John Gaede, 73, Preston High graduate
John Ernest Gaede, 73, of Mitchell, S.D., died Saturday, Aug. 15, 1998, at his home.
He was born July 22, 1925, at Renwick, Iowa, the son of the Rev. Ernest and Eunice Gaede. His father was a former pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Preston.
He graduated from Preston High School in 1943, then attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, for a year.
He then graduated from the Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, in 1947. He was a member of the Pi Tau Sigma Honorary Mechanical Engineering Fraternity and the Triangle Engineer Fraternity. Following graduation he was accepted to the National Society of Exploration Geophysicists. He was employed as a seismologist in oil exploration in Dallas, Texas. After five years he was employed by Sun Oil Company of Philadelphia until his retirement.
He married Florence Hilmer Oct. 2, 1949, in Austin, Texas. He was a member of the Mitchell Camera Club and First Lutheran Church.
He had been a resident of Mitchell since 1986.
He is survived by his wife, a son, James (Victoria) of Mitchell and six grandchildren. He was preceded by his parents.
A prayer service was held at Bittner Funeral Chapel and burial was in Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell.
Arrangements were by Bittner Funeral Chapel, Mitchell.
Myrtle Viola Garness, 87, of Spring Grove
Myrtle Viola Garness, 87, a lifelong Spring Grove-area resident, died Sunday, Aug. 9, 1998, at the Lutheran Home in Caledonia.
She was born Jan. 17, 1911, in Spring Grove, she attended rural school in Blackhammer Township of rural Spring Grove. Miss Garness did general housekeeping in the Spring Grove area. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church of Blackhammer.
Survivors include a brother, Ernest Garness of Rushford. Three sisters and six brothers preceded her in death.
Funeral services were Tuesday at Faith Lutheran Church of Blackhammer in rural Spring Grove with the Rev. William A. Horn officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Roble Funeral Home in Spring Grove was in charge of arrangements.
Nancy A. Garness, 101, of Spring Grove
Nancy A. Garness, 101, of Spring Grove, died Saturday, April 11, 1998, at the Tweeten Lutheran Health Care Center in Spring Grove, where she had resided for the past 14 years.
Garness was born on October 30, 1896, in Spring Grove, to Nels and Anna (Rosaaen) Newhouse. In 1915, she graduated from the Spring Grove High School. She then completed a nursing course in LaCrosse, Wis., and worked at the LaCrosse Lutheran Hospital until 1951. In 1946 she married Oscar B. Garnes of Spring Grove. He died in 1948. In 1951 she married Oscar Garness and moved to Harmony. Oscar passed away in 1996. She resided in Harmony until September of 1984, when she became a resident of the Tweeten Lutheran Health Care Center in Spring Grove.
She is survived by a stepson, Alan (Shirley) Garness of Harmony; a stepdaughter, Margaret (Mrs. William) Hench of Millsap, Texas; eight step-grandchildren; and 12 stepgreat-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by six brothers, Clarence, Edwin, Norton, William, James and Mervin and one sister, Celia.
Funeral services were Wednesday at the Garness Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Mabel with Rev. Jon Sorum and Rev. Ann Sorum officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel was in charge of arrangements.
Irene Gaustad, 77, formerly of Spring Grove
Irene Almyra Gaustad, 77, died on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1998, at Three Rivers Hospital, Grant's Pass, Ore.
She was born in Spring Grove on April 9, 1920, to Andrew and Ragnhild (Vick) Skauge. She attended high school in Spring Grove. She married Arnold Gaustad on April 8, 1939, in the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. In 1973, she graduated with honors from Canada College, Redwood City, Calif., along with her four daughters and one son-in-law.
Survivors include two sons, Dennis Gaustad of Sunny Valley, Ore., Arnold (Lili) Gaustad, Jr., of LaCrescent; four daughters, Betty Gaustad of Sunny Valley, Ore., Barbara (Wayne) Price of Menlo Park, Calif., Bonnie Myhre of Rochester, and Linda Gaustad of Seattle, Wash.; five grandchildren, Jacquelana Ladd, Danica Myhre, Logan Price, Nathan and Tiffany Gaustad and two sisters, Alice Rostad and Ruth Rostad of Spring Grove. She was preceded in death by a daughter and three brothers.
Private family memorial services were held at the Christian Fellowship Church in Sunny Valley, Ore., on Jan. 17. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Black Hammer with burial in the church cemetery. Pastor William Horn will officiate.
Roble Funeral Home in Spring Grove is in charge of arrangements.
Rodney D. Gay, 60, Mabel
Rodney D. Gay, 60, of rural Mabel, died Thursday, April 9, 1998, at the Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel from injuries sustained in a traffic accident that occurred Jan. 17.
Rodney Gay was born Sept. 3, 1937, in St. Paul. In 1945, his family moved to Moose Lake, Minn., and began farming. He graduated from Moose Lake High School and on June 8, 1958, he married Gloria Nelson in Moose Lake. He worked at the Diamond Match Co., did landscaping and drove a truck for a short time until moving to Mabel in 1966. He then moved to Prosper in 1971. There he hauled milk for the Mabel Creamery until its closing in 1979, and was employed by Harmony Enterprises Inc. of Harmony until his accident in January. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, gardening and tinkering.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria of Prosper; three sons, Gregory and Jeremy of Lake City, and Gary of Mason City, Iowa; three daughters, Denise Rosendahl and Dianne (Mrs. Chad) Navigato, of Fountain Hills, Ariz., and Donna Roberts of Lake City; 12 grandchildren; his mother, Arlene of Moose Lake; three sisters, Barbara (Mrs. Roger) Parks of Wilsall, Mont., Loretta Wills of St. Paul and Marlene (Mrs. Paul) Zolar of Moose Lake and one brother, Archie Gay of Newman, Ga. His father and a grandson preceded him in death.
The funeral was Monday at the Mabel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Lynn Holm officiating. Burial was Tuesday in the Riverside Cemetery in Barnum, Minn.
Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel was in charge of arrangements.
Maynard E. Gehrking, 60, of Spring Valley
Maynard E. Gehrking, 60, of Spring Valley, died Tuesday, June 23, 1998, on his family farm in rural Spring Valley.
He was born March 7, 1938, in rural Spring Valley, the son of Gustav and Dorothy (Hinkson) Gehrking. He grew up in Spring Valley Township and attended Chatfield Public School, graduating in 1956. He married Marilyn Gilbert August 9, 1959, in Spring Valley, where the couple made their home. From 1956 to 1963 he worked as a brakeman on the Milwaukee Road railroad, as a police officer for the City of Spring Valley and Wykoff from 1964 to 1966, and then was a foreman for A. G. Stroebel of Rochester, a building contractor, until his illness in 1987. He also farmed part time with his father and son.
He loved his grandchildren and fishing.
He was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Spring Valley and was a former member of the Moose Lodge in Rochester.
He is survived by his wife; one son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Julane Gehrking of Spring Valley; four daughters, Linda (Mrs. Mitch) Mortrud of Coon Rapids, Minn., Sandra (Mrs. Raffi) Antablian of Chicago, Ill., Sherry Gehrking of San Francisco, Calif., and Donna Gehrking of Rochester; eight grandchildren, Brandon, Samantha, Jessica, Amy, Marly, Elizabeth, Justin and Michael; his father, Gustav Gehrking of Spring Valley; and a brother, Leonard Gehrking of Washington, rural Spring Valley.
He was preceded in death by his mother and a sister.
The funeral was Friday at First English Lutheran Church with the Rev. Robert Burmeister officiating. Burial was in the Spring Valley Cemetery.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Spring Valley was in charge of arrangements.
Walter R. Gilbertson, 85, formerly of Mabel
Walter R. Gilbertson, 85, formerly of Mabel, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1998, at the Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Home in Pine River.
He was born on Aug. 6, 1912, in Spring Grove to Amos and Elmina (Olson) Gilbertson. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Pine River, a former member of the Scheie Lutheran Church and its church council and a charter member of the Circle A Saddle Club.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; a daughter, Carol Anderson of Pine River; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; five stepgrandchildren; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; and one sister, Gladys Heitzman of Maplewood, Minn. He was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters.
Funeral services were Saturday at the Scheie Lutheran Church in rural Mabel, with the Revs. Mary Waudby and Craig Vondergeest co-officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel was in charge of local arrangements.
Walter R. Goede, 88, of LaCrescent
Walter R. Goede, 88, of LaCrescent, died Friday, Jan. 16, 1998, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse, Wis.
He was born Sept. 4, 1909, in rural LaCrescent and married the former Irma T. Veglahn May 12, 1932, at Immanuel Lutheran Church. They lived in the Pine Creek area for five years before returning to LaCrescent in 1937. They later moved to Houston and returned to LaCrescent in 1984.
The couple were charter members of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church and Mr. Goede once served as president of the church council. He also was on the Houston School Board.
He is survived by three sons, Eugene of Mound, Minn., Melvin of Cleveland, Minn., and David of Spring Valley; 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife and three brothers.
The funeral was Monday at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of LaCrescent with the Rev. Paul A. Ibish officiating. Burial in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery of rural LaCrescent.
Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home in LaCrescent was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are preferred to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Doris Goertz, mother of Harmony woman
Doris Goertz, 82, of rural Theilman, a homemaker, died Monday, March 30, 1998, at Lake City Hospital. She had been ill five weeks.
Doris Funke was born May 20, 1915, in Wabasha County. On Nov. 30, 1933, she married William E. Goertz in Theilman. They farmed in the Pepin Hill area of Wabasha County for several years before moving to Theilman in 1967. Her husband died Nov. 9, 1981. She was a reporter for the Wabasha Herald and Plainview News for many years. She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and VFW Post 8729 Auxiliary, where she served as chaplain for 10 years.
Survivors include three daughters, Shirley (Mrs. Dennis) Bremer of Plainview, Wilma "Willie" (Mrs. George) Ahlers of Junction City, Kan., and Betty (Mrs. C. A.) McKay of Harmony; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A brother and two sisters preceded her in death.
The funeral was Friday at Bethany Lutheran Church in Lake City with the Rev. Daniel Weise officiating. Burial was in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery.
Schleicher Funeral Home in Lake City was in charge of arrangements.
Daniel Gosselin, 78, once of Lanesboro
Daniel Guy Gosselin, 78, of Minneapolis, died on Sunday, Sept. 6, 1998.
He graduated from Washburn High School in 1938 and served as 1st Lieutenant in Medical Administration during World War II from 1942 to 1946. He received his BBA degree in economics/business from the University of Minnesota in 1948 and worked with his brother, Bob, for John Deere in Lanesboro from 1948 to 1951. He served in the Korean War in 1951-52. He then worked for Honeywell and most recently as contract manager on the MK 46 Torpedo program. He retired in 1984.
He was an active member of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, Honeywell Retirees, Tangletown Neighborhood Association and many other civic organizations.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris, and his parents, Guy and Jewel Gosselin. He is survived by four children, Julie Gosselin, Mary Gosselin, Jane Phillips and husband Dan, and John Gosselin; one sister, Helen Waldschmidt; and one brother, Bob Gosselin; three grandchildren, Kelly, Annie and Bobby Phillips.
Interment was Friday at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery.
Werness Brothers Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
John Edward Grant, 91, of Preston
John Edward Grant, 91, of Preston, died Friday afternoon, Feb. 20, 1998, at the Preston Good Samaritan Center.
He was born Feb. 24, 1906, on a farm in the Granger area to Michael A. and Bridget (Driscal) Grant. His mother died when he was three and he was raised by his uncle and aunt, Ed and Irene Grant, in rural Granger. He attended rural schools and St. Marys Academy in Winona. He married Christine Ann Regan Nov. 22, 1962, in Austin. The couple made their home on his farm until they retired from farming in 1976 and moved to Preston. He then worked for the Green Thumb in Preston and the Preston Elevator. Mrs. Grant died Jan. 29, 1997.
He was a member of St. Columban Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He had also been a longtime member of the Farmers Union.
He is survived by a niece, Mary Rita (Mrs. Joe) Mocol of Mankato, Minn.; three stepsons, Ronald Regan of Cresco, Clarence Regan of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Donald Regan of Fairfax, Iowa; three stepdaughters, Peggy (Mrs. Ross) Campion of Eyota; Midge (Mrs. Ben) Dawson of Westminster, Md., and Patty (Mrs. Fran) Lybbert of Cresco; 23 stepgrandchildren; 17 stepgreat-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, two brothers, and two sisters, two stepsons, two stepgrandsons, and one great-stepgrandson.
Mass of Christian burial was Tuesday at St. Columban Catholic Church with the Rev. Tom Loomis officiating. Burial in Crown Hill Cemetery in Preston.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Francis W. Grover, 87, of Spring Valley
Francis W. Grover, 87, a retired Spring Valley area farmer, died Monday evening, Feb. 9, 1998, at Ostrander Nursing Home, where he had resided since 1991.
He was born Feb. 19, 1910, in Belvidere, Ill., the son of Linus and Mary Grover. He was raised in Solon Springs, northern Wisconsin and served in the Army in England during World War II. He married Mary Constance Slade-Conconnon in England while in service. The couple returned to the Spring Valley area where he was employed by the M.A. Hanna Mining Company near Spring Valley before retiring in 1965. Mrs. Grover died in 1965. He married Dorothy Thompson in 1967 and the couple farmed in rural Spring Valley. He was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church and the Spring Valley VFW.
In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, Peter of Austin and Francis L. of Plainview; four grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; a brother, Myron; and a sister, Bonita. Seven brothers and sisters preceded him in death, including Merle, who was a lifelong resident of Spring Valley.
A memorial service will be held Feb. 19, his 88th birthday, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Spring Valley with the Rev. Jon Olson officiating. Friends may call at the church one-half hour before the services. The body was cremated. Burial in Spring Valley Cemetery. Military graveside rites will be conducted.
The family prefers memorials be given to the American Heart Association.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Spring Valley is in charge of arrangements.
Ammon Grems, 94, once of Spring Valley
Ammon N. Grems, 94, of Pine City, formerly of Spring Valley and Dodge County, died Monday evening, March 9, 1998, at Lakeside Medical Center in Pine City.
Born Oct. 29, 1903, in Claremont Township, Dodge County to Lucy (Naylor) and Arthur Grems, he graduated from Claremont High School and received a degree in business from Mankato Commercial College. In 1933 he married Iva Dean and they lived in Baudette, Minn., before moving to the Spring Valley area in 1946. A progressive farmer, he had one of the first milking parlors in the area and operated a dairy farm here until 1964. Mr. Grems served on a number of agricultural boards and was a member of Faith Lutheran Church. His first wife died in 1966. In 1968 he married Harriet Mitchell Howe. They resided first near Ruthton, next on Big Sandy Lake at McGregor and then in Pine City for the last 18 years.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Larry (Mary) of Spring Valley; a daughter, Linda (Mrs. Gerald) Arnold of Greeley, Colo.; two stepdaughters, Carolyn Tuckner of Pine City and Carmen Howe of Minneapolis; a stepdaughter-in-law, Louise Howe of Roseville, Minn.; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, LaVera Richards of Hayfield. He was preceded in death by an infant son, a stepson, three brothers and five sisters.
The funeral was Friday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City. Burial was in the Byron Cemetery.
Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City was in charge of arrangements.
Julia Guttormson, 85, of Spring Grove
Julia Jeneva Guttormson, 85, of Spring Grove, died Friday, July 17, 1998, at the Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wis.
She was born May 7, 1913, in Sorum, S. D., to Julius and Jorgina (Bjergum) Dvergsten. At the age of 2, her parents moved back to Spring Grove, where she spent the rest of her life. She graduated from Spring Grove High School and a one-year Nell Bryan teachers' training course. She did not teach as her parents had just started the Florence Hotel and Restaurant Business, so she worked for them.
She married Arnold Guttormson in 1946. Later she and her husband operated their own restaurant. Arnold died in 1965. In 1970, she sold her cafe but continued cooking and baking for the succeeding owners until 1987, when she retired.
Survivors are a brother, Mervin Dvergsten; a sister, Doris Hagen; a brother-in-law, Everett Hagen; and a sister-in-law, Agnes (Dan) Moore, and many nieces and nephews.
She belonged to the Foster Parents Plan for seven years and helped Cecilia Pegollo Mojica of the Philippines who still keeps in touch with letters. She is married and has four children.
Funeral services were Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove. Roble Funeral Home in Spring Grove was in charge of arrangements.
Owen E. 'Bud' Hadland, 73, of Ostrander
Owen E. "Bud" Hadland 73, of Ostrander, a retired firefighter and implement dealer, died of complications of diabetes Sunday, July 26, 1998, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.
He was born May 26, 1925, in Ostrander and graduated from Spring Valley High School. On March 31, 1946, he married LaDonna Kohn at the former Zion Lutheran Church in Spring Valley; she survives. He owned an implement dealership in Ostrander. He was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, a charter member of the Root River Country Club and served as mayor of Ostrander. He enjoyed golfing and fishing.
Two brothers preceded him in death.
The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ostrander with the Rev. Norm Bauer officiating. Burial will be in Bloomfield Cemetery in rural Ostrander.
Hutchins Funeral Home in LeRoy is in charge of arrangements.
Charles R. Hagan, 79, of Spring Valley
Charles Raymond Hagan, 79, of Spring Valley, a retired farmer, died Friday, Jan. 30, 1998, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.
He was born Aug. 4, 1918, in Davis City, Iowa. On Aug. 28, 1940, he married Vera Martha Warner in Princeton, Mo.
He farmed in the Cherry Grove area from 1955 to 1970. In 1974, with the help of their children, he and his wife built a new home on the farm and lived there until March of 1995 when they moved to Spring Valley.
After retiring from farming, Mr. Hagan worked for farmers in the Cherry Grove area and as a carpenter in the Wykoff and Spring Valley areas. He also helped his children through the years with various home projects.
He enjoyed woodworking and making crafts as well as traveling to many of the southeastern Minnesota campgrounds.
Over the last few years, the couple also worked together in their garden growing vegetables and many beautiful flowers.
Survivors include his wife; four sons, Gary of Hudson, Wis., Paul of Spring Valley, Ken of Rochester and Tom of Stewartville; three daughters, Karen (Mrs. Walt) Zimara of Pine Island, Susan Hagan of Spring Valley and Diane (Mrs. Doug) Eisenmann of Forest City, Iowa; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Harold of Davis City, Iowa. He was preceded in death by a brother, a sister, a son and a grandchild.
The funeral was 2 p.m. Tuesday at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley with the Rev. James Ross officiating. Burial in the Spring Valley Cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the Rusty Hagan Fund or to the family.
Michael T. Hagan, 42, formerly of Preston
Michael T. Hagan, 42, of Elma, Iowa, formerly of Preston, died Saturday, March 21, 1998, at Howard Co. Hospital, Cresco, following a car accident.
He was born May 1, 1955, in Minneapolis, the son of Thomas L. and Wilma J. (Angier) Hagan. He moved with his family to Preston in 1958 and graduated from Preston High School in 1973. He was currently employed by a subsidiary of Featherlite in Cresco. He was employed by Root River Hardwoods in Preston for a number of years.
His hobbies were hunting, fishing, art, Harley-Davidsons, stamp collecting and leather tooling.
He is survived by his wife, Lisa Strom Hagan of Lanesboro; one daughter from a previous marriage, Mikaela Hagan of Sweden; his mother, Willie Parise of Vallejo, Ca; his father, Thomas L. of Preston; six sisters, twins Debbie Ewald and Diane Robidou, Great Falls, Mont., Shelly Suek, Dutton, Mont., Julie Hagan, Lanesboro, Mary Sweers, Soda Springs, Idaho, and Katy Anderson, Great Falls; one brother, Thomas L. Jr., of St. Charles, and 14 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one sister, Kathleen.
There was a memorial service at Thauwald Funeral Home, Preston, Tuesday, with the Rev. Tom Loomis of St. Columban's Catholic Church in Preston officiating. The body has been cremated.
Thauwald Funeral Home, Preston, was in charge of arrangements.
