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Josie Blakey
Josie Walker Blakey, age 101, died June 15, 1998, at the First Christian Church Residence, Minneapolis, where she had lived since the death of her husband, Bernard B. Blakey, in 1992.
A memorial service will be held June 29 at First Christian Church in Minneapolis. Burial will be in a private graveside service at Lakewood Cemetery.
The Blakeys lived in Morrison County near Little Falls, MN, throughout the 1970s and were active in the Grace Covenant Church during that time. The Blakeys’ courtship letters and enduring romance well into their 90s was the subject of a widely acclaimed book, Love in the 90s, by their granddaughter, Keri Pickett, also formerly of Little Falls.
Born December 17, 1896, in Tahlequah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma City and Minneapolis. A photo of them hugging in bed won a blue ribbon as the “People’s Choice” at the Arizona and New Mexico and worked with the Navajo Indian Nation. She then worked at Wilcox Memorial Hospital in Portland, OR, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd, MN, and finally at the Lutheran Care Center (Lutheran Senior Citizens Home) in Little Falls, MN, from 1964 until her retirement in 1989. Outside of her career in nursing, Cathryn was a housewife and homemaker. She and her husband, Jrwin, lived on the family farm in Hillman Township since their marriage on July 2, 1951. Cathryn was active as a 4-H leader for the Center Valley Dairylanders and volunteered at the Morrison County Extension Service and the Minnesota cemetery documentation project, specifically at St. John’s in Lastrup, MN. She also researched the history of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hillman. Cathryn was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz and Little Falls VFW Auxiliary Post 1112. She was also an active member of the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls. Military rites were said at the funeral home.
Harleigh was born April 4, 1926, to the late George and Mamie (Johnson) Swanson in Little Falls. He attended Little Falls Community High School until the eleventh grade. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1944, serving in the Philippines and Japan. He received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon and the Philippines Liberation Ribbon. Harleigh was honorably discharged October, 1946. He was united in marriage to Marion Peterson October 12, 1946, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls. The couple made their home in Little Falls. Harleigh worked forHome bakery andSanitary bakery for 13 years. In 1959, he started working for Super Valu Grocery Store, Inc. in Minneapolis, MN, as a bakery manager. He also managed the V.F.W. in Little Falls. He retired in 1991. He was a life member of the V.F.W. and Cooties, Little Falls Lions Club receiving the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, and the Jaycees, receiving the Private Enterprize Award and the Pinnacle Hunting Club. Harleigh enjoyed collecting and trading Lions Club pins. He took pride in taking care of his lawn. He enjoyed nature, visiting and meeting new people, hunting and fishing. He will be sadly missed by his family.
Survivors include his wife Marion of Little Falls; daughters, Teresa Saunders and husband, Seth of LeSuer, MN and Dione Wenner and husband, Robert of South Minneapolis, MN, and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in by his parents.
Betty Swanson
Betty J. Swanson, age 71, a resident of Little Falls, MN, died March 23, 1999, at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls.
Funeral services were held March 26 at Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls with Rev. Martin Langemo officiating. Interment was in Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls.
Betty Jean Swanson was born on May 5, 1927, in Sioux Falls, SD, to the late Frank and Isabel Fischback) Pieper. She was united in marriage to Jack Schmelzer. The couple made their home in Little Falls where Betty lived most of her life. Following Jack’s death in 1976, Betty continued living in Little Falls. She was united in marriage to Ed Swanson on September 29, 1994, at Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls. The couple lived in Little Falls Township near Little Falls. Betty was a devoted housewife and mother all her life. She enjoyed playing cards, gardening, fishing and pets. She especially loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband Ed Swanson of Little Falls; son, Jim Schmelzer and wife Julie of Little Falls; daughter, Barbara Miller and husband Bob of Anoka, MN; step-children Ronni Swanson of Little Falls, William Swanson and wife Rebecca of Spring, Michigan and Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud and worked as Administrator of the Little Falls Moose Lodge #1587. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls, Knights of Columbus Council #1804, Little Falls Moose Lodge #1587 and the National Association of Powers Engineers. He loved his family and friends and enjoyed bowling, fishing and polka music.
Survivors include his mother, Marcella “Marcie” M. Boros of Little Falls; son, Gary J. Boros of Little Falls; daughter, Wendy L. Petrich and husband Bill of Randall, MN; sister, Pam Nieken and husband Richard of Little Falls; special friend, Carol Richter of Little Falls; nephews and nieces, Kyle and Addam Posterick and Michelle and James Nieken, all of Little Falls; grandfather, Edward A. Klisch of Bowlus, MN, and many aunts and uncles.
He was preceded in death by his father, Henry, on June 21, 1991 and grandparents, Theresa Klisch and Les and Elizabeth Boros.
Honorary pallbearers were Jack Doble, Jason Doble, Ken Lampert, Jerry Zilazney, Gary Schwartz, Gary Dickman, Mike Wagner and Charlie Scherer.
Casketbearers were Bill Myers, Max Simon, Glen Garbar, Bob Loss, LeRoy Winter and David Schmidt.
James Angevine
James Angevine, age 32, a resident of Menomonie, WI, died May 7, 1999, at his residence in Menomonie.
Mass of Christian Burial was held May 12 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in North Prairie, MN, with Father Silverius Schmitt officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls, MN.
James was born July 11, 1966, to Woodrow and Mary (Spaulding) Angevine in St. Paul, MN. He began working in the bakery business as a teen at Pete & Joy’s Bakery in Little Falls and continued on in various ends of the business all his brief life. James owned and operated his own bakery at Winthrop, MN, and recently was manager at Leever’s Foods in Menomonie. James was united in marriage to Laurie Geise on July 28, 1990, in North Prairie. His hobbies included fishing, camping and being with family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Laurie of Menonomie; daughters, Nicole, Ashley and Samantha, all of Menomonie; parents, Woodrow and Mary Angevine of Little Falls; step-mother, Dorithy Angevine of Little Falls; brothers, Raymond Angevine of Little Falls, Robert Angevine of Anchorage, AL, and Shawn Angevine of Little Falls; sisters, Patricia Lenhart and husband Scott of Auburn, WA, and Virginia Bundy and husband Mark of Elk River, MN; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bernard and Lucielle Geise of Bowlus, MN; stepbrothers, Jamie Kunkel of Little Falls and Scott Kunkel and wife Jane of Little Falls; stepsister, Jodi Kunkel of Silver Bay, MN; brothers-in-law, Dennis and Duane Geise of Rice, MN; and Darrell, Doug and Donny Geise of Bowlus; and sisters-in-law, Linda Dubbin and husband Al of Holdingford, MN; and Lisa, Lois, LeeAnn and Jane Geise of Bowlus.
He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Mary Barnes, and Grandfather and Grandmother Spaulding.
Casketbearers were Raymond Angevine, Shawn Angevine, Jamie Kunkel, Duane Geise, Dennis Geise and Al Dubbin.
