, 2001. Cindy worked various jobs – Red Rooster, Stop Light, Hardware Hank, and Loopy’s to name a few, but spent most of her time at T & R in Colman, SD. She worked there from November 2003 to June 2016.

Cindy’s hobbies were word searches, playing cards, crocheting, and camping.

Cindy is survived by her husband Dan, two sons, Mike (Jessi) Rykhus, Sioux Falls, grandsons, Calix and Titan Rykhus; Chad (Shelly) Rykhus, Marshall, MN, grandsons, Curtis, Cody and Austin Rykhus, granddaughters, Trisha Rykhus, Amanda (Taylor) Varpness and Tattyana Rykhus; great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Avery, Piper, Emma Varpness, two step-daughters, Wendy (Tony) Mork, Tea, SD, grandchildren, Jacob Woessner, Andrew Woessner, Sienna Mork; Missy (Jeff) Smidt, Marshall, MN, grandchildren, Hunter and Caiden Smidt; stepson Dannie Burt, Humboldt, SD, grandchildren, Nychole Haroldson, Shanya Burt and great-granddaughter Jayla Haroldson.

Cindy was preceded in death by her parents, sister Veronica (Vonnie) Stefanick, brother Perry Nelson, grandparents and great-grandparents. 

Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 9, 2016 at Colman Lutheran Church with burial in Tracy Community Cemetery, Tracy, MN. Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Colman. www.skrochfc.com

William Main, 94

William Main age 94, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, passed away Sunday, November 27, 2016, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson, Minnesota. Memorial Service will be held Friday, December 9, 2016, 1:00 P.M. at Christ The King Lutheran Church in Hutchinson with interment in Oakland Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Pastor Brian Nehring will officiate.  Organist is Bonnie Westmiller along with soloist David Skaar.  Erin Knutson will be Urn Bearer.  Military honors by the Hutchinson Memorial Rifle Squad.

William Roscoe Main was born in the small town of Tracy, Minnesota on April 18, 1922, to two special people.  Carrie May Swift was an educated, accomplished and classy lady, with a pedigree that included superintendents, lawyers and the second highest officer in the US Fish and Wildlife Department (appointed by Eisenhower himself).  Carrie’s greatest achievement though was her marriage to Roscoe (Ross) Main, Tracy native, future lawyer, and free-wheeler, who left law school to come home and help care for his family upon the death of his father.

Dad loved and respected everything about Ross as he was about as colorful a character as you can get and still remain on the “upside” of the law.  With his law degree vaporizing, he started farming, trapping, guiding and culling chickens...anything he had to do to keep the family afloat.  This was not a time of loans, credit cards or bankruptcies... you either made it or you didn’t.  Ross made it. ..and HIS greatest achievement came in the form of two sons, in 1922, William Roscoe Main, and then in 1924, James Conklin Main.  William went on to excel in academics and athletics in Tracy, leading the Tracy Scrappers basketball team to its first state tournament in any sport.  Dad vividly remembered the car caravan led by Tracy’s superintendent and entire police force all the way into downtown St. Paul.  Bill “Red” Main became a favorite of the tournament crowd, being selected as a standout player by WCCO and the old Minneapolis Tribune.  Also a standout in football, our Dad proudly recalled the games when his dad, Ross, would get ejected by the referees because of his vigorous on-field objections against certain calls.   Dad would also talk fondly of Ross’s starring role in the community, in particular, his lifelong tenure as the “king” of the Tracy Pool Hall, complete with a throne and a rousing reputation.

Dad also talked with great love and esteem about his brother Jim, who enlisted in the Army.  Jim was wounded during the invasion of Normandy and sent to England to recoup. He was sent back to Europe in time for the Battle of the Bulge, where he again performed with valor, fighting foxhole to foxhole and coming home with shrapnel still in his body.  Dad would express great respect for this brother that merited the Silver Star for his bravery.

Dad served proudly as a marine during World War II, and until his death, was still sharing stories about his time in the service.  After the war, Dad went back to excelling both in academics and athletics, earning both a Masters in Education and All-American honors in football for Colorado State.  After accepting his first teaching job in Alden, Minnesota, Bill met Burdella (Bur) Mary Meyer. They married in 1948 in Wells, Minnesota.  Together they built a beautiful life...with Dad as the motor and Mom as the rudder, they made us proud to be Mains.

Dad went on to become an extraordinary teacher and coach, was a finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year, was chairman of the Minnesota Curriculum Board, and most importantly, was a favorite with the kids he taught.

For all of his accomplishments though, he was most proud of his family. He was our best friend. He loved to roughhouse with his four children:  Stewart, Roxanne, Robert and James, who thought piling on Dad was the world’s best form of exercise.  Ahead of his time, Bill believed that girls should have the same sports opportunities as boys, and, true to his word, his daughter received a coveted baseball glove on her 5th birthday.  The family garden plot was plowed under and became the neighborhood playing field for baseball and football. Boys and girls, young and old, were invited to come, play, and learn.  Dad was always right in the middle of the scrum, usually with four or five kids hanging off him.

We remember Dad as a champion of disenfranchised people before it was stylish to be; we remember Dad as the conservationist before that was even a word.

William Roscoe Main died peacefully, at age 94, in Hutchinson, Minnesota.  

He is survived by his partner-in­life, Burdella Mary Main, age 90; his four very lucky children, Stu (Lois), Rox (Dave), Rob (Kitura), Jim (Mary); and his adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Arrangements by the Dobratz-Hantge Chapel in Hutchinson.  Online Obituaries and Guest Book available at www.hantge.com.

Gloria “Gina” Mensing, 63

Gloria R. “Gina” Mensing age 63, of Zumbrota passed away on Thursday, December 1, 2016 after a battle with cancer at Seasons Hospice in Rochester surrounded by her loving family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Church of St. Paul in Zumbrota with Father Randal Kasel celebrating the mass. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday, December 5, 2016 from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at the Mahn Family Funeral Home – Larson Chapel in Zumbrota and on Tuesday for one hour prior to the mass at the church.

Gloria Regina Phelan was born on April 8, 1953 in Slayton, MN to Vincent and Alicia (nee Gloria) Phelan. She grew up in rural Currie. Gina attended the IHM Catholic School through the tenth grade and graduated from Tracy High School in 1971. Gina furthered her education at Southwest Minnesota State College, where she graduated in 1975. Gina was united in marriage to David E. Mensing at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie on June 5, 1976. Gina worked at the Mayo Clinic, and IBM, before embarking on her twenty six year career as a Public School Paraprofessional. Gina worked for the Goodhue Public Schools for twenty five years and Willow Creek Middle School in Rochester for one year.

Gina enjoyed flower gardening and crocheting. She was an active member of the Church of St. Paul, where she sang in the choir, cantored and was a Eucharistic Minister to nursing home residents for twenty five years.

Gina is survived by her husband David; children, Rebecca (Peter) LeGrant of Bakersfield, CA, Jonathan (Fiancé, Irina Tsveklova) Mensing of San Francisco, CA, Melissa (Matthew) Berg of Brainerd and Katherine (Mark) Ranck of Fort Wayne, IN; grandchildren, Ethan Berg and Regan Berg; siblings, Francis (Linda) Phelan of Savage, Myra (Charles) Ricketts of Wabasso, Josephine (Robert) Langdon of Dallas, TX, Alise (Peter) Phelan Hope of Los Angeles, CA and Leila (Kim) Heffern of Oconomowoc, WI; and many nieces and nephews

Gina was preceded in death by her parents, Vincent and Alicia.

James Morgan, 54

James Lee Morgan, age 54, of Marshall, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, December 4, 2016, at the Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center.  Funeral Services are 10:00 AM Thursday, December 8, 2016, at Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin.  A reception will follow at the church.  Interment will be at 5:00 PM in the Bethany Cemetery, near Lake Shetek.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 PM Wednesday, December 7, 2016, at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service, from 9:00 – 10:00 AM, on Thursday at the church.

James Lee Morgan was born on September 26, 1962 in Tracy, Minnesota.  He was the son of Lee Morgan and Donna Wirtjes.  Jim was baptized as an infant and was confirmed in his youth at Lake Sarah Lutheran Church in Garvin.  He grew with his aunt and uncle and attended school in Tracy and Marshall, graduating with the Marshall High School class of 1981.  Jim went on to live in Ghent.

Jim had 3 children: Briana, Cody, and Cassie.  He worked for Ted and Sharon Haugen and he also drove truck for Southwest Sanitation.  Jim moved to Marshall in 1999 where he loved spending time with his family.  Jim’s life was centered around his grandkids. He was a devoted “Papa” and loved them beyond measure. Jim spent most of his days caring for them and building memories his grandchildren will forever cherish and hold onto. Many memories were made fishing at the lake and taking annual trips to Minneapolis to watch the New York Yankees take on the Minnesota Twins. Go Yankees! 

Jim died on Sunday, December 4, 2016, in Marshall, Minnesota at the age of 54 years, 2 months and 8 days. Blessed be his memory.

Jim is survived by his children, Briana Morgan of Marshall, Cody (and Jordan) Morgan of Princeton, IL, Cassie Morgan of Marshall; 3 grandchildren, Jaylah Pehrson, Payton Morgan, Noah Morgan; brothers, Gordy Morgan of Anchorage, AK, Randy Drown of North Dakota; special aunt and uncle, Ted and Sharon Haugen of Lake Shetek; nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Morgan and Donna Wirtjes.

The family invites attendees to a reception immediately following the service.  Burial will be at 4:30 PM at Bethany Cemetery, near Lake Shetek.

Arrangements by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall, Minnesota.

Guest book and tribute wall available online at www.hamiltonfh.com.