Dr. Dale LeRoy Eichelberger
March 18, 1934 - Aug. 5, 2000
WILLMAR - Dr. Dale LeRoy Eichelberger, 66, of Willmar, died Saturday at Infinia Health Care Center in Willmar.
His service will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Willmar with the Rev. Sandy Hanwalt officiating. Burial will be in the Cloverleaf Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church.
He was born March, 18, 1934, in Stoneham Township, Chippewa County, to LeRoy and Esther (Priebe) Eichelberger. He graduated from Maynard High School in 1952. He attended Hamline University in St. Paul for premed studies. He graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1959. After his internship with the Harbor General Hospital in Torrance, Calif., he served with the U.S. Navy as a medical officer from June 1960 to September 1963.
He married Louise Hitt in 1964. He practiced medicine in the Willmar area, where he was a member of the AMA and the American Academy of Family Physicians. He served as director of the chemical dependency unit at the Willmar Regional Treatment Center. He was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church.
He is survived by his former wife; children Dane Eichelberger of Duluth, Clark Eichelberger of St. Louis Park and Lynn Eichelberger of Minneapolis; a brother, James (and Mae) of Brandon and a sister Joan (and Robert) Chambers of Rapid City, S.D., and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.
Brian John Thorp
Dec. 18, 1985 - Aug. 5, 2000
GROVE CITY - Brian John Thorp, 14, of rural Grove City, died Saturday at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis from injuries he received in an ATV accident at his home on July 30.
His service will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Litchfield with the Rev. Curtiss Seefeldt and the Rev. Gregg Bitter officiating. Burial will be in the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery near Atwater.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Atwater Funeral Home in Atwater and one hour prior to services Wednesday at the church.
He was born Dec. 18, 1985, in Willmar to Allen and Nancy (Krug) Thorp. He grew up in rural Grove City and was going into the ninth grade at the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City High School. He was a member of the football, basketball and golf teams. He was a member of the high school band, the Acton Buzzers 4-H Club and his church's teen group.
He is survived by his parents; a sister, Mandy, at home; grandparents Ardis Thorp of Grove City and Arline and Robert Krug of Litchfield; great-grandmother Dorothy Thorp of Atwater; and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by a grandfather, great-grandmother and great-grandfather.
Paul C. Koepp
Jan. 5, 1943 - Aug. 5, 2000
CORRELL - Paul Carl Koepp, 57, of Correll died Saturday at the Chippewa County-Montevideo Hospital from chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Odessa with the Rev. Edwin Parker officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Vaala Funeral Home in Appleton and one hour prior to the services at the church.
He was born Jan. 5, 1943, in Litchfield to Robert and Aurelia (Gierke) Koepp. He grew up in the Litchfield area and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1960-64.
He married Diane Rathbun on June 17, 1974, in Montevideo. They lived in the Correll area. He had his own milk truck and then was employed by Orcon Industries, James Fasbender Construction, Dallas Wilkening and most recently by the Big Stone County Highway Department.
He served as mayor of Correll for 14 years and was a member of the Correll Volunteer Fire Department.
He is survived by his wife; children Crystal Koepp of Correll, Misty Koepp of Korea, Justin Koepp of Correll, Tina (and Danny) Vandever of Fairmont, Christi (and Chris) Yoder of Longmont, Colo., Lynette (and Joe) Seymour of Harrison Township, Mich., and Sherry (and Donnell) Green of Madison, Ala.; four grandchildren; brothers Robert (and Muriel) Koepp of Litchfield, Randy (and Vicki) Koepp of Richland, Texas, Jon (and Cathy) Koepp of Litchfield; sisters Elaine (and Donald) Schlechter of New Germany and RuthAnn (and Wayne) Dinwiddie of Stockton, Calif., and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Michael Anderson
Feb. 11, 1954 - Aug. 4, 2000
HANOVER PARK, Ill. - Michael Anderson, 46, of Hanover Park, Ill., died Friday in Hanover Park.
His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Phillips Catholic Church in Payson, Ariz. Memorials to the American Cancer Society are preferred.
He was born Feb. 11, 1954, in Willmar to Carlton and Elaine Anderson. He attended St. Mary's Catholic School.
He is survived by his parents of Payson, Ariz.; brothers Bill of Illinois, Brad of Oklahoma, Barry and Robert, both of Arizona; sister Mary of Arizona and other relatives.
Bruce Caldwell
Oct. 13, 1951 - Aug. 3, 2000
Sarah Ann Caldwell
June 2, 1993 - Aug. 3, 2000
Abby Kim Caldwell
Oct. 22, 1997 - Aug. 3, 2000
LITCHFIELD - Bruce Alan Caldwell, 48; Sarah Ann Caldwell, 7; and Abby Kim Caldwell, 2; all of Litchfield, died Thursday in a trucking accident in Sacramento, Calif.
Their memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the First Lutheran Church in Litchfield. There will be a private family inurnment. Military rites provided by Admiral Benson Post 2818 VFW.
Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Friday at the church. Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home of Litchfield is in charge of arrangements.
Bruce was born Oct. 13, 1951, in Mankato to Arden and Doris Caldwell. He attended Truman Public School. After graduating in 1970, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1972. He served in the Army Reserve until 1978. He attended Mankato Vocational and Technical School and studied agriculture. He farmed with his father and brothers from 1972 to 1985 when he began cross-country trucking for Kokesch Trucking.
He married Kelly Luann Gregory on Oct. 25, 1988, in Litchfield. They founded Timberwolf Express soon after moving to Litchfield in 1989.
Sarah was born June 2, 1993, in Litchfield and attended St. Phillips Elementary School.
Abby was born Oct. 22, 1997, in Litchfield.
Both girls were baptized on Oct. 4, 1998, at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield. They both liked to travel with their dad on cross-country trucking trips.
They are survived by his wife and their mother, Kelly Caldwell of Litchfield; Bruce's parents, Arden and Doris Caldwell of Amboy; Kelly's mother, Lou Gregory of Litchfield; his brothers Gary (and Deb) Caldwell, Dean (and Jane) Caldwell, Joel Caldwell and Ray Caldwell, all of Amboy; his sister Cheryl (and Kim) Anderson of Las Vegas and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents.
Peter J. Klassen
Sept. 10, 1909 - Aug. 6, 2000
AVON - Peter J. Klassen, 90, of Avon died Sunday at Arlington Place in St. Joseph.
His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Avon.
Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today, with parish prayers at 7 p.m. followed by Catholic Aid and St. Michael's Society service at 8:30 p.m., at Williams Funeral Home in Avon, and one hour prior to the services at the church.
Survivors include daughter Doris Langston of Spicer.
Abelino H. Vega
March 2, 1924 - Aug. 7, 2000
WILLMAR - Abelino H. Vega, 76, of Willmar died Monday at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.
His funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Willmar with the Rev. Joseph Steinbeisser officiating. Private burial will be in Odem, Texas.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home of Willmar.
He was born March 2, 1924, in Odem, Texas, to Ismael and Guadalupe (Hernadez) Vega. He grew up in Odem and worked as a farm worker.
He married Janie Moreno on Sept. 27, 1945, in Odem. They moved to Litchfield in 1975 and to Willmar in 1995.
He is survived by his wife; sons Joe (and Yolanda) and John (and Carmen), both of Plainview, Texas, Albert (and fiancée Sybil Bengtson) of Norwood-Young America, David (and Julie) of Litchfield, Mike (and Linda) of St. Cloud, Roy of Waconia and Steve of Willmar; daughters Elizabeth (and Niel) Lee of St. Paul, Julia (and Joe) Trevino of Lubbock, Texas, Gloria (and Thomas) Sexton of Inver Grove Heights, Nina Jo (and Jerald) Barrick of Litchfield and Mary Lou Vega of Hutchinson; 19 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sisters Trinidad Reyes of Wichita, Kan., Daminina Gomez of Odem, Texas, Cecelia Laguna and Thomasa Hidalgo, both of California, and Crecencia Vega of Corpus Christi, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Maria Ignacia.
Paige G. Altmann
May 8, 1996 - August 7, 2000
OLIVIA - Paige Glenn Altmann, 4, of Olivia died Monday at Fairview University Children's Hospital in Minneapolis.
Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Bird Island with the Rev. T. Lance Holthusen officiating. Burial will be at the Olivia City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today, with a 7:30 p.m. prayer service, at the Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Olivia, and one hour prior to services at the church.
She was born May 8, 1996, in Willmar to Stephen and Susan (Hegna) Altmann. She grew up in Olivia.
She is survived by her parents; sisters Chloe and Lanie, both at home; grandparents Glenn and Elene Hegna of Bird Island and Del and Dorothy Altmann of Olivia, and other relatives.
Paul V. Larson
Aug. 11, 1922 - Aug. 7, 2000
BIRD ISLAND- Paul V. Larson, 77, of Bird Island died Monday at home.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bird Island with the Rev. Phil Schotzko officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today, with a parish prayer service at 7 p.m., and one hour prior to the service on Friday at Dirks-Blem Funeral Home in Bird Island.
He was born Aug. 11, 1922, in Howard, S.D., to Julius and Jenny (Holgersen) Larson. They moved to Bird Island when he was 12. He moved to Washington to work for Boeing Aircraft in 1940. He joined the U.S. Navy and served in Attu, Alaska, from 1941-45 and then returned to Bird Island where he opened an auto body shop.
He married Jeanette Welsh on Feb. 14, 1953, in Seattle, and they lived in Bird Island. He sold cars for M.W. Hertel in Olivia and Wurm Chevrolet in Bird Island. Later he sold appliances for N.S.P., and from 1968 to 1981, he owned Paul's Appliance Center in Bird Island. He then sold and repaired golf carts.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the American Legion in Bird Island. He was a former member of the Lions Club.
He is survived by his wife; daughters Debbie (and Steve) Kram of Hector, Lisa (and Dan) O'Brien of Plymouth and Linda (and Blake) Sohn of Orono; eight grandchildren; his mother of Bird Island; brother Hans Larson of Bird Island; sister Clara (and Wes) Cornell of Clear Lake, and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his father and an infant sister.
Dr. William L. Merlin
Feb. 12, 1954 - Aug. 6, 2000
MADISON, Conn.- Dr. William L. Merlin, 46, of Madison, Conn., died unexpectedly Sunday at his home.
His memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Wesley United Methodist church in Minneapolis. Arrangements are with Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Road, Madison, Conn.
He was born and raised in Plymouth. He participated in the third year Rural Physician Associate Program in Willmar while in medical school.
He married Mary Bakken of Willmar in 1980.
He is survived by his wife; children Mackenzie and Mikaela; and other relatives.
Ruth Moseng
Aug. 4, 1917 - Aug. 8, 2000
DAWSON- Ruth Moseng, 83, of Dawson died Tuesday at the Johnson Memorial Home in Dawson.
Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Dawson Covenant Church, rural Dawson, with the Rev. John Norland officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson and one hour prior to the service at the church.
She was born Aug. 4, 1917, in Camp Release Township, Lac qui Parle County, to Walter and Odessa (Winslow) Beaty. She attended country school through the eighth grade.
On Oct. 2, 1940, she married Edwin S. Moseng in rural Canby. They farmed in the rural Dawson area, and she lived on the farm after Edwin's death on April 14, 1987. She later moved to Dawson and had lived at the Johnson Memorial Home in Dawson for the last two years.
She was an active member of the Ladies Aid at Dawson Covenant Church.
Survivors include her daughter Joanne (and Lester) Nelson of Madison; four grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister Helen Ford of Montevideo and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two brothers and two sisters.
George O. Lundebrek
Nov. 8, 1924 - Aug. 7, 2000
BENSON- George Oliver Lundebrek, 75, of Benson died Monday at the Swift County-Benson Hospital.
His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Benson. Burial will be in the Benson city cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Jacobson-Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson and one hour prior to the service at the church.
He was born Nov. 8, 1924, in Starbuck to Olaf and Gydia (Gulbrandson) Lundebrek. He attended District 51 school through eighth grade.
He married Mary Ellen Wildeboer on July 8, 1948, in Benson. He farmed in Langhei Township until he retired. In 1991, they moved to Benson.
He was a member of the Farmers Union and was clerk of School District 62.
He is survived by his wife; sons Allan Lundebrek (and fiancée Rhonda Ajax) of Glenwood and Wayne (and Maria) Lundebrek of Starbuck; daughters Marlene (and Steve) Tulibaski of Pennock, Annette (and Warren) Albrecht of Montevideo and Cindy (and Duane) Mertens of Danube; 21 grandchildren; brothers Odell (and Edna) Lundebrek of Apache Junction, Ariz., Richard (and Janet) Lundebrek of Benson and Maynard (and Charlene) Lundebrek of Clontarf.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and two grandchildren.
Marvin H. Markgra March 15, 1909 - Aug. 8, 2000
WOOD LAKE- Marvin Henry Markgraf, 91, of Wood Lake, died Tuesday at the Granite Falls Hospital.
His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Wood Lake. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at St. John's Lutheran Church in Wood Lake and one hour prior to the service on Friday. Kulow Funeral Service of Echo is in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include daughter Phyllis Teichert of Clara City and son Lennis (and Connnie) Markgraf of Granite Falls.
Lola A. Lommel
Nov. 21, 1925 - Aug. 9, 2000
GLENWOOD- Lola A. Lommel, 74, of Glenwood died Wednesday at her home.
Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Glenwood. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Glenwood.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Hoplin Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
She was born Nov. 21, 1925, in Lidgerwood, N.D., to Robert and Eve (McCarthy) Wiener. She graduated from Lidgerwood High School and continued to study for a teaching certificate in Valley City.
In 1948, she married Robert Lommel in Wahpeton, N.D. She first taught in Breckenridge. They moved to Danube. She next taught in Wallace, Idaho, and Sandbar, N.D., where she finished studies for her teaching degree. After graduating in 1964, she taught in Glenwood for three years and Starbuck for 20 years. She retired from Starbuck in 1988. She then taught four more years at the church school, retiring from there in 1992.
She is survived by her sons Robert (and Rebecca) Lommel of Mansfield, Texas, and Larry (and Joyce) Lommel of Sioux Falls, S.D., and six grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband in 1977.
