Kenneth Anderson Sr., formerly of Mabel
Kenneth E. Anderson, Sr., 85, formerly of Mabel, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, in Maple Manor Nursing Home of natural causes.
He was born Feb. 15, 1914, in Newburg. He was reared in the Mabel and Newburg area and moved with his parents to Decorah to farm in the Decorah/Ridgeway area and moved in 1944 to Waterloo, Iowa, where they owned and operated the Waterloo-Decorah Freight Lines until 1949. They moved to Rochester, where he was employed as a truck driver for B. L. White and Rochester Dairy until 1953. They moved to Stewartville in 1951, and after 1953, they farmed in that area until retiring in 1989. He moved to Maple Manor in 1992. His wife is a homemaker. He served on the High Forest Town Board for several years and was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville and a former member of the Eagles Club.
Also surviving are a son, Kenneth E. Jr. of Zumbrota; two daughters, Eileen (Mrs. Albert) Trueman of Bullhead City, Ariz. and Ethel (Mrs. Thomas) Joswick of Rochester; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and a brother, Harold Anderson of Bend, Ore. He was preceded in death by one brother, one sister and a grandson.
Funeral services were Friday at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville with the Rev. Ronald Allen officiating. A graveside service in Calvary Cemetery was held.
Macken Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Larry Anderson, 59, formerly of Preston
Larry G. Anderson, 59, formerly of Preston, died Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999, at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire, Wis.
Mr. Anderson was born Sept. 19, 1939, in Preston, he graduated from Preston High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1957 to 1960. He married Joni Voeltz on Jan. 13, 1962, in Rochester and they lived there until 1970 where he worked for IBM. They moved to Aberdeen, S.D., in 1970 and in 1975 they moved to Eau Claire, where they resided. He worked in computer software sales for Flash 4.com in Black River, Wis.
He is survived by his wife; one daughter, Stacy Ginsback of St. Paul; two sons, Douglas and Christopher, both of Eau Claire; his father, Amos Anderson of Preston; two sisters, Janice Easthagen of New Hope, Minn., and Patricia Anderson of Preston; one brother, Greg of Burnsville; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen.
A funeral Mass was held on Monday at St. James the Greater Catholic Church in Eau Claire. A graveside service was held on Friday at Crown Hill Cemetery, Preston.
Golden Funeral Home in Eau Claire was in charge of arrangements.
Patricia Lee Anderson, 59, SV native
Patricia Lee Anderson, 59, of Minnetonka, Minn., died Sunday morning, Jan. 17, 1999, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minn., of cancer.
She was born April 14, 1939, in Spring Valley, Minn., the daughter of Vinton and Jennie (Daily) Anderson, and was raised in the Ostrander, Minn., and Spring Valley areas. She graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, with an English and School Library Science degree. Two years in Waukon, Iowa, and a year in Grand Meadow, Minn., were followed by 32 years as an elementary school media specialist with the Minnetonka Public Schools.
Outside of her career she enjoyed travel, reading, Bridge, the Fine Arts, attending sports events and concerts. Her faith in Christ was the sustaining point of her entire life. Her great appreciation of family and friend support was endless.
She is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Jan and Roy Christopherson of Spring Valley; niece and husband, Jodi and Larry Greenstein of Minneapolis, Minn.; nephew Mark Christopherson of Austin, Minn.; special friend, Jerry Sandvick of Brooklyn Park, Minn.; and many cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, aunts and uncles.
A Celebration of Christian Life Service is scheduled at Westwood Lutheran Church, 9001 Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park, Minn., at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999. There will also be a memorial service 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 23, 1999, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Spring Valley with the Rev.'s Jon Olson and Marlene Pankonin co-officiating. Her body has been cremated. Burial of her ashes will be in the Ostrander Cemetery in rural Ostrander.
Friends may call at the church in Spring Valley one hour before services on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society or the Westwood Lutheran Church Library Fund.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Spring Valley is in charge of local arrangements.
Vivian G. Anderson, 80, formerly of Mabel
Vivian G. Anderson, 80, died Feb. 4, 1999.
She was born Oct. 23, 1918, in Tawny. She was raised in Mabel and met her husband, Lawrence, there in 1938. Lawrence and Vivian were married in 1941 and began their family in 1942.
The couple moved to Seattle in 1966. They were members of Crown Lutheran Church for many years and later joined Our Redeemer's Lutheran.
She loved the church and was always willing and happy to help with whatever tasks needed to be done. Her greatest love however, was for her family, and she always generously cared for them. When they were ill, she would stay up late into the night to comfort and care for them. Many times she stayed up to finish sewing Easter outfits or help her daughters with sewing projects. When they had a craving for a favorite meal (and there were lots of them), Vivian loved to put it together.
She is survived by her husband Lawrence of Seattle; son Sylvan Anderson and wife Cilla of Hatfield Heath, England; daughters, Sharon Grace and partner Janet Lee of Minneapolis, Shirley Crawford and husband Danny of Mound, Minn., Lisa Anderson and husband Bruce McDole of Cypress, Texas and Judith Anderson and partner DC of Maple Valley; grandchildren Devin, Sarah and Camilla; great-grandchildren Benjamin and Andreas; a sister Olive Johnson of Vancouver, Wash.; and sister-in-law Naomi Sandi of Reno, Nev.
Funeral service was at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Seattle.
Wiggen and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Ruth I. Baarsch, 82, formerly of SV
Ruth I. Baarsch, 82, died Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, at Cresco Health Care Center, at Cresco, Iowa.
Ruth I. Cleveland was born May 9, 1916, at Webster, S. D. to Luther and Florence Schell Cleveland.
She was married June 13, 1959, at Spring Valley to Dwayne Baarsch, who died in 1981.
She was a housewife and formerly lived at Spring Valley, Chester and Cresco, Iowa.
She is survived by one son, Gene of Chester, Iowa; and a daughter, Delores "Kay" Stokstad, of Oregon, Wis.; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and one great-granddaughter.
Services will be held Friday, Jan. 8, at Hutchins Funeral Home in LeRoy with the Rev. Tom Kolden officiating. Friends may call one hour before services. Interment at Frankford Cemetery in rural Spring Valley.
Henry Bacon, 84, formerly of Mabel
Henry Dexter Bacon, 84, of Palmer, Alaska, died peacefully in his sleep on Jan. 23, 1999, at the Palmer Pioneers Home.
Mr. Bacon was born June 27, 1914, to Ray D. and Emma (Nordenmalm) Bacon. He was raised on a farm in Mabel, the oldest of eight children. He joined the Navy in 1942 and served on a patrol torpedo boat in the Philippines during World War II.
On Jan. 10, 1946, in River Falls, Wis., he married Priscilla Ellen Miller, a Palmer colony daughter who attended nurses training with his sister Helen. After the wedding they drove to Alaska and were employed at the Seward (tuberculosis) Sanitarium.
In 1951 they moved to Palmer, where he worked as a salesman at the Valley Co-op, the first treasurer of the Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, a repairman for Mac's Plumbing and Heating and various other jobs using his general contractors license. In 1964, he bought Mat-Su Supply and helped supply the valley with gardening, feed, building and home-center needs until retirement last year.
According to his family, Bacon was known for his honesty, being a hard worker, having a quick wit and great intellect. He could calculate the amount of lumber needed for a project, whether hobby horse or home, in a matter of minutes. Pricing took a little longer. He loved animals, cows, pigs, horses, poultry and was always taking in stray cats and dogs. Bacon was a Master Gardener and he always shared the produce. His garden was a favorite of the tour bus drivers. Many people enjoyed his love for making candy, especially chocolate-covered cherries at Christmas. He loved football games, playing cribbage and pinochle, live theater, classical music and going to his grandchildren's concerts.
Bacon is survived by his wife, Priscilla of Palmer; brothers, George, Roger, Chuck and Bob of Minnesota; sisters, Helen Richmond of Oklahoma and Dorothy Zleisy of California; sons, Neil of Palmer, Ray of New Jersey and Guy of Lake Chelan, Wash.; daughter Betsy Bonnell of Fairbanks and 12 grandchildren.
A memorial service was at the United Protestant (Presbyterian) Church of Palmer. The Rev. Henry Guinotte officiated.
Funeral arrangements were made by Kehl's Palmer Mortuary.
The family asks that any memorial donations be sent to the American Cancer Society, 402 W. Fireweed Lane, Suite 204, Anchorage, Alaska, 99503.
Ralph M. Baker, 76, father of SV man
Ralph M. Baker, 76, of Dodge Center, a farmer, died Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1999, at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, where he had resided nine hours.
Born Sept. 29, 1923, in Mantorville, he grew up in the area and graduated from Mantorville High School in 1941. On Jan. 17, 1943, he married Phyllis DeYoung in Kasson. She died in 1954. He married Carole Thiel July 23, 1955, in St. Paul and she survives. Mr. Baker farmed in rural Kasson until 1961 and then in the Wasioja area.
In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Robert of Spring Valley; two daughters, Bonnie (Mrs. Michael) Arndt of Rochester and Kimberly (Mrs. Delmer) Kiefer of Kasson; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a grandson, a sister and a brother.
A memorial service was held Saturday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Kasson with the Rev. Mark Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Kasson at a later date.
Dibble Funeral Home in Kasson was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to Seasons Hospice or a charity of the donor's choice.
Manford Bakke, 65, formerly of Lanesboro
Manford Francis Bakke, 65, of Lindstrom, Minn., formerly of Lanesboro, died Sunday, March 14, 1999.
He was born May 27, 1933, in Fillmore County and grew up in the Lanesboro area. On June 5, 1954, he married Donna Lou Nagy. From 1956 to 1961, he served in the Army. Owner and operator of M. Bakke Inc., a masonry business for 37 years, he founded the firm in 1959 in St. Paul and moved the business to Lindstrom in 1979. He was active in the Minnesota Concrete and Masonry Association and served as its president three terms, served on the Lindstrom City Council and City Planning Committee and had been active in the Lions Club since 1976. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran church and enjoyed traveling, wood carving and playing cribbage.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Cindy (Mrs. Roger) Kaske of Chisago City, Minn.; three grandchildren; his mother, Amy Bakke; a brother, Robert; and two sisters, Darlene (Mrs. Orvey) Peterson and Mardella (Mrs. Jack) Lannon. His father and a son preceded him in death.
Funeral services were Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lindstrom with the Revs. Don Oldenburg and Tom Nielson co-officiating. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery in Lindstrom.
Grandstrand Funeral Home in Lindstrom was in charge of arrangements.
Wilhelmina Barth, 96, formerly of Preston
Wilhelmina "Willa" Barth, 96, of LaCrosse, Wis., formerly of Preston, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 1999, at the Harmony Nursing Home in Harmony.
Wilhelmina Thompson was born May 8, 1902, in Norway Township, Fillmore County, the daughter of Nels and Augusta (Lange) Thompson. She was raised in the area and later the family moved to Preston where she worked at the Ferdinandt Furniture Store.
She married Elmer H. Barth on Oct. 23, 1921, at Preston and the couple farmed in the Preston area. Her husband died Oct. 12, 1955. In 1958, she moved to Harmony to assist with the care of her father until 1960, when she made her home in Caledonia. In 1963, she moved and lived in LaCrosse until entering the Harmony Nursing Home in 1998. She was a former member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church (now Christ Lutheran), and active in the ladies organizations and church choir. She was a present member of Trinity Lutheran Church in LaCrosse. Her hobbies were gardening, sewing, painting and attending auction sales as well as being active in all Ping Manor social activities.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Ervin and Bootie Barth of Caledonia, and a sister, Muriel Sheehan of Lake Crystal, Minn. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer, four brothers and three sisters.
Funeral services were held Saturday at Christ Lutheran Church in Preston with the Revs. Joe Schularick and James Rushton co-officiating. Spring burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery in Preston.
Thauwald Funeral Home of Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Ernest J. Bates, 87, of Harmony
Ernest J. Bates, 87, of Harmony and formerly of the Mabel and Preston areas, died Sunday, May 23, 1999, at the Harmony Nursing Home in Harmony.
He was born on March 5, 1912, in Mabel, Minn., to Granville and Delia (Miner) Bates. He attended Mabel schools and on Jan. 2, 1935 he married Geraldine Bryant in Harmony. The couple farmed in the Mabel area until 1945 when Ernest began hauling milk. In 1953 they moved to Preston and then to Washington state in 1966. In 1980 they returned to Preston. Geraldine passed away Dec. 27, 1990. Ernest became a resident at the Harmony Nursing Home in 1993 and then married Leolla Windler in November 1997. She later passed away.
He is survived by three daughters, Susan (Mrs. Vernon) Foss of Rochester, Minn., Sonja (Mrs. Burton) Hoag of Racine, Minn., and Joyce (Mrs. Ernie) Lorette of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; two sons Eugene (Dorothy) of Clear Lake, Wash., and Kevin (Angela) of Preston, Minn.; twelve grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; five sisters, Nellie (Mrs. Donald) Stroud of Mabel, Phyllis Burkholder of Harmony, Zola (Mrs. Merlin) Hoiness of Harmony, Edith Wood of Nobelsville, Ind., and Helen Scheevel of Donna, Texas; and two brothers, Floyd (Hazel) of Rush City, Minn., and Manville (Alta) of Harmony. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Geraldine; his second wife Leolla; and two sons, John and Vincent.
Funeral services will be 1 pm on Friday, May 28, 1999, at the Mabel United Methodist Church, in Mabel. Burial will be in the Hesper Public Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, May 27, at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel and one hour prior to services at the church.
Jerry A. Bates, 59, Grand Meadow native
Jerry A. Bates, 59, of Wichita Falls, Texas, died Dec. 3, 1999, in Bethania Hospital in Wichita Falls.
He was born Dec. 22, 1939, in Grand Meadow. On Nov. 1, 1963, he married Donna Klock in Mason City, Iowa.
He served in the armed forces as an FA radio mechanic in Korea and Germany. He was employed at IBM in Rochester for 26 years before his retirement. He was a member of Dexter United Methodist Church and served on the Dexter Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years. After moving to Wichita Falls in 1993, he became a member of Present Evangel Temple.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Kevin of Wichita Falls and Brian of Byron; a daughter, Roberta "Bobbie" Weller of Henderson, Nev.; a sister, Janice Schwanke of Rochester; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, a great-grandson and a daughter.
A memorial service was held Saturday at Dexter United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Thomas Wilson officiating. Burial was in Grandview Cemetery in Austin, with military rites by American Legion Post 91 and VFW Post 1216.
Worlein Funeral Home in Austin was in charge of arrangements.
Doris Beall, 78, formerly of Preston
Doris Beall, 78, of Hazel Green, Wis., died Aug. 4, 1999, in an automobile accident near Hazel Green.
Doris Dougherty was born July 8, 1921, in Fountain, the daughter of Anna and Samuel Dougherty. She graduated from Preston High School in 1940 and lived in Preston and Rochester, where she was employed by Northwest Bell Telephone. Before moving to Hazel Green in 1969 she had also lived in Seattle, Wash., Los Angeles and San Diego, Calif., Duluth, Minn., and Honolulu, Hawaii.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas; one daughter, Laurie (Mrs. Robert) Toth of San Diego; one grandson; and one sister, Colleen Long of Jerome, Idaho. A sister and four brothers preceded her in death.
Services and burial were in Dubuque, Iowa, on Aug. 10.
William Coager 'Buggs' Belden, 73, SV native
William Coager "Buggs" Belden, 73, of Austin died Friday, July 16, 1999, at the home of his brother, with whom he resided. His death followed a brief illness with cancer.
He was born Jan. 6, 1926, in Spring Valley. He served in the Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion.
He worked for Hill Roofing for 32 years.
Survivors include three brothers, Otis Belden of Minneapolis and Harold and Orpheus Belden of Austin. He was preceded in death by three brothers and seven sisters.
Services were held Tuesday at Mayer Funeral Home with the Rev. Virgil Duellman officiating. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery with graveside rites by American Legion Post 91.
Harriet Benjamin, sister of local residents
Harriet "Hattie" Benjamin, 69, of Bella Vista, Ark., formerly of southeastern Minnesota, died Saturday, Nov. 6, 1999.
Harriet McKay was born Aug. 4, 1930, in Lanesboro, and graduated from the Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester in 1952. She was employed in the nursing profession most of her working life. She and her husband, William E. Benjamin, retired to Bella Vista in 1990. She did volunteer work for a hospice in Bella Vista.
Survivors include her husband; five daughters, Kathy (Mrs. Jim) Olson of Mankato, Connie Benjamin, and Karen (Mrs. Don) Nagel, both of Rochester, Sally Benjamin of St. Paul and Christy (Mrs. Mark) Skinner of Eau Claire, Wis.; seven grandchildren; a great-grandson; three sisters, Mrs. Frances Fried of Tucson, Ariz., Mrs. Marjorie Johnson of Silver Bay, Minn., and Mrs. Marilyn Ludens of Harmony; and a brother, Chester McKay of Harmony. Two sisters preceded her in death.
A memorial service was held at Bella Vista Community Church.
Dale R. Benson, 69, Grand Meadow
Dale R. Benson of Grand Meadow died early Friday, June 11, 1999, at his home from cancer.
He was born Oct. 26, 1929, in Clarion, Iowa, and graduated from the Alexander, Iowa, high school. He married Darlene Rierson in Belmond, Iowa, on Feb. 14, 1951. He served in the Korean War, earning the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the United Nations Service Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. He entered the United States Army Reserves on March 29, 1953, and remained in the reserves until June 28, 1959. In 1953, the couple moved to Grand Meadow where they farmed and he was an insurance adjuster for Spring Valley Mutual Insurance and for Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. He and his son also started the Benson Construction Co.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Denny of Grand Meadow and Dave of Rochester; one daughter, Darcy (Mrs. Terry) Hanken of Grand Meadow; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four brothers, Max of Houston, Minn., Rex of Plano, Texas, Reggie of Grand Meadow and Duane of Lanesboro, and two sisters, Dixie (Mrs. Ron) Mathews of Rhinelander, Wis., and Valjean (Mrs. Tom) Thorsen of Grand Meadow.
The funeral was Monday at the Grand Meadow Lutheran Church with the Rev. Wayne Vogt officiating. Burial in Grand Meadow Cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Grand Meadow was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the Big Jim Richardson Fund, or the Grand Meadow Lutheran Church.
LaVonne 'Bonnie' Benson, 67, of Rochester
LaVonne M. "Bonnie" Benson, 67, of Rochester and formerly of Mabel, died Friday, Dec. 17, 1999, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester from injuries received in an automobile accident.
She was born April 7, 1932, in Hesper to Judene and Mildred (Anderson) Aasum. She attended and graduated from the Mabel High School in 1950. In 1953, she married Jimmie Benson at the Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper. They were divorced in 1970. She lived in the Mabel area until 1982 when she lived in various places until moving to Rochester in 1994 where she has resided since. She was a member of the Hesper Lutheran Church and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, reading, sewing and cooking.
She is survived by two sons, Randy (Sandy) and Rick (Tracy) both of Mabel; three daughters, Rosilee (Mrs. Bruce) Brock of Lake Charles, La., Rosslyn (Mrs. Chris) Tranaas of Fountain Hills, Ariz., and Lisa (Mrs. Mike) Johnson of Canton; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers, David of Rochester and Llewellyn of Mabel; and three sisters, Mavis (Mrs. Ronald) Kolman and Elaine (Mrs. Harold) Sand both of Mabel, and Priscilla (Mrs. Gerald) Redwing of Hastings, Minn.
Funeral services were Wednesday, Dec. 22, at the Hesper Lutheran Church in Hesper with the Rev. Hans Floan officiating. Burial was in the Hesper Lutheran Cemetery.
Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel was in charge of arrangements.
