Robert M. Vang, 68, of Mabel
Robert M. Vang, 68, a lifelong Mabel area farmer died suddenly on Thursday, April 23, 1998, at his home.
He was born on April 1, 1930, in Canton to Adolph and Naomi (Patterson) Vang. He graduated from the Mabel High School in 1948. On Aug. 26, 1950, he married Charlotte Dreivold at the Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church in Allamakee County, Iowa. The couple continued to farm in the Mabel area. Mr. Vang enjoyed his grandchildren, playing accordion in various polka bands and birdwatching. He was a member of the Hesper Lutheran Church.
Mr. Vang is survived by his wife Charlotte of Mabel; two daughters, Diane (Mrs. Tom) Webb of Pine Island, and Yvonne Holthaus and her fiancé Tom Taylor of Rochester; a son, Allen of Decorah; two grandchildren; and two brothers Arden (Gloria) of Hesper and Don (Barb) of Pine Island. His parents and a son, Ricky, preceded him in death.
Funeral services were Monday at the Hesper Lutheran Church with the Rev. Hans Floan officiating. Burial was in the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery.
Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel was in charge of arrangements.
Lois Bussell Van Riper, 77, GM native
Lois Bussell Van Riper, 77, formerly of the Grand Meadow area, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998, at Sunrise Escondido West Nursing Home in Escondido, Calif.
Lois Bussell was born Jan. 31, 1921, in Grand Meadow and attended Grand Meadow schools, graduating from high school in 1938. On Feb. 16, 1939, she married Dale Van Riper in Osage, Iowa. They lived in the Grand Meadow area for several years before moving to California.
Survivors include her husband; a son, David of Escondido; two grandsons; three sisters, Marian (Mrs. Verne) Jensen of Santa Barbara, Calif., Shirley (Mrs. Everett) deYoung of Austin and ADA Goodsell of Dresbach, Minn.; and three brothers, Minar L. Bussell of Stewartville, Charles Bussell of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and Harry Bussell of Grand Meadow.
The funeral was Thursday at Fellowship Methodist Church in Austin with the Rev. George Toschak officiating. Burial was in Grandview Cemetery.
Worlein Funeral Home in Austin was in charge of arrangements.
Nina Belle VanTries, 95, mother of SV siblings
Nina Belle VanTries, 95, of LeRoy, a homemaker, died Friday, Aug. 28, 1998, at the Spring Valley Care Center.
Nina Belle Cleveland was born Jan. 1, 1903, in White Pigeon, Ill. She married Guy VanTries Nov. 3, 1920, in Glenwood, Minn.
Survivors include four sons, Harry of LeRoy, Donald of Spring Valley, Laurence of Bimini, Texas, and Richard of The Colony, Texas; three daughters, Lucille VanTries of LeRoy, Marjorie Teare of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Janet Hove of Spring Valley; 23 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren and 25 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, a daughter, a great-granddaughter and two brothers and a sister.
The funeral service was Monday at the Hutchins Funeral Home in LeRoy with the Rev. Scott Nupson of First Baptist Church in Spring Valley officiating. Burial was in LeRoy Cemetery.
Hutchins Funeral Home in LeRoy was in charge of arrangements.
Henry Vatland, 91, formerly of Mabel
Henry Vatland, 91, a resident of Hillview Health Care Center, LaCrosse, Wis., died on Thursday, Jan. 1, 1998, at the care center.
He was born in Mabel on Sept. 8, 1906, to Hans and Bertha (Garness) Vatland. He married Myrtle Bjergum on Oct. 22, 1931, in Spring Grove. She preceded him in death on Sept. 26, 1996. He and his wife had farmed in rural Minnesota for many years until moving to LaCrosse in 1955. He then worked for Taushe Hardware until his retirement in 1967. Mr. Vatland was an avid sports fan and baseball fan.
He is survived by six children, Betty Jane (Leonard) Ambrose of LaCrosse, Kloy "Kay" (Rudolph) Arlt Jr. of Onalaska, Lynden (Rose) Vatland of LaCrosse, Howard (Shirley) Vatland of LaCrosse, Marlene (Charles) Sargent of Rochester and Gerald (Astor) Vatland of Sheboygan, Wis.; 14 grandchildren, David Ambrose, Steven (Barbara) Ambrose, Paul (Leslie) Ambrose, Rudolph (Wendi) Arlt III, Kevin (Carol) Arlt, Robert Arlt, Donavon Vatland, Scott (Lisa) Vatland, Heather Vatland, Wayne Vatland, Michael Sargent, Matthew Sargent, Janice Vatland and Kerrie Vatland; five great-grandchildren, Leah, Jacob, Joseph and Michael Ambrose and R. J. Arlt; one brother-in-law, Harold Benson of Mabel; and two sisters-in-law, Bernice Bjergum of Spring Grove and Lorraine Harkness of Mabel. He was preceded in death by five brother, Julius, Alvin, Oscar, Carl and Bennet; one sister, Gladys; and two grandchildren, Lynda Rose Vatland and Kenneth Matthew Arlt.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Jan. 3, at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of La Crosse. The Rev. Luther Borgen officiated. Burial was in the Mormon Coulee Memorial Park.
Memorials may be given to the Garness Trinity Lutheran Church in Mabel.
Wendell Vrieze, 85, Spring Valley
Wendell Vrieze, 85, died Friday, Nov. 27, 1998, at Spring Valley Care Center where he had resided a short time.
He was born May 15, 1913, in York Township, Fillmore County. He attended schools in the York Township area and attended high school in Preston. He married Elsie Broadwater on Sept. 25, 1936, in Greenleafton. She died in 1955. He married Nora Frank on April 1, 1961, in Spring Valley. He was a life-long farmer. He was a charter member of the Cherry Grove Community Center and a member of the Fillmore County Fair Board, the Farm Bureau and Cherry Grove United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife; a son, John of Spring Valley; a daughter, Charlotte (Mrs. Charles) Daugherty of Fountain; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister and a brother.
The funeral service was Monday at Cherry Grove United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mark Rader officiating. Burial was in Greenleafton Cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley was in charge of arrangements.
Lyle Paul 'Tiny' Wagner, 74, formerly of SV
Lyle Paul "Tiny" Wagner, 74, of Texas, a former Spring Valley resident, died Wednesday, June 3, 1998, at Whitney, Texas, while traveling.
He was born Nov. 29, 1923, in Fillmore County, the son of Merville and Eva (TerMaat) Wagner and was raised in the Spring Valley area. He married Marlys Christensen May 16, 1954, in Cedar Falls, Iowa and they made their home in Cedar Falls prior to moving to Crosslake, Minn., where they owned and operated a resort for 21 years, retiring in 1986. He was a volunteer fireman in Crosslake for 13 years. In 1989 they became full time RV'ers, traveling mainly in the Midwest and South.
He is survived by his wife; and one sister, Lucille Hanson of Austin, Minn. He was preceded in death by one sister, Mariam. The body was cremated. Burial will be in Etna Cemetery in rural Spring Valley.
Local arrangements were by Thauwald Funeral Home in Spring Valley.
Ethel Wahl, 96, Rushford native
Ethel Wahl, 96, of Cambridge, Minn., died May 1, 1998, at Grandview Christian Home in Cambridge.
She was born Sept. 19, 1901, at Rushford to Charles and Petra Green.
She is lovingly survived by her daughter, Patricia Jorgensen, and her husband, Norman, of Isle, Minn.; grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Wahl, and one daughter, Miriam Anderson.
Private family services were held. Interment was in Wykoff Lutheran Cemetery.
Cambridge Funeral Home - Strike Chapel, was in charge of arrangements.
Helen Maxine Walker, 80, sister of SV man
Helen Maxine Walker, 80, a homemaker and employee of the Austin Country Club, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998, at her home.
Helen Maxine Taylor was born Oct. 23, 1917, in Moravia, Iowa. She married Joseph Walker Jan. 14, 1939, in Albert Lea and was a homemaker until 1969, when she started to work for the Austin Country Club. Her husband died in 1997. She was a member of the Brownsdale United Methodist Church, taught Sunday school, was a member of UMW, Mary Martha Circle, the neighborhood birthday club and the senior citizens' group in Brownsdale.
Survivors include two daughters, Barb (Mrs. Darwin) Olson of Byron and Cheryl McCready of St. Charles; five sisters, Waunita Back of Ostrander, Erma Legler of Austin, Rita Blake of Albert Lea, Mary Lou Stewart of Racine and Janice Fortney of Cresco, Iowa; and three brothers, Delmer Taylor of Sun City, Iowa, James Taylor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Mabry Jr. Taylor of Spring Valley.
The funeral was Monday at Brownsdale United Methodist Church with the Rev. Donald Budd officiating. The burial was in Greenwood Cemetery in Brownsdale.
Veron-Czaplewski Funeral Home in Brownsdale was in charge of arrangements.
Ocea Watkins, 93, of Harmony
Ocea Watkins, 93, a longtime Harmony resident, died Tuesday, June 2, 1998, at Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel.
Ocea Seelye was born March 11, 1905, near Lenora, graduated from Harmony High School in 1923 and, after completing normal teacher's training, taught in rural schools for a few years. On March 11, 1930, she married Stanley Watkins in Lanesboro and they made their home in Harmony. She assisted her husband in the management of Clover Farm Store in Harmony for nearly 30 years. Also, they were janitors at the United Methodist Church in Harmony for many years. In 1994, they were grand marshals of the July 4 parade in Harmony. The couple entered Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel in 1995. Mr. Watkins died in 1996.
Survivors include a daughter, Dorothy (Mrs. Robert) Noecker of Clinton, Iowa; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and three stepgreat-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a great-grandchild, a sister and a brother.
Funeral services were Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Harmony with the Rev. Leonard Wildes officiating. Burial was in the Big Spring Cemetery in rural Harmony.
Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Clare Wellik, 74, of Stewartville
Mary Clare Wellik, 74, a longtime Stewartville and Racine-area homemaker, died of cancer Thursday morning, Jan. 22, 1998, at her daughter Karen's home in Rochester. She had been ill 10 months.
Mary Clare Gildner was born May 18, 1923, in Zearing, Iowa. As a small child, she moved with her family to a farm near Newry, Minn., attended an area country grade school and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School. On Feb. 25, 1946, she married Elmer L. Wellik in Grand Meadow and they farmed in the Racine area for a time before moving to Stewartville in 1962. Her husband died March 26, 1991. Mrs. Wellik had lived at her current home since 1991. She was a member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church, St. Jude's Guild, St. Bernard's Council of Catholic Women and the Stewartville American Legion Auxiliary.
Survivors include six daughters, Dorothy, (Mrs. Willis) Hines and Karen (Mrs. Eugene) Jennings, both of Rochester, Colette (Mrs. Glenn) Holst of Lanesboro, Marilyn W. Bandt of Utica, Ruth Wellik of St. Paul and Marie (Mrs. Robert) Fuller of Dodge Center; five sons, Dale of Dodge Center, Richard of Rochester, Gregory and Kevin, both of Stewartville, and John of Racine; 20 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers, Joseph Gildner of Preston and Cyril Gildner of Minneapolis; and a sister, Teresa (Mrs. Wayne) Rauchenstein of Portland, Ore. Two brothers preceded her in death.
A Mass of Christian burial was offered Saturday at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Stewartville with the Rev. Gregory Havel officiating. Burial in the church cemetery.
Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville was in charge of arrangements.
Reuben W. Wendt, 89, of Preston
Reuben W. Wendt, 89, a longtime Preston area farmer, died Sunday evening, Jan. 11, 1998, at the Harmony Community Nursing Home.
Mr. Wendt was born July 14, 1908, in Harmony, the son of Frederick and Martha (Burmeister) Wendt. He was raised in the Big Spring area, rural Harmony, where he attended country and town schools. He farmed with his parents until his marriage to Dorothy Sanden on June 2, 1934, in Lanesboro. The couple made their homes on farms in the Canton and Harmony area until purchasing their farm in Carrolton Township, rural Preston in 1943.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; four sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis of St. Paul, John and Ruth of Fountain, Dick and Diane of Rochester and Steve of Minneapolis; two daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Burhan Turk of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Linda and Doug Wilson of Lodi, Wis.; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Meda Hahn of Rochester.
He was preceded in death by one granddaughter.
Visitation was held Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston. A private family service was held with burial in the Big Springs Cemetery.
The family prefers memorials to be given to the Harmony Community Hospital, Nursing Home and Clinic.
James T. Westphal, 61, Spring Valley native
James T. Westphal, 61, of rural Stewartville, died Monday morning, Jan. 12, 1998, at his home.
Mr. Westphal was born Oct. 15, 1936, in Spring Valley, the son of Theodore and Katherine (Wobke) Westphal. He served with the US Air Force in Germany from 1954 to 1958. He married Alyce Krieger June 9, 1953, in Spring Valley. The couple made their home in Spring Valley, where he worked as a heavy equipment operator in the area. For the last few years they had lived in the Rochester area.
He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Teddie Eskew of Zumbrota, Kris Renaux of Stewartville and Amy Myers of Spring Valley; one son, James of North Pole, Alaska; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Carl of Spring Valley and August of Mabel; and three sisters, Francis Link of Spring Valley, Margaret Thompson of Spring Valley and Mabel Hamersma of Cherry Grove.
He was preceded in death by one sister and five brothers.
The funeral was Thursday at Thauwald Funeral Home in Spring Valley with the Rev. James Ross of Faith United Methodist Church officiating. Burial in Frankford Cemetery in rural Spring Valley.
Paul B. Whalen, 78, of Harmony
Paul B. Whalen, 78, of Harmony, a retired area farmer, died Tuesday, May 19, 1998, at his home.
He was born April 8, 1920, in Winneshiek County, Iowa, and attended area rural schools. From 1941 to 1945, he served in the army and received the Purple Heart. On Nov. 28, 1941, he married Zola Johnson at Plymouth Rock Church. They farmed in Winneshiek County until 1988, when they retired and moved to Harmony.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, David of Harmony and Michael of Burr Oak; two daughters, Nancy Winkler of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Cynthia Loomis of Decorah; 21 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Delone Whalen of St. Peter, Minn., and Lucy Tooke of LaCrosse, Wis.; and four brothers, Joe of Harmony, Edward of Canton, LaVerne of Rochester and Larry of Marion. A daughter and two brothers preceded him in death.
Funeral services were Friday at St. Agnes Church in Plymouth Rock, rural Cresco, Iowa, with the Rev. Michael Tauke officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony was in charge of arrangements.
Elbertus H. "Bert" White, 88, of Mabel
Elbertus H. "Bert" White, 88, a lifelong Mabel resident, died Monday, May 18, 1998, at Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel.
He was born July 30, 1909, in Mabel to J.C. and Amy (Tollefson) White. He graduated from Mabel High School and attended the University of Minnesota and Carlton College. He served in the United States Navy from March 1945 to February 1946. On Jan. 6, 1935, he married Edna B. Johnson. She died on Jan. 23, 1977. He was an officer and director of the First National Bank of Mabel for 50 years before his retirement in 1980. He was a member of Newburg United Methodist Church in rural Mabel, Mabel Business Association, Hesper-Mabel Steam Engine Committee, Mabel Sportsman's Club, American Legion, Lions Club, Gamehaven Council Boy Scouts, Caledonia Masonic Lodge, Rochester Scottish Rite and Osman Shrine Temple.
Survivors include two sons, John (Pam) of Minneapolis and Charles (Ann) of Edina, Minn.; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and friend and companion, Lois Knuth of Mabel. He was preceded in death by infant twin sons, a granddaughter, a grandson, one brother, Clifton and one sister, Lois Danielson.
Funeral services were Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Mabel with the Rev. Leonard Wildes officiating. Burial was in Newburg Methodist Cemetery in rural Mabel.
Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel was in charge of arrangements.
Lois Williams, 74, sister of Hesper man
Lois Valborg Williams, 74, of Washington, Iowa, died Thursday, July 2, 1998, at Mercy Hospital at Iowa City after a short illness.
She was born May 20, 1924, to Carl and Ida (Josvanger) Selness in Hesper, Iowa. She attended Hesper grade school and graduated from Mabel High School. She attended one year of college at Winona State Teacher's College and two summers at Luther College. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church and its circle, was active in her church choir and the church bell choir. A homemaker, she taught two years of country school near Hesper and for four years at Denmark, Iowa. She also cooked for the Y's Men's club and Lion's club for several years and was a teachers aide for seven years at Washington Junior High School and a chiropractor's assistant for seven years.
Mrs. Williams is survived by her husband, Glen, of Washington, Iowa; two daughters, Elaine of Marradi, Italy, Lorraine Williams of Florence, Italy; three sons, Russ of Washington, Iowa, Ray of Minneapolis and Randy of Little Rock, Ark.; five grandchildren and a twin brother, Lowell Selness, of Hesper. Her parents, one brother and one sister preceded her in death.
Funeral services were Monday at United Presbyterian Church in Washington, Iowa, with the Rev. Ron McMenamin and Rev. James Edwards officiating. Burial was in Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington.
Jones and Eden Funeral Home in Washington, Iowa, were in charge of arrangements.
Arne M. Windfeldt, 77, of Austin
Arne M. Windfeldt, 77, of Austin, died unexpectedly at his home of natural causes June 1, 1998.
He was born to Anne Marie Christine (Madsen) and Peter Windfeldt on June 16, 1920, in Viola Center, Iowa. He attended school in Viola Center, graduating in 1938, after which he attended a trade school in Lake City, Iowa, where he studied sheet metal. He moved to Baltimore, Md., and worked for Glen L. Martin, an airplane factory. He transferred to Omaha, Neb., and married Delephine Schoon on Feb. 13, 1943. He served in World War II from March of 1944 until October, 1946, stationed in the Philippine Islands as a sergeant in the Air Force. After the war he worked in the family grocery store in Viola Center. They relocated to Austin in 1952, where he worked as a salesman for Gambles Hardware Store until 1956, when he transferred to Gamble's in Portage, Wis. In 1960 he moved back to Austin and because a real estate broker for United Business Brokers. They moved to Peterson, Minn., in 1974, where he had a hobby farm as well as his brokerage work. In 1987 he retired and they returned to Austin. His hobbies included woodworking, farming, camping and building his own boat. He always liked to keep busy.
Survivors include his wife; daughters and sons-in-law, Cynthia and E. Michael House of Hudson, Ohio, Janis and Craig Dugas of Roseville, Minn..; son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Janet Windfeldt of Apple Valley, Minn.; sisters, Wilma Keyes of LaGrange, Ill., Verla Mae and Frank Hess of Glenwood Springs, Colo.; brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Mary Windfeldt of Evergreen, Colo.; eight grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and one brother.
Funeral services were Thursday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Austin with the Rev. Don Deines officiating. Military rites were by VFW Post 1216.
Memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association Minnesota Affiliate, 4701 West 77 St., Edina, MN 55435.
Worlein Funeral Home in Austin was in charge of arrangements.
Clara J. Wold, 87, of Mabel
Clara J. Wold, 87, of Mabel, died Friday, Aug. 7, 1998, at the LaCrescent Health Care Center in LaCrescent where she had been a resident for a short time.
She was born on Jan. 7, 1911, in Iola, Wis., to Andrew and Severine Walstad. She lived in Chippewa and LaCrosse, Wis., until she married Perley C. Wold in Decorah on Nov. 21, 1946. The couple moved to Mabel where Mrs. Wold was a long-time employee of the Herzog Drug Store in Mabel until 1976 when they retired and moved to Trempealeau, Wis. Mr. Wold died in 1986 and then Mrs. Wold moved back to Mabel in 1989.
She is survived by a daughter, Pearl (Mrs. Robert) Leisgang of Trempealeau, Wis.; 11 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a grandson, three sisters and one brother.
Graveside services were held Monday at the Mabel Lutheran Cemetery in Mabel with the Rev. Lloyd Menke officiating.
Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel was in charge of arrangements.
Judith A. York, 55, sister to local women
Judith A. York, 55, a homemaker of Rochester, died of cancer on Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.
Judith A. Bush was born Aug. 6, 1943, in Winona. In June of 1963, she married Ralph York in Rochester. He preceded her in death. Mrs. York had lived in Rochester since moving from the Hayfield area in 1969.
Survivors include two sons, Mike of Rushford and Paul of Chatfield; five grandchildren; her mother, Elaine Konkel of Winona; three sisters, Joyce Finley of Rushford, Diane (Mrs. Merle) Stamer of Lanesboro and Kathy (Mrs. Paul) Bostrack of Whalan; and two brothers, John of Rochester and Leonard of Chatfield. Her father preceded her in death.
Funeral services were Wednesday at Ranfranz Funeral Home. Burial was in the Calvary Cemetery.
Ranfranz Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Robert D. Young, 73, formerly of Canton
Robert Dean "Bob" Young, 73, Eau Claire, Wis., died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998, at the Claremont Nursing Home.
He was born June 16, 1924 to Charles and Lora (Masters) Young in Canton. Following graduation from Canton High School in 1942 he attended Luther College, where he played in the Luther College concert band and sang with the Schola Cantorum. Bob entered the U.S. Army in 1942, was stationed in Hawaii and was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of First Sergeant. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1950 with a degree in dairy science.
He married LaVonne Sprague in 1950. They were later divorced. He worked for Land O' Lakes from 1950 to 1953. He then worked in quality control with Kraft General Foods for 33 years until his retirement in 1986.
A long-time member of the Masons prior to moving to Eau Claire, he was honored to receive his 50-year membership pin from representatives of Sanctuary Lodge #347 F&AM this past year. He was a life member of VFW Post #7050 in Melrose, Minn., and sang with the Barbershoppers when he lived in Champaign, Ill.
He married Darlene E. (Webster) Holtorf on Sept. 11, 1991, in Eau Claire.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Bruce (Liz) Young of Wayzata, Minn., and James Young of Minneapolis; a daughter, Kathryn Young of Richfield, Minn.; four step sons, Jay (Jinny) Holtorf of Houston, Texas, Michael (Karla) Holtorf of Eau Claire, Scott (Debra) Holtorf of Brown Deer, Wis., and Mark Holtorf of Stephenville, Texas; four grandchildren; seven step grandchildren and one step great-grandson; a sister, Margaret Albrecht of Brainerd, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Charles.
