Iotha P. Baker, 81, of Wykoff
Iotha P. Baker, 81, formerly of Fillmore, widow of the Rev. Herbert Baker and former co-owner of a carpet-cleaning business, died Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1998, at the Preston Good Samaritan Care Center, where she had resided since Nov. 14, 1992.
Iotha P. King was born July 30, 1917, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, and graduated from high school in Wessington Springs, S.D. On May 21, 1935, she married Herbert Baker in Jackson, Minn. She had lived in Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois and then in Fillmore. Her husband was a Methodist pastor in a number of locations, including Fillmore Free Methodist Church, and they lived in Fillmore during retirement. After retiring from the ministry, she and her husband worked for Servicemaster and later owned Baker Cleaning Service. He died in November 1992. She was involved in church activities with her husband, belonged to church organizations and taught Sunday school.
Survivors include two sons, Kenneth and Herbert, both of Fillmore; a daughter, Barbara (Mrs. Dale) Shafer of Fillmore; 11 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; three brothers, Kenneth King of Prescott, Ariz., Cecil "Bud" King of Emmetsburg, Iowa, and James King of Buckeye, Ariz.; and six sisters, Rosetta (Mrs. D.) Meyer and Kathleen Boinot, both of Phoenix, Ariz., Irene (Mrs. Lyle) Munden of Mesa, Ariz., Garnet (Mrs. Frank) Adams of Albert City, Iowa, Donna (Mrs. George) Studer of Emmetsburg and Dixie (Mrs. Everett) Vesey of Wykoff. A brother and a sister preceded her in death.
The funeral was Saturday at the Fillmore Free Methodist Church with the Rev. Michael Hopper officiating. Burial was in Fillmore Cemetery.
Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield was in charge of arrangements.
John Barker, 71, of Harmony
John Barker, 71, of Harmony, died at his home on Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998.
He was born April 27, 1927, in St. Paul, the son of Ray C. and Vera (Anderson) Barker. He graduated from Harmony High School in 1945 and went on to graduate from the Minnesota School of Arts. He served with the Merchant Marine during WWII and following his service, returned to Harmony and opened his own sign shop which he maintained until his death.
He was united in marriage to Pearl Anderson in 1953 and she died in 1966. He then married Rose Ann Donna Mae Anderson on June 13, 1970, in St. Paul and they resided in Harmony following their marriage.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife. He is survived by his wife, two step-children, Dennis Mix of St. Paul and Nancy Holthaus of Phoenix, Ariz.; five step-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild and a brother, Robert Barker of Mankato.
Funeral services were Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in Harmony with the Rev. James Purdham officiating. Burial was in the Lenora Cemetery at Lenora.
Lindstrom Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Vivian 'Viv' Herbert Barnes, 104, SV native
Vivian "Viv" Herbert Barnes, 104, a former Lyle-area farmer, died Wednesday evening, May 20, 1998, at Burr Oak Manor in Austin.
He was born March 12, 1894, in Spring Valley and was the first person from Spring Valley to attend the University of Minnesota. During World War I he was an electrical engineer with the Army's 37th Engineers in France and Germany. On Nov. 29, 1923, he married Grace E. Mahacek, and they lived in Chicago where he worked in the engineering field. In 1931 they moved to rural Lyle where he farmed and did on-site testing and record-keeping of hogs, poultry, seed and feed with Hormel Foods Corp. His wife died Oct. 19, 1978.
Survivors include two sons, Donald of Austin and Gordon of Aurora, Ontario; and two grandchildren. Three brothers and four sisters preceded him in death.
The funeral was Thursday at Northwest Church of Christ in Austin, with the Rev. David DeFor officiating.
Worlein Funeral Home in Austin was in charge of arrangements. There will be no visitation or reviewal.
Memorials are suggested to Northwest Church of Christ Memorial Fund.
Mona Bartsch, 88, of Preston
Mona Bartsch, 88, of Preston, died Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1998, at the Harmony Community Hospital.
Mona Maier was born on March 14, 1909, in Rosenheim, Germany, the daughter of John and Monika Maier. In 1914 the family moved to the United States and settled in Mizpah, Minn. She attended school in Mizpah and graduated from high school in Northhome, Minn. On Feb. 23, 1933, she married Frank Bartsch in Geneva, Minn. The couple lived on a farm in Steele County until they moved to a farm near Wykoff in 1955. After her husband died, she moved to Preston in 1984. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Preston, and also a charter member of the Christian Family Church in Owatonna.
She is survived by three sons, Douglas (Ruth) of Spooner, Wis., Gerald (Janice), and James (Margaret) of Preston; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three brothers, John Maier of Caledonia, Rudy Maier, Pennsylvania and Max Maier, Pittsburgh, Pa; and one sister, Cecelia Peterson, Albert Lea, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her husband on May 17, 1966; two sisters and one brother.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the First Baptist Church in Preston with the Rev. Frank Moore of Preston and the Revs. Tim Peterson and Doug Sutcliffe of Owatonna officiating. Burial was in Carimona Cemetery, rural Preston.
Thauwald Funeral Home, Preston, was in charge of arrangements.
Jennifer L. Baudoin, 13, of Grand Meadow
Jennifer C. Baudoin, the 13-year-old daughter of David and Cindy Baudoin of Grand Meadow, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998, in the emergency room of Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.
She was born July 9, 1984, at Rochester Methodist Hospital. An eighth-grader at Grand Meadow School, she was involved in volleyball, basketball and softball, and played flute in the band. She was a member of St. Finbarr's Catholic Church and enjoyed swimming, camping, word puzzles, babysitting, watching movies and playing ping-pong, pool and darts.
In addition to her parents, survivors include a brother, Jason at home; paternal grandmother, Margaret Baudoin of Grand Meadow; and maternal grandmother, Evelyn Lozenski of Canby, Minn. Her grandfathers preceded her in death.
A funeral mass was held Sunday at St. Finbarr's Catholic Church in Grand Meadow with the Rev. Russell Scepaniak officiating. Burial in the church cemetery.
Hutchins Funeral Home in Grand Meadow was in charge of arrangements.
Warren L. Beighley, 81, father of SV man
Warren L. Beighley, 81, formerly of rural Rochester and a retired air traffic controller, died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 1998, at Aspen Care Center.
He was born Jan. 13, 1917, in Gordonsville, Minn. On April 28, 1939, he married Sadie Wagner in Kensett, Iowa. She died April 10, 1996. A pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Silver Star. Mr. Beighley was an air traffic controller from 1948 to 1979. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church.
Survivors include five sons, Ronald, Dennis and Warren Craig, all of Rochester, Robert of Spring Valley and Roy of Hastings, Minn.; a daughter, Kim Beighley of Oronoco; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Lloyd and Joe, both of California. He was preceded in death by a son, two sisters and a grandson.
The funeral was Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church, Rochester, with the Rev. Gregory Heidorn officiating. Burial in Grandview Memorials Gardens, Rochester.
Ranfranz Funeral Home of Rochester was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the Beighley Cup Cancer Fund.
Wesley E. Bender, 71, brother of Wykoff man
Wesley E. Bender of Fountain died Friday, July 17, 1998, at Lund Oakenwald Terrace in Chatfield.
He was born June 5, 1927, in Fillmore Township, Fillmore County, and attended local schools. After that, he worked on local farms; he moved to Fountain in 1978. He enjoyed fishing, bowling and visiting.
He is survived by a brother, Arthur Bender of Wykoff; and one sister, Phyllis (Mrs. Elmer) Lee of Austin. He was preceded in death by two sisters.
The funeral was held at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wykoff with the Rev. John Sime of Fountain Lutheran Church officiating. Burial in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Wykoff was in charge of arrangements.
Ida Marie Benson, 92, of Whalan
Ida Marie Benson, 92, of Whalan, died Friday, June 5, 1998, at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield.
Ida Marie Sveen was born June 24, 1905, in Whalan and attended elementary school there. She was a homemaker and a lifelong resident of Whalan. On May 26, 1925, she married Leland Benson in Whalan. He had a trucking service and was a rural mail carrier. He died Dec. 5, 1991. She was a member of Whalan Lutheran Church, its Ladies Aid, Church Circle and a charter member of Whalan American Legion Auxiliary.
Survivors include three daughters, Lois (Mrs. Dorman) Berekvam of Whalan, Mavis (Mrs. Sigurd) Halverson of Lanesboro and Inez (Mrs. Duane) Snyder of Rochester; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Her husband, two brothers, and three sisters preceded her in death.
Funeral services were held on Monday at Whalan Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Paul R. Johnson officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Johnson-Riley Funeral Home in Lanesboro was in charge of arrangements.
Bennie Berg, 83, father of Racine man
Bennie Berg, 83, of Pine Island, a farmer, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1998, at Zumbrota Community Hospital.
He was born Aug. 6, 1904, in Roscoe Township, Goodhue County, and grew up in the Pine Island area. On Dec. 7, 1935, he married Ruth Best at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, and they farmed in the Pine Island area. His wife died July 25, 1996. Mr. Berg served on the District 100 School Board and the Minnesota Cheese Producers Board, was a member of the Pine Island United Methodist Church and a longtime member of the Farm Bureau.
Survivors include three sons, Kenneth of Racine, Lyle of Zumbrota and Gary of Pine Island; a daughter, Darlene (Mrs. David) Lucas of Rochester; nine grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; a brother, Melvin of Wanamingo; and two sisters, Gladys Degener of Zumbrota and Idella Alberts of Pine Island. Four brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.
The funeral was Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Pine Island with the Rev. Ruth Phelps officiating. Burial in Pine Island Cemetery.
Mahn Family Funeral Homes-Mahler Chapel in Pine Island was in charge of arrangements.
Doris E. Berg, 84, formerly of Fountain
Doris E. Berg, 84, of Zumbrota, formerly of Fountain, died Tuesday, March 31, 1998, at her home.
Doris E. Zimmerman was born June 24, 1913, in Byron, attended Zumbrota schools and graduated from Zumbrota High School. On October 25, 1932, she married Orrin A. "Shorty" Berg and they owned and operated Berg Hardware in Fountain. They moved to Bella Vista, Ark., after their retirement in 1979. Her husband died April 18, 1987, and she continued to live in Bella Vista until moving to Zumbrota in 1996.
Survivors include a son, Clark of La Crescent; eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. A son and three brothers preceded her in death.
A memorial service was held on Friday at the Lutheran Church in Fountain with the Rev. John Sime officiating. Internment was in the church cemetery.
Bennett Berge, 75, of Lanesboro
Bennett Berge, 75, of Lanesboro, a retired longtime area farmer, died of complications of cancer Thursday, May 14, 1998, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester where he had been a patient one week.
He was born June 30, 1922, in rural Whalan and served in the Army during World War II. On June 28, 1946, he married Jeanette Crowson in Lanesboro and they farmed in the North Prairie area until moving into Lanesboro in 1986. In addition to farming, Mr. Berge did custom baling. He served on the Arendahl Town Board for 22 years, was past commander of the Lanesboro American Legion Post and was a lifelong member of Arendahl Lutheran Church. He was a pitcher for many area softball leagues and was an avid bowler.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Lonny of Chatfield, Lowell of West Concord and Loren of Whalan; three daughters, Lynn Del (Mrs. Jerry) Reimann of Rushford, Kady Hoff of Rochester and LaVonne (Mrs. Jim) Jacobson of Hayfield; 16 grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; four brothers, Carl of Harmony, Harvey of Lanesboro and Archie and Curtis of Minneapolis; and three sisters, Mabel Helland of Rochester, Evelyn (Mrs. Leland) Stensgard of Winona and Margaret (Mrs. Robert) Stensgard of Rushford. A great-grandson and a sister preceded in death.
Funeral services were Monday at Arendahl Lutheran Church in rural Peterson with Rev. Frank Kerkemeyer officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery with military graveside rites by the Lanesboro American Legion.
Johnson-Riley Funeral Home in Lanesboro was in charge of arrangements.
Carl M. Berge, 82, of Harmony
Carl M. Berge, 82, of Harmony, died at the Harmony Community Hospital on May 24, 1998.
He was born May 2, 1916, in Fillmore County. He attended rural schools. He was united in marriage to Grace Ferguson on Jan. 16, 1937, at the North Prairie parsonage at Peterson. They farmed and he also did mechanic work.
He is survived by his wife; four daughters, Carol Jertson of Harmony, Marilyn Groteboer of Rochester, Barbara Simmons of Linden, Iowa, and Julianne House of Ostrander; five sons, Harold of Harmony, Stanley of Dodge Center, Minn., James of Racine, Joel of Rochester, and Jerry of Lewisville, Texas; 24 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mabel Helland of Rochester, Evelyn Stensgard of Winona and Margaret Stensgard of Rushford; three brothers, Harvey of Lanesboro, Archie of Aitken, Minn. and Curtis of Shakopee, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents; a great-granddaughter; a brother, Bennett; and a sister, Martha Erickson.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony with burial in the Greenfield Cemetery with the Revs. Jon and Ann Sorum officiating. Friends may call at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and one hour before services at the church on Thursday.
Lindstrom Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy 'Dora' L. Bernard, 104, of Chatfield
Dorothy "Dora" L. Bernard, 104, of Chatfield, died Thursday, Feb. 26, 1998, at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield.
Dorothy L. Vehrenkamp was born May 17, 1893, in Wykoff. She attended country school and worked for T.J. Meighen in Forestville for two summers. On Oct. 2, 1914, she married Earl Bernard at First Methodist Church in Rochester. Soon after, the couple began farming on the family farm. In 1948 they moved to Chatfield. Mr. Bernard died on April 12, 1963. Mrs. Bernard has been a resident of Chosen Valley Care Center since October 1992. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and its Ladies Aid.
Survivors include a son, Melvin of Chatfield; three daughters, Valetta Sparks, Katherine Wahlenmaier and Maxine Coppe, all of Rochester; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, three sisters and seven brothers preceded her in death.
The funeral was Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatfield with the Rev. Clark Jaeger officiating. Spring burial will be in Chatfield Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Chosen Valley Care Center or to St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Vern Betts, 76, brother of Lanesboro man
Vern Betts, 76, of Cresco, died Wednesday, May 27, 1998, at Cresco Care Center.
Mr. Betts was born Jan. 26, 1922, near Kendallville in Fremont Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, and graduated from Ridgeway High School. He was a retired antique dealer. During World War II he served in the Army.
Survivors include six sisters, Katherine (Arnold) Stinson, Ellen (Maynard) Stinson and Beatrice (Raymond) Hovey, all of Cresco, Mildred (Norman) Hall of Lincoln, Neb., Angeline Greenwood of Fridley, Minn., and Betty (Arthur) Maley of Rochester; and two brothers, Edwin of Agoura, Calif., and Charles of Lanesboro. Two sisters and a brother preceded him in death.
Funeral services were Saturday at Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco with the Rev. Mike Simiele officiating. Burial was in Sanderson Cemetery in rural Ridgeway, Iowa.
Lindee Lee Berning, 48, once of area
Lindee Lee Berning, 48, of Newfane, N.Y., died March 19, 1998, at Inter-Community Memorial Hospital, Newfane, N.Y.
He was born March 29, 1940, to Eugene and Leona Nagel Berning in Wykoff. From the time of the death of his mother in 1941 until he entered the service in 1958 he lived with his uncle and aunt, Herschel and Geneva Berning, in the Cherry Grove, Spring Valley and Grand Meadow areas. He married Janet Levan June 30, 1962, in Lockport, N.Y. He was a 1958 graduate of Grand Meadow High School, served in the U. S. Army from 1958 to 1962 and was a member of Osage F & AM Lodge in Osage, Iowa. He was a contractor for the U. S. Postal Service in Lockport until retiring because of ill health in 1994.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Troy (Laurie) of Newfane and Christopher of Orchard Park; a daughter, Lorna (Mrs. Glen) Adams of Newfane; a brother, William Berning of Stewartville; two sisters, Lucille Prinsen of Rochester and Janice Tabor of Austin; two half sisters, Rev. Arlys Wilbur of Eagle River, Alaska and Ellie Jean Hoffman of Racine; six grandchildren; his uncle, Herschel Berning of Spring Valley; cousins, Genevieve Arends of Austin; Geraldine Rindels of Rochester and Darlene Harvey of Danbury, Wis. He was preceded in death by his parents and his aunt, Geneva Berning.
Funeral services were held in Lockport on March 23, 1998, with burial at the Lockport Cold Spring Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, April 26, 1998, at 2 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley with the Rev. James W. Ross officiating.
Philippine Bigalk, 83, of Harmony
Philippine Bigalk, 83, of Harmony, died at the Stewartville Care Center in Stewartville on Feb. 23, 1998.
She was born April 25, 1914, at Cresco, Iowa, the daughter of Sherman and Magdalene (Ries) Culver. She graduated from Cresco High School. On Sept. 20, 1933, she was united in marriage to George Bigalk at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco. They farmed in the Granger and Harmony area during their married life. Mr. Bigalk died on Jan. 24, 1977. When ill health mandated a move, Mrs. Bigalk moved to the Harmony Manor in Harmony and later became a resident of the Stewartville Care Center.
She is survived by her sons Mark of White Bear Lake, Minn., Milton of Stewartville and Raymond of Lime Springs; 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Along with her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Earl, in 1987 and a half sister.
Funeral services will be at the Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony on Friday at 2 p.m. with burial in the St. Matthew's Lutheran Cemetery at Granger, Minn., with the Rev. Jon Sorum officiating. Friends may call at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday and one hour before services at the church.
Lindstrom Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Walter Bigalk, 56, of Harmony
Walter Bigalk, 56, of Harmony, died Friday, July 17, 1998, at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Preston where he had resided for one month.
He was born Nov. 5, 1941, in Cresco, Iowa, to Wellington and Juanita (Smith) Bigalk. He graduated from Cresco High School. He served in the Navy from 1962 to 1966 aboard the USS Tulare during the Vietnam War. During this time he received a "letter of commendation" for fire-room watch. He was married, divorced and later married Betty Mae Pedersen on February 29, 1981. He farmed in the rural Harmony area and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; five children, five stepchildren, and 19 grandchildren; his mother, Juanita (Smith) Bigalk of Cresco; a brother, Dale of Cresco; and a sister, Thelma Warnke of Harmony. He was preceded in death by his father, Wellington and a brother, John Bigalk.
Funeral services were Monday at Henrytown Lutheran Church, north of Canton, with the Rev. Audree Catalano officiating. Burial was in Henry on the Hill Cemetery, rural Canton, with military rites by the Harmony American Legion.
Lindstrom Funeral Home of Harmony was in charge of arrangements.
Ella Julia Blexrud, 91, of Spring Grove
Ella Julia (Sollien) Blexrud, 91, of Spring Grove, died Thursday, Aug. 6, 1998, at Tweeten Lutheran Health Care Center where she had been a resident since 1989.
She was born April 5, 1907, in Highlandville Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, to Styrk and Christine (Julson) Sollien. She married Winton T. Blexrud on June 24, 1931, at Big Canoe Lutheran Church parsonage. He died in 1983. She was a lifelong Spring Grove area resident.
Mrs. Blexrud attended the Bekken School in Winneshiek County, was a 1924 Spring Grove High School graduate and also graduated from Normal School in Spring Grove. She taught in Yucatan, the Onstad school in Blackhammer Township, and worked in the laundry and kitchen at both the old Spring Grove Hospital and Tweeten Lutheran Hospital for 17 years. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove and its women's groups.
She is survived by two sons, Winton E. Blexrud of La Crosse, Wis. and Arlie C. (Marilyn) Blexrud of Brownsville, Minn.; one daughter, Barbara Blexrud Fruechte of Caledonia; 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Florence Sollien of Spring Grove. She was preceded in death by her husband; one son, Myles; two daughter-in-laws, Harriet Blexrud and Patricia Blexrud; one son-in-law, Gilbert Fruechte; one granddaughter, Roxanne Blexrud; two brothers, Johannes and Syver Sollien; and three sisters, Marthina Stoen, Gina Drievold and Annie Peterson.
Funeral services were Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove with the Rev. Jim Arends officiating. Burial was in the Trinity Cemetery.
Roble Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Carl Blomgren, 80, of Mabel
Carl E. Blomgren, 80, of Mabel, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1998, at Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel.
He was born May 28, 1917, in rural Cresco to Carl J. and Mabel (Jewell) Blomgren. He married Naomie Anderson on Oct. 5, 1939, in Ridgeway, Iowa, and was a maintenance worker. He was the only son of 15 children and was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith and was a member of First Lutheran Church in Lake City. He entered Green Lea Manor on Dec. 8, 1997.
Surviving are his wife; two sons, Cliff Blomgren of Raleigh, N.C., Lee Blomgren (Carol) of Ft. Collins, Colo.; two daughters, Betty Kosnopfal (Larry) of Chatfield and Barb Blomgren of Lake City, Minn.; eight grandchildren, Edward, Margaret and Nikki Blomgren, Terry and Jason Bergan, Christie Pennock, Kasi and Holly Ryan; three great-grandchildren, Gunnar Bergen, Elizabeth and Virginia Blomgren; and eight sisters, Ella Albertson of Ridgeway, Forence (Mervin) Anderson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Doris Blaess of Decorah, Dorothy Eidenschink of Cresco, Cora Eiler of Milwaukee, Wis., Rose Ratzlaff of Girard, Kan., Mabel Hovden of Burr Oak and Liola (Bob) Hinneman of Cedar Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents and six sisters, Ruth Rue, Maude Albertson, Pearl Frisch, Aleida Olson, Opal Ellerman and Josphine Nabholz.
Funeral services were Friday, Jan. 16, at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah with Rev. Roger Buhr of Lake City officiating. Burial was in Lincoln Cemetery, Ridgeway, Iowa.
Fjelstul Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
