Gary Sornberger
Funeral services for Gary Wayne Sornberger, 46, were held Thursday, Sept. 23, at the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca with the Rev. Tom Sahlstrom officiating. Burial was in the Milo Cemetery. Mr. Sornberger died Tuesday, Sept. 21, 1999 at the St. Cloud Hospital from complications from a stroke. He was born Feb. 8, 1953 to Claude and Nadine (Lupher) Sornberger in Onamia. He attended Industries Inc. in Mora and resided at the Brighter Day Residence in Mora for many years. Gary had a special friend, Jane Lindquist of Mora. For the past two years he has resided at REM St. Cloud and worked at the Wacosa Work Program. Gary's hobbies included collecting Elvis Presley and American Indian memorabilia. His two favorite songs were "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace." He is survived by his father, Claude of Onamia; brother, Donald of St. Cloud; and other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his mother; and a brother, William.

Frank Ryan
Frank Ryan, 47, of Foreston, died Monday, Sept 27, at home. Funeral services will be Thursday, at 1:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Milaca. Visitaiton was scheduled Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca.

Martha Oleen
Funeral services for Martha K. Oleen,89, were scheduled Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m. at the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Bock with the Rev. Barb Peterson officiating. Music was by Ann Johnson and Vergean Lundberg. The pallbearers were Charles and Steven Kitner, Timothy Burklund, Kyle, William and Kevin Oleen, Matt Paape and William Lehman. Burial was in the Borgholm Cemetery near Bock. Arrangements were by the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home of Milaca. Martha died Sunday, Sept. 26, 1999 at the Elim Nursing Home in Milaca. She was born in Borgholm Township, Mille Lacs County, Minn., to Andrew and Anna (Stena) Johnson on June 7, 1910. She attended District 51 country school near her home. She married Raymond Oleen Aug. 24, 1933 at the parsonage in Bock. They were dairy farmers in the Bock area until they purchased their farm in Hayland Township in 1943. They continued to farm until 1977. Ray and Martha raised beef cattle from 1980 to 1986. Ray died June 26, 1987. Martha continued to live on the farm until October of 1998 when she entered the Elim Home in Milaca. Martha was a lifetime member of the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Bock where she was active with the Ladies Aid and the Willing Workers. She also was a member of the District 47 East Hayland Mothers Club. She enjoyed crocheting, quilting and was a great cook. She is survived by daughters, Janet Burklund and husband Harvey of Milaca and Karen Edwards and husband Jim of Lakeside, Calif.; sons, Rodney and wife Olivia of Ham Lake and Kurt of Milaca; 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren and many step-great-grandchildren; sister, Hazel Ekman of Milaca; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, five brothers and three sisters.

Herbert Anderson
Funeral services for Herbert Eugene Anderson, 69, were held Saturday, Oct. 23, at the United Methodist Church in Milaca with the Rev Kevin Dunn and the Rev Rodney Kimbler officiating. Pallbearers were Curt Johnson, Bob Johnson, Rich Nelson, John Fransen, Paul Johnson and Russ Leaf. Music was by daughters, Jackie, Jill and Jodi who were accompanied by Barb Dunn. Burial was in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca, with a military honor guard provided by the Hansen-Hayes Legion Post and the Siemers-Hakes VFW Post, both of Milaca. Arrangements were by the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home of Milaca. Mr. Anderson died at his home in Milaca Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999. He was born Nov. 26, 1929 to Herbert J. and Olga Anderson in northeast Minneapolis. Herb attended Edison High School where he graduated in 1947. Herb served in the U.S. Army in Germany in 1950 and in 1951 during the Korean War. Herb married Janice Reed Oct. 27, 1951 at Bock Evangelical Free Church parsonage. The couple moved to Milaca where Herb worked for Mille Lacs County as the assistant highway engineer for 35 years. Herb attended the United Methodist Church in Milaca and was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post. herb enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing golf. Herb is survived by his wife, Janice; daughters, Jackie (Rod) Kimbler of Maple Grove, Jill (Duane) Gotvald of Huntsville, Ala., and Jodi Anderson Nystedt of St. Cloud; nine grandchildren; and two sisters, Dorothy (Enar) Olson of Milaca and Janet (Ed) Femrite of Minneapolis. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Robert Apel
Funeral services for Robert Eugene Apel, 22, were held Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Onamia Alliance Church with the Rev. Tom Franklin officiating. Burial was at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Onamia. Pallbearers were Tom Strand, Aaron Strand, Andy Strand, Ken Funt, Justin Jendro and Jason Apel. Arrangements were by the Shelley Funeral Chapel of Onamia. Mr. Apel died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 1999 near Princeton. He was born Sept. 27, 1977 in Fridley to Marie (Olson) and Tim Apel. At the age of three, he moved with his family from Onamia to Princeton. He grew up and attended school in Princeton, graduating in 1996. He was working part time and attending St. Cloud Technical College, studying computer graphics. He loved spending time with family and friends, football, playing guitar, hunting and writing songs and poetry. He is survived by his mother, Marie Olson of Brook Park; father, Tim Apel of Princeton; sister, Corrinne "Corey" Apel of Brook Park; brother, Jason Apel of Princeton; grandparents, Kenny and Marion Apel of Onamia; grandmother, Eileen Burns of Inver Grove Heights; step-grandmother, Eve Olson; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was precedent in death by his grandfather, Carl Olson.

Robert D. Werckman
Robert D. Werckman, 67, of rural Foley, died Monday Oct. 25, 1999 at his home. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28, at St. John's Catholic Church in Foley with the Rev. Alfred Heltemes officiating. Burial will be in the Assumption Mausoleum, St. Cloud. Visitation was from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.Wednesday at the Foley Funeral Home in Foley. Parish prayers were at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Robert was born Nov. 4, 1931 in Pierre, S.D., to William and Alyce (Bonfoey) Werckman. He was a U.S. Marine veteran of the Korean War, serving from 1952 to 1954. He moved to Milaca in 1955 and had lived in Foley for the past 25 years. He married Betty Sandeen July 26, 1958 at St. Louis Catholic Church in Foreston. He had owned an operated Werckman's Painting and Decorating until his retirement in November of 1996. He is survived by his wife, Betty, of Foley; sons and daughters, Brenda and Tom Jones of International Falls, Brian and fiancee Terri of Cottage Grove, Bryce and Stephanie of Foley and Barbara Werckman and fiance Emory of St. Cloud; five grandchildren, Bradley, Brianna and Alycia Vance, Jordan Paepke and Dalton Werckman; four sisters and two brothers. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Paul E. Blomquist
Paul E. Blomquist, 93, of Aitkin died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000 at the Aicota Nursing Home in Aitkin. He was born March 29, 1906 at Oak Park, near Milaca, the son of Carl and Jennie Blomquist. He grew up and attended schools at Oak Park. He then worked on the family farm for a time and also worked in Illinois for a time. He attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis. He married Dorothy A. Oleen May 6, 1933 at Milaca. They lived at Oak Park and farmed for a time. They then moved to Outing, Minn., and operated a resort for several years. They then moved to the Bay Lake area where he farmed and operated a landscaping business from 1949 to 1959. In 1959 they moved to Mille Lacs Lake and he continued his landscape business until retiring in 1973. They moved to Big Sandy Lake near McGregor and lived there a few years and then in 1980 moved to Nordland Township of Aitkin County and lived there until entering Aicota Nursing Home in 1988. He had served on the Calvary Baptist Church Board. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; one son and daughter-in-law, Paul Alan and Michelle Blomquist of Onamia; two daughters and sons-in-law, Margaret "Peggy" and Rick Zilverberg of Colorado Springs. Colo., and Ruth and Richard Munig of Minneapolis; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; sister, Alice Boeder of Minneapolis; and brother, Milton Blomquist of Oak Park. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister; four brothers; and two daughters, Faye in 1946 and Susan in 1991. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Feb. 23, at the Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin with the Rev. Rick Perry officiating. Burial was in the Forest Hill Cemetery at Milaca.

Herman Koppendrayer
Funeral services for Herman Koppendrayer, 74, were held Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Pease Christian Reformed Church in Pease with the Rev. Gerald Vander Hoeck officiating. The pallbearers were LeRoy, Kevin, Dennis and Merlin Koppendrayer, Larry Kiel and Merle Wallskog. Burial was in the Pease Cemetery. Arrangements were with the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca. Mr. Koppendrayer died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000 at his home in Milaca. He was born Oct. 3, 1925 to Jacob and Mattie (Albers) Koppendrayer in Milo Township in Mille Lacs County. He attended the District 9 country school near his home and also the Pease Christian School. Herman served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in Africa, Europe and Attu, Alaska. After the Service, he worked at the Peas Produce for a short time and then for Keeler Brass in Grand Rapids, Mich. Herman later worked for Gibson Lumber Company in Milaca and then for the U.S. Postal Service, On Dec. 30, 1947, Herman married Edith Droogsma in Pease. The couple has made their home in MIlaca where they have raised their eight children. Herman worked as a rural and in-town mail carrier and as a clerk for the U.S. Postal Service until retirement in 1988. Herman served on the Christian REformed Church Board and Milaca Public School Board. Herman was a volunteer ambulance driver in Milaca for over 10 years and Herman and Edith were mission volunteers in California for three winters. Herman enjoyed gardening , camping, fishing and bird watching. He is survived by his wife, Edith; children, Russell of Longview, Wash., Beverly and husband Bernie Koops of Mountlake Terrace, Wash., Allen of Fargo, N.D., Leslie and wife Kristi of Nicollet, Audrey and husband Steve Durden of Pasadena, Calif., Virginia and husband Mark Larva of Floodwood, Burton and wife Trish of Guinea, Africa, and Gary and wife Laayna of Coon Rapids; 16 grandchildren; step-sister Helen Wallskog of Princeton; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sons Kenneth; three brothers; and one sister.

Carol Langston
Funeral services for Carol Florence Langston, 81, were held Thursday, Feb. 24, at the Peterson-Jonson Funeral Home in Milaca with the Rev. Kevin Dunn officiating. Burial followed at the Wendell Hill Cemetery. Music was provided by Cheryl Bailey. Pallbearers were Ken Carruth, Gary Mosher, Phil Abramson, Keith Langston, Dan Knutson and Brian Knutson. Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer's Foundation. Carol died Monday, Feb. 21, 2000 at the Walker Methodist Health Care Center in Minneapolis. She was born Dec. 23, 1918 in Milaca to Oscar and Rosetta (Hoffabert) Swedberg. She grew up and attended school in Milaca. She married Emmett Langston Dec. 23, 1937 in Minneapolis. She worked as a bookkeeper for the City of Minneapolis for many years. She enjoyed her pets and doing crossword puzzles. She was a member of the Oliver Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Emmett; sons, Duane Langston, William Langston and Terrance and his wife Debra Langston; daughters, Patricia and her husband Ken Carruth, Lorraine and her husband Gary Mosher and Cheryl Langston; daughter-in-law, Sheila Langston; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Rosetta Brookings; brother, Delly Swedberg; son, Gerald; and sister, Violet Swalboski.

Elvira Larson
Funeral services for Elvira H. Larson, 90, were held Tuesday, Feb. 29, at the Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca with burial in Borgholm Cemetery. Elvira died Friday, Feb. 25, 2000 from complications from a stroke. She was born April 1, 1901 to Carl and Sigrid (Herou) Eckdall in Borgholm Township in Mille Lacs County. She attended country grade school District 50 and graduated from Milaca High School in 1927. Following graduation, Elvira was employed for five years in her father's office. He was clerk of the District Court for Mille Lacs county. She married Carl E. Larson March 4, 1933. They farmed for 20 years. Her husband then went into farm equipment sales and she assisted him in their business. She was an active member of the Bock Evangelical Free Church. In 1993 she moved to RidgePointe Apartments in Minnetonka. Elvira is survived by daughter, Marie and son-in-law Richard Moon of Golden Valley; son, Paul and wife Patricia of Prior Lake; four grandchildren, David Larson (Ann), Don Larson, Diane Allen(Jay) and Amy Frame (Thomas); four great-grandchildren, Allison Larson, Alisha and Mitchell Allen and Joshua Frame; and one sister, Hazel Hoagland, of Mt. Vernon, Wash. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl; parents; sister, Evelyn Carlson; and brother, Carl Eckdall.