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Erma B. O'Connell, age 97 of Hudson, died peacefully on Saturday, January 20, 2007 at the Christian Community Home.
Erma Beatrice O’Connell of Hudson died peacefully on Saturday afternoon, January 20, 2007 at the Christian Community Home of Hudson. Erma was born on July 2nd, 1909 in Hudson Township, St. Croix County, WI; the daughter of Aulden and Elizabeth (Wanner) Holmes. Her father, Aulden Holmes was a well known western Wisconsin auctioneer. She and her siblings were raised on the family farm and helped their parents with the farm chores. She attended Prairie Farm Elementary School near their farm and went on to graduate from Hudson High School and then start a long and rewarding career with the WI telephone Co. She began her career as a telephone operator then being promoted to Chief Operator (now Manager of operating services). Some of her most memorable experiences as an operator where in 1934 when the middle dam for the Willow River gave way and completely washed out the bridge between Hudson and North Hudson and only a month later a fire destroyed the Bradford Hospital and Sanatorium on the north end of 7th street in Hudson. She saw many technological advances over her tenure, one of the biggest going from NUMBER PLEASE to the ‘dial’ service in 1958; which today is taken for granted. She was united in marriage to RJ “Joe” O’Connell at St. Patrick’s Church in Hudson; Joe himself a widower of the late Margaret Grace and father to Don, Bob, Peggy, and Tom O’Connell. Joe would precede her in death in 1978. Joe and Erma thoroughly loved to entertain at their home and among their many guests were their personal friends Harry Truman of Mt St. Helen fame and actor Pat O’Brien. Sunday brunch was always a big affair at their home as they both loved to cook and bake and they were noted for their famous brownies, peach and banana pies, poppy seed cake and beignet. Erma was also a quilter with her friends as a member of the Hudson Women’s Club, Hudson Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Club and St. Patrick’s Auxiliary. She also was a member of St. Patrick’s Church and the Telephone Pioneers of America. Her gardens were well manicured whose colors lighted up their yard. The neighborhood birds never went hungry as her birdfeeders were always filled to the rim. Erma is survived by her family; Tom (Janet ) O’Connell of Hudson, Robert (Ella) O’Connell of Oak Park Heights, MN, Peggy (George) Schullo of Hudson, many grandchildren, many great grandchildren, sisters Lorraine Kirchoff of Hudson, Clarice Smith of Beaver Dam, WI, sister-in-law Lois Holmes of River Falls, as well as many nieces. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Joe, stepson Don O’Connell, grandson Daniel O’Connell, granddaughter Patty Carlen, brother Aulden “Bud” Holmes, sisters Donna Kuss, and Verna Mae Enloe.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11AM Friday, January 26, 2007 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Hudson with Fr. John Parr officiating. Special music will be provided by Susie Healy Umble, Kari Weiss and the St. Patrick’s Hope Choir. Burial will be in the St. Patrick’s Church cemetery with casketbearers being: Tom M. O’Connell Jr., Kathi O’Connell, Kyle O’Connell, Mike O’Connell, Robert Edstrom and Michael Torkelson. Visitation will take place 5-7 PM Thursday, January 25, 2007 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson, with a rosary service at 4:45 PM and prayer service at 6:45 PM. Visitation will also take place one hour prior to the Mass at the funeral home. The funeral will leave in procession from the O’Connell Family Funeral Home at 10:45 AM Friday. Memorials are preferred to the Dan O’Connell Peace Garden. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Erma’s family at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson.
Terry L. Sockness age 57 of Durand WI, formerly of Hudson passed away on January 20, 2007 at the Chippewa Valley Hospital in Durand.
Terry L. Sockness age 57 of Durand, WI, formerly of Hudson passed away on January 20, 2007 at the Chippewa Valley Hospital in Durand. Terry was born on March 10, 1949 in River Falls, WI; the son of Palmer and Marjorie (Johnson) Sockness. He attended grade school in North Hudson and later graduated from Hudson High School in 1967. He proudly served his country as a PVT in the US Army. Terry worked as a truck driver for the Eau Claire Leader Telegram for many years. He also was the owner of Sock’s Saloon in North Hudson, Sock’s Landing Supper Club on Sand Lake near Stone Lake and Sock’s Landing in Durand. When Terry wasn’t working, he enjoyed his time out in the woods hunting and out on the lakes fishing. He was also a proud Green Bay Packer fan. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Suzanne (Reck) Johnson on July 9, 2005. Terry is survived by his loving wife, Suzanne “Sue”; mother, Marjorie “Marge” and step father, Dale Engler of North Hudson; sister, Rita (Jerry) Hussman of So. St. Paul; nieces: Jennifer (Lamont) Cleveland, Madelyn Cleveland and Erin (Tim) Schmitz; nephew Ben (Shelly) Ducklow and their families; Sue’s children: Scott Johnson and his friend Daneen, Troy Johnson and his friend Julie, and Wendy Helget and her friend Jerry; granddaughters, Taylor Johnson & Kayley Helget; and many other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Palmer Sockness and grandparents, Ingwall & Helen Sockness and Edwin & Kathryn Johnson.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson and one hour prior to the service. Funeral Services will take place at 2 PM Thursday, January 25, 2007 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, with Pastor Bob Mills officiating. Interment with full military honors will take place at Willow River cemetery of Hudson, WI. Funeral Services have been entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson (715) 386-3725
Catherine "Kay" Johnson of Hudson died Thursday, January 25th, 2007 at the Christian Community Home of Hudson.
Catherine L. “Kay” Johnson, 96 and columnist, died Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Christian Community Home where she had lived for the past few months. She was born July 4, 1910, the daughter of Samuel Albert and Harriet (Miller) Rask in Blooming Prairie, Minn., where she attended school and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1927. Her father served as a Minnesota State Senator from 1917-1923 and, during legislative sessions of those years, she resided with her parents at the Saint Paul Hotel and attended Summit School. From 1927 to 1928 she was a special student at St. Mary's Episcopal School for Girls at Faribault, Minn. She began attending the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis as a freshman in the fall of 1928, graduating in 1931 with a Bachelor of Art degree with an English major and minor in speech and French. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Minnesota’s College of Education the following year and all course credits for a master's degree in English. At the University, she was a member of Delta, Delta, Delta social sorority, Phi Beta Kappa national honor society and honorary fraternities in language and education. From 1932 to 1935 she taught grades 11 and 12 English and speech at Flandreau (S.D.) High School. On Oct. 26, 1935, she was married
to Donald Marvin Johnson at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Owatonna, Minn. They made their home in Minneapolis until 1941 when they moved to Hudson. In 1950 she began working at the Hudson Star-Observer, then owned and edited by the late Clarence J. Reiter. In 1952, the Star-Observer was sold to Yvette H. Ward, wife of millionaire president of Brown & Bigelow, who lived in rural Hudson. Kay Johnson became a fulltime employee at the Star-Observer during Mrs. Ward’s ownership and served in many capacities. She wrote news, edited, reported and wrote her popular column “On Petticoat Lane” as a columnist for the next half century. As a reporter for the Star-Observer she covered the Hudson visits of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1959 and 1960. Excerpts from her columns were turned into a book by the St. Croix County Historical Society in 2003, titled, “50 Years On Petticoat Lane”. For many years, the family home was at 905 Sixth Street in Hudson. She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Hudson from 1941 until her death and served its women’s organizations, the Questers, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and served two terms on the vestry. She was also a member of the St. Croix Valley Arts Guild, the Phipps Center for the Arts, the Hudson Women’s Club, the Hudson Hospital Auxiliary, the Christian Community Home Auxiliary and its board, the St. Croix County Historical Society, the Great Books reading group, the play reading group and often wrote publicity for these organizations. As a Questers member she directed seven vaudeville-type shows which were fund raisers for church projects. At the Valley Arts Guild and the Phipps Center she was drama coordinator for nine years, was always a member of the drama council and, as drama coordinator, served on the Phipps board of directors for two and a half years. She was cast in leading roles in several St. Croix Valley Arts Guild productions, including “Our Town” and “Ten Little Indians.” She loved reading, theater and music and traveled widely in Europe, Scandinavia, the Slavic countries, Greece, Russia and China. She retired in 2004. She has been a resident of WinterGreen and the Christian Community Home where she resided at the time of her death. Preceding her in death were her parents, Sam and Harriet Rask; her husband, Donald M. Johnson in 1982 and a daughter, Janeth Taylor in 1995. Survivors are her daughter, Judith W. “Judy” Boysen of Hudson; a son, Donald Rask Johnson of Auburn, Wash.; grandchildren, Catherine (Taylor) Botz (Patrick) of Rochester, Minn., John E. (Lori) Taylor of Hastings, Minn., and Christian Fauchald of Chicago and four great-grandchildren, Ann and Margaret Taylor and Jessica and Andrew Botz.
The funeral services will be held 2PM Tuesday January 30th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Hudson with the Rev. John Rasmus officiating. Burial will be in the Willow River cemetery in Hudson. Visitation will be on Monday from 5 until 8PM at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson & one hour prior to the service at church on Tuesday. Memorials are preferred to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or the Phipps Center for the Arts.
Ritchie, Marionetta age 97 of White Bear Lake, formerly of White Bear Lake died January 25, 2007 at the Woodbury Health Care Center.
Marionetta Georgina Ritchie, age 97, of White Bear Lake, MN died January 25, 2007 at the Woodbury Health Care Center. Marionetta was born on March 9, 1909 in St. Paul, MN; the daughter of James and Mabel (Carnes) Ritchie. She lived in White Bear Lake, MN with her parents most of her life. After Marionetta’s father passed away, she continued to live with and care for her mother until her death. While growing up in White Bear Lake, Marionetta attended the local Grade school and High school. She then furthered her education at the University of Minnesota studying Food Science. Places of employment included the Schuneman’s Department Store downtown St. Paul in the “Will Call/Lay Away” section. She then went to the women’s YWCA in St. Paul. And after working there for a short time, she applied to Midway Hospital in the Food Service area where she worked until transferring to the Housekeeping division as a Supervisor until her retirement. Marionetta was considered “A Good Supervisor by all of her employees”. She enjoyed her friends, knitting, needlepoint, and reading in her quiet time. A hobby of Marionetta’s was collecting collectibles. She first started with vases, then sold them and changed her interest to bears, especially polar bears. Marionetta was proud of her Scottish heritage and treasured her travels to Scotland, England and Nova Scotia. She was a life long member of the First Presbyterian Church of White Bear Lake. She received a certificate for having over 50 years as a member of the First Presbyterian Church. She was very proud of this and had it hanging in her room at the Woodbury Health Care Center. She was also a dedicated member of the Eastern Star for 71 years and a former Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters. Marionetta was the Star Point Esther. Marionetta held various offices within the organization. She was also an active member of the Historical Society of White Bear Lake. She is preceded in death by her parents and infant sister. Marionetta is survived by a few distant relatives and many dear friends.
Funeral Services will take place 12 Noon Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at the First Presbyterian Church, 4821 Bloom Avenue, White Bear Lake. Visitation will take place 1 hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place at Oakland cemetery of St. Paul. Memorials are preferred to the First Presbyterian Church of WBL. Funeral services are entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson (715) 386-3725.
Gilbertson, Nina age 74, of Hudson, died Sunday January 28th.
Nina M. Gilbertson, Beloved Mother & Grandmother, Longtime Hudsonite, age 74 of St. Anthony, MN passed away on January 28, 2007 at the St. Anthony Health Care Center after a long illness. Nina was born on May 22, 1932 in Hudson, WI; the daughter of Albert and Charlotte (Reinsberg) Lyksett. She graduated from Hudson High School in 1950. She was united in marriage to James Martin Gilbertson on August 4, 1951 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson. Nina and James shared their special day with a double wedding along with her sister, Nathalie and her husband, George Hunt. Nina’s and James’ marriage was blessed with three children: James, Joan and Julie. Nina provided for her family as a homemaker for most of her lifetime. She had also owned the Dairy Mart in Hudson for six years. In her spare time, Nina enjoyed sewing, knitting and reading. She also enjoyed being outdoors- gardening and walking. Nina had a heart for others and enjoyed volunteering at the Hudson Hospital, Christian Community Home and Hospice. She was also an active member of Bethel Lutheran Church for most of her life. Nina will remain in the hearts of her son, James (Setsko) of Cheyenne, WY, daughters, Joan (Terry) Langness of Bloomington, MN and Julie Gilbertson of Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren: Emily (Joe) Krolak of Lakeville, MN, Erin (Phil) Morisey of Concord, CA and Tom of Bloomington, MN; great granddaughter, April Krolak of Lakeville, MN; and sisters, Charlotte Tongen of Minneapolis, MN, Betty Eakle of Colorado, Nathalie Hunt of Texas and Iris (Don) Coty of Florida. Nina is preceded in death by her husband, James; brothers, Albert, Harvey, Oliver, and Roger Lyksett; and sister, Dorthea Johnson.
A Celebration of Nina’s Life will take place 11AM Thursday, February 1st, 2007 at Bethel Lutheran Church of Hudson, WI. A private interment will take place at Willow River cemetery of Hudson. Visitation will take place one hour prior to service at the church. Memorials preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association or donor’s choice. Funeral and cremation services are entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson and Countryside Crematory of Baldwin 715-386-3725.
Benedict, Donald age 77 of Hammond died January 29.
Donald Charles Benedict age 77 of Hammond died Monday January 29, 2007 at United Hospital in St. Paul following complications of a recent stroke. Don was born on April 8, 1929 in river Falls, Wisconsin; the daughter of Herman and Mildred (Greene) Benedict. He was raised in Hammond where he attended elementary school prior to graduating from Hammond High School. On January 6, 1951, he was united in marriage to a young lady by the name of Helen Marie Hurd. They were married
by Father Mee at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hammond. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the armed forces where he proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War. As a young man, he drove truck for his father; Pabst Distributing. Following his father’s death, he and Helen owned and operated Spa Supper club in Hammond. They would later sell and Don would begin his career in the trucking industry. He began as an over the road truck driver for Midwest Emery Freight Systems. He would eventually work his way to dispatch and worked for another twenty years before his retirement with them. Retirement actually never began a true realty. He delivered Meals On Wheels for the local senior center as well as driving for the St. Croix County Department Of Aging for the past ten years. When Don had a moment to himself, he loved to find a quiet trout stream on a beautiful sunny day. He also enjoyed the challenge of a good crossword puzzle. Don truly enjoyed the outdoors, meticulously maintaining his yard and was conscientious with regard to recycling and our environment. He was an avid Green Bay Packer Backer through good times and bad. The neighborhood birds were usually overweight as he never let the bird feeders empty. Don was known not to be the best at fixing anything, but would be the first to try to tell you how to fix it. Don could be stubborn, but was caring and always supportive; who dearly loved his family. Don is survived by mother Mildred of Hammond, loving wife Helen, children Barry (Linda) Benedict of Hammond, Brenda Landowski of Germantown, Wisconsin, Becky (Jeff) Deters of Circle Pines, Minnesota, Brady (Julie) Benedict Hammond, grandchildren Melissa (Brian), Tony (Melanie), Andrea (Brad), Brittany (fiancé Bryan), Brian, Angela, Drew; great grandchildren Jordan, Derek, Logan, Briana, Michael; Brother-In-Law Jim (Maxine) Hurd of Kelso, Washington. He is preceded in death by his father Herman, step-mother Lillian LaVelle, and step-sister Bonnie Anderson.
Mass Of Christian Burial for Don was 11AM Friday February 2nd at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hammond with Father William Murphy officiating. Organist Mary Cody accompanied the singing of Sue Hawkins. Burial was in the church cemetery with active casketbearers being Jeff Deters, Tony Benedict, Brian Weyer, Drew Deters, Brian Landowski, Jordan Weyer. Visitation was Thursday from 4 to 8PM at O'Connell Family Funeral Home in Baldwin & one hr prior to mass at church on Friday. Memorials preferred.
Betty Louise Harstad age 81 of River Falls, formerly of Hudson, passed away on April 17, 2006.
Betty Louise Harstad, 81, died on Easter Monday, April 18, 2006 at the Hudson Hospital. She was raised in Hancock, MN, by loving parents, Emil and Louise (Baumgartner) Steinbring, who preceded her in death. Betty lost her husband of 54 years, Gordon, in 2001. Betty was active throughout her life. In her youth, she loved to dance, played the clarinet, was a drum majorette, and spent much of her time pumping gas her father’s car dealership, Steinbring Chevrolet, the first to be established in Hancock, MN. Betty attended Moorhead State Teacher College and taught elementary school at Ashby, MN and Ortonville MN. She was married
to Gordon Clayton Harstad in 1947 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hancock, MN. They had three children, Terry in 1948, Randi in 1950, and Eric in 1960. Throughout their years together, they lived in Pipestone MN, East Grand Forks, MN, LeSueur, MN, and Maple Plain, MN, where Gordon taught high school and coached various sports, and Betty taught and directed several nursery schools throughout her years in education. After retirement, Betty and Gordon enjoyed 3 trips to Europe together. They spent 15 wonderful years between the Golf Retirement Community of Plantation South as Winter-Texans, and at their cabin on Web Lake, in Danbury, WI during the summer months. In Texas, Betty loved her church, golfing, and socializing with their many friends. Betty was an avid bass fisherwoman and paddle-boater when at her cabin on Web Lake. Betty and Gordon were members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in McAllen, Texas. This past year, Betty moved back to Wisconsin, where she resided at Wintergreen in Hudson, before moving to Comforts of Home in Baldwin, WI, and then her current residence, Our House Assisted Living in River Falls, where she was very happy and well cared for. Since her move to this area, Betty attended Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Houlton, WI, where she was served by Pastor Mark Schreiber, who was always one of her favorite visitors. Betty Louise Harstad is survived by 3 children, 7 grand-children, and 1 great grandchild; 2 sister-in-laws, and many nieces and nephews. Immediate family members surviving her, are her son, Terry Gordon Harstad (Cheryl) of Hutchinson, KS and grandchildren, Clay Harstad (Kristen) of Broken Arrow, OK and Cara Harstad of Las Vegas, NV, ; her daughter, Randi Louise Erickson (Lee) of Hudson, WI and grandchildren Wyatt Erickson (Heidi) of Osceola, WI, Rachel Louise Utesch (Chris), great-grandaughter Averi Louise Utesch (2) of Northfield, MN; and Nathan Erickson of Superior, WI, & Hudson; and son Eric David Harstad, of Somerset, WI and grandchildren Hunter and Emma Harstad of Somerset.
Funeral services will be held by Pastor Mark Schreiber at Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Houlton, WI at 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 21, 2006 with visitation from 10:00 – 11:00 am. Special music will be provided by Joy Schreiber and The Family of Christ Choir. The O'Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson and Countryside Crematory of Baldwin assisted with the services.
Roy Larkin age 91 of Hudson's Christian Community Home passed away on April 18, 2006.
Roy Kelly Larkin, age 91, of Superior, died Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at the Christian Community Home in Hudson, Wis., with his family close by. Roy was born on September 29, 1914, in Ashland, Wis. Roy was raised in Ashland by his grandmother and spent his youth as an avid outdoorsman and continued this throughout his life. He was stationed in New York City as a Sergeant during the war from 1942-46 where he met his wife, Mary Kearns. They were married
October 27, 1945, at Fort Hamilton, NY, and soon after moved to Superior. Roy was employed by the US Postal Service for forty years; as a clerk in Brule, Wis., a noncommissioned officer responsible for the US Army mail, a clerk in Superior, and finally as a rural carrier in Foxboro. He also spent 10 years working as a clerk for the Great Northern Railroad. Roy and Mary raised their children, Ken and Bob, near Pattison Park and spent many days camping, boating and fishing on Lake Superior and throughout Wisconsin. Roy’s sweet and loving nature will be forever remembered by his children, Ken and Rosann Larkin of Hudson, and Robert Larkin of Superior; his grandchildren, Jessica (Nikolai) Alenov and Jim Larkin (both of Hudson); Robbie Reynolds, Jennifer Proffer, Maureen Jordan and Sherri Hanlin (all of Florida) and three great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his mother Jessie (Kelly) Fulton, Step-Father Willard Fulton; his wife, Mary (Pat); and his daughter, Robin Proffer.
A celebration of Roy’s life will be held at Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home, on Friday, April 21. A memorial gathering will take place at 10:00 a.m., with services at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be held at Greenwood cemetery following the service. The O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson (715) 386-3725 is assisting the family with the arrangements.
