Sylvia C. Prokes, 86, of Harmony
Sylvia C. Prokes, 86, of Harmony died at Green Lea Manor Nursing Home in Mabel on Jan. 7, 1999.
She was born on Sept. 17, 1912, at Jackson, Minn., the daughter of Clarence and Sarah (Elbrum) Sether. She graduated from the Red Wing Seminary. On May 2, 1932, she was united in marriage to Ray Prokes in Jackson. They lived in Jackson before moving to LaCrosse and from there to Rochester, where she worked in the state hospital for more than 25 years. They moved from Rochester to Harmony where they resided until ill health forced them to move to the Green Lea Manor Nursing Home.
She is survived by her husband, Ray, at the Green Lea Manor; a daughter, Janet Jenkins of Lakewood, Calif., and one son, Mark Prokes of LaCrosse, Wis., along with 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, and one sister, Clara Delane of California. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Clarence Sether, and four sisters, Myrtle, Blanche, Palma, and Harriet.
The funeral was Tuesday at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony, with burial in Grand View Memorial Gardens in Rochester.
Lindstrom Funeral Home of Harmony was in charge of arrangements.
Amy E. Quackenbush, 102, formerly of SV
Amy E. Quackenbush, 102, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998, at Our Lady of Angels Nursing Home in Cannon Falls where she had resided since March of 1989.
Amy Eunice Tabor was born Sept. 16, 1896, to James Tabor and Mariah Jane Jones Tabor. She attended country schools and after the eighth grade she moved in with the superintendent so she could attend school in Spring Valley. She helped with the superintendent's eight children and did housekeeping in turn for her room and board. In her tenth grade she moved with the superintendent to Brown's Valley, Minn., and attended school there. After the tenth grade her father thought she had had enough education for a woman and she was told to come home.
At the age of 15 she met her husband-to-be at an ice cream and strawberry social. On Sept. 14, 1914, she married Lambert W. Quackenbush in a simple ceremony at the Congregational Church parsonage. After their marriage, Lambert and Amy moved to a small farm and started their life together. To this union seven children were born: Virginia, Dorothy, Lyman, Robert, Constance, Larry and Gloria.
During the Depression they moved into town and Lambert went to work for the W.P.A., which was a government subsidized program. In 1933 they moved back to a small farm and in 1947 they moved back to town for the last time. Amy, at that time, went to work for the local dry cleaner as a silk finisher.
She is survived by one son, Robert and his wife, Arlean of Austin; three daughters, Virginia Leutink of Northfield, Constance Andre of Lincoln, Neb., and Gloria, (Mrs. Larry) Strain of Cannon Falls. She is also survived by a daughter-in-law, Patty Quackenbush of Huntington, W. Va.; 17 grand-children; 22 great-grandchildren and many great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1964; two sons, Lyman and Larry; and a daughter, Dorothy; also two grandchildren, 10 brothers and four sisters.
Services were held Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley with the Rev. James Ross officiating. Suzanne Eberle was the organist. Burial was in Frankford Cemetery near Spring Valley.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley was in charge of arrangements.
Arthur Quarstad, 87, formerly of Lanesboro
Arthur Quarstad, 87, a longtime Pilot Mound area farmer, died Saturday, Jan. 9, 1999, at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield where he had resided since July 1997.
He was born July 2, 1911, in Lanesboro and grew up there. During World War II he served in the Army with overseas duty in Africa, Italy and France. He began farming in the Pilot Mound area in 1945. In addition to farming, he was a house painter and finisher. He was a member of the Lanesboro American Legion for more than 50 years and a member of Pilot Mound Lutheran Church where he held several offices.
Survivors include a brother, Harold of rural Lanesboro; and a sister, Esther (Mrs. Arden) Nepstad of Lanesboro. He was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.
The funeral was held Wednesday at Pilot Mound Lutheran Church with the Rev. Lynn Zaffke officiating. Military rites were conducted by the Lanesboro American Legion. Spring burial will be in Pilot Mound Lutheran Cemetery.
Riley Funeral home in Chatfield handled arrangements.
Isabel 'Ida' Sophia Queensland, 103, GM
Isabel "Ida" Sophia Queensland, 103, of Grand Meadow died Saturday evening at the Grand Meadow Health Care Center where she had resided for the past 4 1/2 years.
Isabel Sophia Olson was born April 20, 1896, in Iowa County, Iowa, near Marengo, Iowa, to Bernette Olson and Helen Iverson Olson. She was baptized in 1896 at the First Lutheran Church of Conroy, Iowa, and confirmed in the same church a few years later. On Jan. 30, 1918, she was united in marriage to Christian Queensland at the home of her parents in Story City, Iowa. To this union seven children were born: Helen, Clarence, Karl, Mildred, Harold, Dorothy and Ione. The couple farmed in various places in Iowa before purchasing their farm south of Grand Meadow in 1941. They resided there until 1972 when they moved into Grand Meadow. Chris and Isabel celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Jan. 30, 1978. He died the following year on Dec. 27, 1979. She remained in her home until 1986 when she started spending her winters at the Cedars in Austin. She entered the Cedars permanently on Oct. 1, 1990. On Oct. 7, 1994, she entered the Meadow Manor Nursing Home, now known as the Grand Meadow Health Care Center.
She was a member of the Grand Meadow Lutheran Church and its WELCA, having served as food chairman in past years. In addition to being a homemaker she enjoyed crocheting, embroidery, quilting, baking and cooking.
She is survived by one son, Harold, and wife, Marjorie Queensland of Ostrander; three daughters, Mildred Jech of Austin, Dorothy Ferguson of Ostrander, and Ione and husband, Dale Wendorff of Stewartville, Minn.; 21 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren; two daughters-in-law, Carol and Audrey Queensland, both of Grand Meadow; one sister, Beulah Weick of Grand Meadow Health Care Center; and one sister-in-law, Ruby Olson of St. Cloud, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one daughter, Helen Kloster; two sons, Clarence and Karl Queensland; three sons-in-law, Harry Kloster, LeVerne Jech and Darrell Ferguson; six brothers and three sisters. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the Grand Meadow Lutheran Church in Grand Meadow with the Rev. Wayne Vogt officiating.
Burial will be in the Bear Creek Cemetery, Frankford Township, Mower County, Minn. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Grand Meadow and one hour prior at the church.
Charles Radechel, 68, Preston native
A memorial service for Charles Radechel, 68, of Clarion, Iowa, was held at the First Lutheran Church, Clarion on Monday. He died Wednesday, June 23, 1999, of cancer after a very short illness.
He was born Feb. 11, 1931, at Preston. He attended school at Wykoff and Winona and graduated from Winona State College. He married Ruth Krage of Winona May 28, 1955. He taught school at Clarion for 26 years.
He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Kris Cawthorne, Des Moines, and Ann Marie Radechel of Clarion; two sons, Scott and Craig of Clarion; and nine grandchildren. Other survivors include three sisters, Ann Bergan, Rochester, Marion Bicknese, Chatfield and Addy Murtaugh, St. Paul.
He was preceded in death by two sisters and one brother, John Pesek, a former Wykoff resident.
Jack Rainey, 70, father of Lanesboro woman
Jack L. Rainey, 70, of Rushford, a former engraver for Lewiston Monument, died Sunday evening, Nov. 28, 1999, at Gundersen-Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse, Wis.
Born Aug. 4, 1929, in St. Charles, he grew up south of St. Charles and attended St. Charles schools. He and his first wife, the former Carol Larimer, were divorced. On Feb. 14, 1989, he married Dixie Cook Peters. She survives. From 1950 to 1955 he served in the Navy with duty on a landing ship tank in the Pacific during the Korean War. After his discharge from the Navy, he returned to St. Charles. He later lived in Lewiston for a number of years and in Altura before moving to Rushford. He was an engraver for Lewiston Monument for 25 years and also worked at the Altura Turkey Plant. He enjoyed the outdoors.
In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Debra Fluker of Lexington, Md., and Diana Johnson of Lanesboro; four stepsons, Grant Peters of Red Wing, Nathan Peters of Lake City, Brad Peters of Goodhue and Troy Peters of Union City, Calif.; three grandchildren; a great-grandson; a brother, Jim of St. Charles; and a sister, Vesta (Mrs. Charlie) Case of Reads Landing. A brother and a stepson preceded him in death.
The funeral was Wednesday at Hoff Funeral Homes-Lewiston Chapel, with the Rev. Richard Jones of the Lewiston Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial was in Saratoga Cemetery south of St. Charles.
Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association.
DeLores M. Ramaker, 79, SV native
DeLores M. Ramaker, 79, of Rochester, a retired Rochester Methodist Hospital employee, died Saturday, Aug. 21, 1999, at Bear Creek Care and Rehabilitation Center.
DeLores Mabel Groby was born Feb. 7, 1920, in Spring Valley and grew up here. On April 8, 1938, she married Clair Glynn and they were later divorced. She married Carroll Ramaker on Nov. 3, 1949, in Spring Valley. A counselor at the Red Wing Reformatory, he died June 22, 1970. She had resided in Rochester since 1957. She worked at Waters-Conley for five years and then in the housekeeping department at Rochester Methodist Hospital for 12 years. She was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Phyllis (Mrs. Jerome) DeBus and Patricia (Mrs. Allan) King, both of Rochester, Clarice (Mrs. Larry) Drinkall of McGregor, Minn., and Judy Carpenter of Chatfield; three sons, Dennis Glynn of Weston, Fla., Donald Glynn of Jacksonville, Fla., and Raymond Ramaker of Rochester; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; two sisters, Dorothy Simonson of Austin and Audrey (Mrs. Lloyd) Metcalf of Rochester; and a brother, Robert Groby of New Mexico. A daughter and two brothers preceded her in death.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Ranfranz Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Elaine Siemsen officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens.
Friends may call an hour before the service Wednesday at the funeral home.
Duane G. Ramaker, 71, Cherry Grove
Duane G. Ramaker, 71, of Cherry Grove, died Monday, Sept. 20, 1999, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.
Duane Garret Ramaker was born Dec. 11, 1927, in Fillmore County to Arthur and Winnie Ramaker. He attended rural schools through the 8th grade and later joined the United States Navy and served on the U.S.S. McCaffery.
On Dec. 16, 1950, he was united in marriage to Hariette Mae Johnson and they farmed in the Cherry Grove area until 1954 before moving to Waterloo, where he worked in management at the Rath packing plant. Before retiring and moving back to Cherry Grove in 1990, they spent a short time in West Monroe, La., where he also worked at a meat packing plant.
He is survived by one son, Craig and family, Jolene and sons Cooper and Jackson of Rochester; one daughter, Deanna (Mrs. Roger) Povilus and children, Victoria and Sam of Boulder, Colo.; and one sister, Janice Hovey of LeRoy, Minn. He was preceded in death by his wife, a sister and two brothers.
Funeral services were Thursday at Cherry Grove United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mark Rader officiating.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley was in charge of arrangements.
Claudine Reed, 89, formerly of Canton
Claudine Margaret Reed, 89, of Urne, Wis., formerly of Canton, died Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1999, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center in Wabasha.
She was born Claudine Margaret Steen on Jan. 29, 1909, in Harmony. She attended Canton schools, graduated from Canton High School in 1926 and attended County Normal School in Spring Grove. On June 5, 1928, she married George Reed in Harmony. They lived in Canton until the mid-1930s and then moved to Buffalo County, Wis. Her husband died March 5, 1992. She was a member of Lyster Lutheran Church and was active in its women's groups.
Survivors include three sons, George of Hudson, Wis., Cherlyn (Chuck) of Chippewa Falls, Wis., and Richard of Lake City; two daughters, Valeria (Mrs. Kenneth) Olson of Nelson and Rebecca (Mrs. Gary) Isaacson of North St. Paul; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. A sister and three brothers preceded her in death.
The funeral was held Saturday, at Lyster Lutheran Church in rural Nelson, Wis. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Goodrich Funeral Home of Durand, Wis., was in charge of arrangements.
Anna K. Reese, 95, formerly of Preston
Anna K. Reese, 95, of West Salem, Wis., formerly of Preston, died Thursday morning, Oct. 14, 1999, at Mulder Health Care Facility in West Salem.
Anna Kipp was born Jan. 9, 1904, in Festina, Iowa, the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Noinbaue) Kipp. She was raised in the Festina and St. Lucas, Iowa, areas. She married Clement Steffes and the couple were later divorced. She married Ralph Reese in LaCrosse, Wis., in 1947. The couple made their home in a number of communities until moving to Preston in 1957. Besides being a homemaker, she worked at the Preston Packaging Plant until her retirement in 1969. Mr. Reese died in 1979. She became a resident of the Mulder Health Care Facility in 1991.
She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Andrew Steffes of LaCrosse, Charles and Joan Steffes of Marion, Iowa, Clem and Judy Steffes of LaCrescent,. and Raymond Reese of Preston; three daughters and son-in-law, Gertrude Johnson of LaCrescent, Bernadelle Yirkovsky of Marion, Iowa, and Anastasia and Don Jensen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 21 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and 27 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by both husbands; one daughter, Margie Ingvalson of LaCrescent, and six sisters.
The funeral was held Monday at Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston with the Rev. Thomas Loomis of St. Catholic Church in Preston officiating. Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery in Preston.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Lena M. Rehling, 90, Wykoff native
Lena M. Rehling, 90, a former Chatfield homemaker, died Friday, Jan. 8, 1999, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester where she had been a patient one day. She had resided at Spring Valley Care Center the past 4 1/2 years.
Lena M. Evers was born Feb. 10, 1908, in Wykoff, graduated from Wykoff High School and lived in Fillmore County all her life. On Sept. 24, 1930, she married Otto Rehling in Wykoff, and they lived in the Wykoff area until moving to rural Chatfield in 1945. Her husband died Nov. 22, 1973.
Survivors include a son, Orville of Warrenton, Va.; a daughter, Phyllis Lee of Austin; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Clara Luce of Wykoff. She was preceded in death by a son and two brothers.
The funeral was held Tuesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatfield, with the Rev. Clark Jaeger officiating. Spring burial will be in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Wykoff.
Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield was in charge of arrangements.
Charles 'Leo' Reilly, 86, formerly of Preston
Charles "Leo" Reilly, 86, of Hastings, Minn., formerly of Preston, died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999, at Augustana Home in Hastings.
He was born June 15, 1913, on the family farm near Varina, Iowa, where he farmed and did road construction in the Fonda area for many years. In 1959 he moved to Preston, where he farmed. Before entering Augustana Home one-and-a-half years ago, he lived in Chester Heights, Minn., for 25 years and enjoyed gardening.
Survivors include four sons, Thomas of Massena, Iowa, John of Boise, Idaho, Anthony of Hastings, Minn., and Christopher of Twin Falls, Ida.; two daughters, Marylee Huntington of Buhl, Ida., and Brenda Cross of Glendale, Ariz; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and one sister, Mary Reilly of Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was preceded in death by two sons, one grandson and three brothers.
The funeral was Tuesday at OLGC Catholic Church in Fonda, Iowa.
Arrangements were by Mahaney Funeral Home, Fonda.
Alton LeRoy Reinsvold, 61, Newburg native
Alton LeRoy Reinsvold, 61, of Rochester and a retired IBM employee, died of complications of Cushings syndrome, Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999, at Saint Marys Hospital. He had been ill several months.
He was born March 30, 1938, on a farm west of Newburg in Newburg Township, Fillmore County. From February 1961 to December 1964 he served in the Air Force as a nuclear weapons specialist and was stationed in Texas, Colorado, Minnesota and Kunsan, South Korea. On June 17, 1981, he married Kathleen Susan (Rissanen-Draves) at Mount Olive Lutheran Church. She is a homemaker. He lived in Mabel from 1938 to 1951, in St. Paul from 1951 to 1953, then in Harmony until 1956, and in Endicott, N.Y., before moving to Rochester in 1957. An employee of IBM from 1956 to 1991, he was a senior chemical lab specialist, and from 1992 until the time of his death worked part time at Shopko. He was a member of Mount Olive Lutheran Church and AARP, a charter member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and served on church councils and on the Valhalla Association board.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Shawn G. Draves of Key West, Fla; a daughter, Stephanie K. Moore of New Prague, Minn; six grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; one brother, Lyle of Rochester, and one sister, Marian Fishbaugher of Harmony. A brother preceded him in death.
The funeral service was held on Wednesday at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Rochester. Burial is in Grandview Memorial Gardens.
Ranfranz Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Irene B. Remker, 91, mother of SV man
Irene Bernice Remker, 91, of Austin died Saturday morning, April 3, 1999, at Prairie Manor in Blooming Prairie.
Survivors include sons, John H. Remker of Spring Valley and Robert P. Remker of Blooming Prairie; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are today (Wednesday) at 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Paul Nelson officiating. Interment at Calvary Cemetery in Austin. Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is in charge of arrangements.
Irene M. Reps, 74, Spring Valley
Irene Marjorie Reps, 74, of Spring Valley died Saturday, July 17, 1999, at Seasons Hospice in Rochester.
She was born April 25, 1925, in Roscoe, to Marcus Kirsch and Martha Schmitz Kirsch. She was united in marriage to Charles Reps on June 3, 1948 in Roscoe and to this union four children were born, Jill, Mark, MaryJo and Mike.
She taught elementary school, mostly the sixth grade, for 26 years. She was an avid reader and enjoyed playing golf, a bit of gambling now and then, her grandchildren, and traveling, especially to San Francisco for Ghiradelli Chocolate. She enjoyed playing bridge, cribbage and was a Minnesota history buff. She also served on the Spring Valley Library Board for many years.
She is survived by her husband, Charles of Spring Valley; daughter Jill (Mrs. Larry) Potts of St. Peter; son Mark and wife, Kathy Reps, of Lakeland; daughter MaryJo (Mrs. Marcel) Paquin of Inverness, Fla.; and son Mike Reps and friend, Margot Menard of Cedar; seven grandchildren, Elisabeth, Charlie and Annie Potts, Jamie Jensen, Karla Reps, Matthew and Molly Paquin; and one sister, Mary Alyce Cramblett of Scottsdale, Ariz.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother.
Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Spring Valley with the Rev. Russell Scepaniak officiating. Burial will be in St. Ignatius Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley with a prayer service at 7:30. Friends may also call one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Spring Valley Library Fund.
Irma Rathbun will be the pianist with Richard Jahn as the soloist. Casketbearers are Lew Flattum, Dave Goede, Jamie Jensen, Charlie Potts, Peter Schmitz and Ed Vilt.
Dean Reuter, 75, formerly of Harmony
D. "Dean" Reuter, 75, Rochester, a retired plumber, died Thursday, March 4, 1999, at Rochester Methodist Hospital.
He was born Dec. 3, 1923, in Harmony and grew up in Rochester, attending Rochester schools. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. On Feb. 24, 1948, he married Doris I. Derby in St. Paul. He was a member of Local 6 Plumbers and Steam Fitters and retired in 1987. He was a member of Peace United Church of Christ, the Eagles Club, and the Wm. T. McCoy Post No. 92 American Legion. He was an avid golfer and fisherman and enjoyed working on Habitat for Humanity housing projects.
Survivors include his wife; two sisters, Mary Jean (Mrs. Fred) Schnell of Rochester and Mavis (Mrs. Larry) Holt of Alameda, Calif; two brothers, Ronald of Rochester and Maynard John "Jack" of Alameda; and one stepbrother, Maynard Hill of Portland, Ore.
A memorial service was held Monday at Peace United Church of Christ, with military rites by the Wm. T. McCoy Post No. 92 American Legion at Evergreen Cemetery in Mantorville.
Vine Funeral Home, Rochester, was in charge of arrangements.
