Dorothy Sommer, 72, of Granger
Dorothy Sommer, 72, of Granger, a longtime resident of the Granger-Florenceville area, died Wednesday, May 12, 1999, at Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital in Decorah.
Dorothy Crosier was born April 5, 1927, in LaJara, Colo., and after the death of her parents when she was 7 years old she moved to Cresco, Iowa, to reside with an aunt. She graduated from Crestwood High School in Cresco in 1946, and attended the Cresco United Methodist Church. On June 26, 1946, she married Marvin E. Sommer and they made their home in the Granger-Florenceville area. Her husband survives.
The funeral was held Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco. Burial was in New Oregon Cemetery in rural Cresco.
Lindstrom Funeral Home, Cresco, was in charge of arrangements.
E. Sorum, 98, mother of Lanesboro women
Ellen Maria Sorum, 98, of Stewartville. formerly of Rushford, died Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999, at the home of a daughter in Stewartville.
Ellen Maria Ferden was born Feb. 24, 1901, in rural Peterson and attended Gilbert Country School and Peterson Public Schools. At age 16, she began working at the Peterson Hotel and later was a caregiver until her marriage. On Dec. 23, 1925, she married Carl Sorum at the North Prairie Church parsonage. They farmed west of Rushford for many years and then lived in Rochester for several years before retiring to Rushford. Her husband died July 25, 1986. She was a lifelong member of Rushford Lutheran Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Lois (Mrs. Robert) Barthelme of Stewartville, Jan (Mrs. Carroll) Fransen of Waukon, Iowa, and Betty (Mrs. Everett) Johnson and Marlys (Mrs. Richard) McCall, both of Lanesboro; three sons, Clarence and Paul, both of Rushford, and Glen of Menifee, Calif; 27 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; five stepgreat-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Olga Baer of Rushford and Viola Shirven of LaCrescent. She was preceded in death by three grandchildren, four brothers and a sister.
The funeral was held Monday at Rushford Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Donald Block officiating. Burial was in Rushford Lutheran Cemetery.
Hoff Funeral Homes-Cook Rushford Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Heather Specht, mother of Preston woman
Heather Hilliary Specht, 44, died Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999, at her home in Rochester.
She was born Oct. 21, 1955, in Massachusetts to David and Betty White. She moved to Rochester in 1980. She worked as the office manager for Ted Rieple Painting and Decorating in Rochester. On July 19, 1986, she married Joseph A. Specht in Iowa, the owner of Ted Rieple Painting. She enjoyed fishing, camping, horseback riding and reading.
Survivors include her parents, David and Betty White, West Palm Beach, Fla.; her husband; four daughters, Savanah Jo of Rochester, Kelsey of Preston, and Erin and Sarah of South Paris, Maine; one brother, Matthew White of Pittsburgh; and one sister Melissa Coffman of South Paris, Maine.
The funeral was Tuesday at Macken Colonial Chapel in Rochester.
Macken Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Kay Lynn Starken, 56, of rural Fountain
Kay Lynn Starken, 56, of rural Fountain, died Friday, Dec. 17, 1999, as a result of injuries suffered in an auto accident on U.S. 52, south of Chatfield.
Kay Lynn Wurtzler was born Aug. 14, 1943, in Chatfield. She was a 1961 graduate of Chatfield High School. On Feb. 1, 1964, she married Thomas Starken in Rochester. They lived in the Marion area for eight years before moving to rural Fountain in 1972, where they had resided since. She was a homemaker and worked for IBM for nine years. Her husband worked at IBM for 31 years before retiring.
Survivors include her husband; a son, David, at home; a daughter, Ann Marie (Mrs. Chris) Schad of Plainview; and two sisters, Paula (Mrs. Morris) Kolstad and Sandra (Mrs. Jerry) Asleson, both of Stewartville.
The funeral was Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chatfield. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Chatfield.
Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield was in charge of arrangements.
Glenn E. Staub, 80, of Preston
Glenn E. Staub, 80, of Fountain, Minn., died Monday, May 10, 1999, at the Preston Good Samaritan Care Center in Preston.
He was born Jan. 18, 1919, in Avoca, Iowa, the son of Emil and Addie Staub. He grew up in the Avoca area and attended school there. On April 5, 1939, he was united in marriage to Phyllis Katherine Wendt at Atlantic, Iowa. In 1950 he moved with his family to Minnesota and purchased a farm near Cherry Grove, later moving to a farm near Wykoff. Upon retirement from farming the couple moved to Fountain, where he worked at the Preston-Fountain School as a custodian for several years. He will be remembered for his willingness to help others. He was a member of Fountain Lutheran Church.
He is survived by his wife; one daughter, Sherry Nesheim of St. Paul; two sons, Larry of Zumbrota and Kevin at home; five grandchildren; two great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; one sister, Aletha Buck of Shelby, Iowa; and one brother, Eugene Staub of Avoca, Iowa. He was preceded in death by one brother, Herman.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 14, at 2 p.m. at the Fountain Lutheran Church with the Rev. John Sime officiating. Burial will be in the Fountain Cemetery.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston is in charge of arrangements.
Darwin Steinbring, 75, Grand Meadow
Darwin Richard Steinbring, 75, Grand Meadow, a retired IBM engineer-programmer, died Sunday, April 11, 1999, at Grand Meadow Health Care Center where he had resided a short time.
He was born Sept. 9, 1923, in Nashua Village, Wilkins County, Minn. From June 25, 1943, to April 17, 1946, he served in the Navy and was a water tender on the USS White Plains in the Pacific rim. On July 23, 1949, he married Helen Weick in Wheaton, Minn. He was a member of Grand Meadow Lutheran Church, Grand Meadow American Legion, the Masons and Scottish Rite.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Michael of Brooklyn Park, Minn.; a grandson; two sisters, Henrietta George of Duluth and Mabel Huss of Elk River, Minn.; and a brother, Lloyd of Massachusetts. He was preceded in death by a grandson and a brother.
The funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Grand Meadow Lutheran Church with the Rev. Wayne Vogt officiating. Burial will be in Bear Creek Cemetery in Frankford Township, Mower County.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Grand Meadow is in charge of arrangements.
Mildred Sophia Stennes, 75, of Harmony
Mildred Sophia Stennes, 75, of Harmony, died Sunday, June 20, 1999, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.
Mildred Hilden was born June 22, 1923, in rural Highland, Fillmore County. She attended Grubtown School. She married Jerome Stennes on June 25, 1941, in the Lanesboro parsonage. The couple farmed in Preble Township until moving to Tawney in 1959. They moved to Harmony in 1975.
Surviving are three sons, Mervin of Rushford, Dennis of Peterson and Russell of Mabel; a daughter, Diane (Mrs. Bill) Hanlon of Harmony; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Amy (Mrs. Amos) Thoen of Lanesboro, Thelma (Mrs. Tilford) Moen of Spring Grove, Evelyn (Mrs. Carrol) Hanson of Lanesboro and Shirley (Mrs. Jerry) Brown of Rochester; and a brother, Laurel Hilden of St. Paul. She was preceded in death by her husband on June 19, 1992, a sister, two brothers and a grandson.
The funeral was June 24 at Scheie Lutheran Church in Mabel, the Rev. Mary L. Waudby officiating. Burial was in Scheie Lutheran Cemetery.
Lindstrom Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Viola Stone, 70, mother of Canton woman
Viola Doreen Stone, 70, of Austin, a retired registered nurse, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Fla.
Viola Doreen Thompson was born Dec. 16, 1928, in Austin, attended Lansing schools through the eighth grade and graduated from Austin High School in 1946. She attended Austin Junior College for a year and graduated from Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester as a registered nurse in 1950. On July 1, 1950, she married Virgil Stone at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin. Mrs. Stone was employed as a registered nurse for 40 years and retired from St. Olaf Hospital in Austin in 1990. She was a long-time member of the Mower County Modern Home Ecers home study group, Holy Cross Lutheran Church Ladies’ Aid and was a Girl Scout leader. She enjoyed camping, hiking and vacationing in Florida.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, James of Plano, Texas, and Jon of White Bear Lake, Minn.; two daughters, Ruth Ann (Mrs. Thomas) Alexander of Canton and Jane (Mrs. Charles) Mayzlik of Pataskala, Ohio; 11 grandchildren and a brother, Douglas Thompson of Lansing.
The funeral was held on Saturday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Austin. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin.
Mildred Storhoff, 89, of Harmony
Mildred Storhoff, 89, of Harmony, a retired hospital employee, died Tuesday, March 2, 1999, at Harmony Community Nursing Home.
Mildred Larson was born March 2, 1910, in Lanesboro and attended area rural schools. On Jan. 22, 1930, she married Alvin Storhoff in Lanesboro. He died in 1974. Mrs. Storhoff was employed in the laundry department of Harmony Community Hospital for more than 20 years.
Survivors include a daughter, LaVonne Todd of Harmony; a son, Don of Reedsburg, Wis.; a step-daughter, Myrna Little of Fountain; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Six brothers and sisters preceded her in death.
Funeral services were Saturday at Union Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Lanesboro, with the Rev. Kerry Eversole officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony was in charge of arrangements.
John W. Stoughton, 52, of Harmony
John W. Stoughton, 52, of Harmony, died Nov. 6, 1999.
He was born April 17, 1947, to Paul Warren Stoughton and Grace Delight Metzold Stoughton and grew up in Northfield, Minn., and graduated from Northfield High School. He later moved to Rochester and attended Rochester Community College. He lived and worked in Rochester many years, driving a Yellow Cab. That was a highlight of his life as he liked caring for people, calming their fears as they went to the clinic. Later he moved to Minneapolis where he spent 10 years caring for two disabled women, because he loved them and wanted to give back to society what it had given him. He developed cancer of the brain and lung nine months ago and moved to Harmony in May to be cared for by his friend and companion, Denese Ullom. Other close friends who survive him are Barb Rysted and Bill Pepin.
He is also survived by a sister, Audrey Mornie; his brother, Allen and wife Rachel, and nieces Erica and Christie. His parents preceded him in death.
A memorial service was held at the Lindstrom Funeral Home on Sunday.
Doris M. Strahl, 78, of Preston
Doris M. Strahl, 78, of Preston, died Saturday, April 10, 1999, at the Harmony Nursing Home after a long struggle with leukemia. As per her wishes, her body was cremated and there will be no funeral services.
Doris Gerard was born on Feb. 2, 1921, in Preston, Wis., the daughter of George and Mable (Crow) Gerard. At the age of 15 she moved with her family to Mondovi, Wis. She married Gerald H. Strahl on Sept. 21, 1937, in Decorah, Iowa. They lived in Wisconsin until moving to the Preston, Minn., area in 1949 where she and her husband owned and operated the Park Hotel for 18 years. She served on the Preston City Council and the Preston Ambulance Service, and was a member of the Preston Garden Club. She enjoyed reading, gardening, quilting and traveling.
Survivors include two sons, Gerald, Jr. (Helen) of Elk Grove, Ill,, and Tom (Diane) of Harmony; five daughters, Sherry (Mrs. Wendell) Anstett of Rochester, Patricia (Mrs. Delvin) Nelson, Dixie (Mrs. Conrad) Aug, Bonnie (Mrs. Fred) Nagle, all of Preston and Bettie (Mrs. Robert) Gulbranson of Harmony; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and four sisters.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one brother, and an infant grandson.
There was visitation at the Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston on Tuesday evening. There will be a private family burial at a later date.
Thauwald Funeral Home, Preston, was in charge of arrangements.
Louis S. Streightiff, 63, formerly of area
Louis Samuel Streightiff died Saturday, Dec. 18, 1999, in Waltham Township, Mower County. He was born April 12, 1936, in Austin. He married Margaret Hickey on Aug. 9, 1958, in Grand Meadow. She survives. He grew up on a farm in the Lansing area and attended Austin schools. He served in the Army from 1954 to 1957. He was president of the Eagles Fifth District, the 703 Eagles and the Oaks Country Club. He was co-chairman of the Austin Eagles Cancer Telethon and a member of the Austin Eagles Ritual Team. He was a member of the Hayfield American Legion Rothie Post and served on the city council in Brownsdale. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, camping and fishing. He collected pens and coins.
He is survived by three sons, Dan of Rochester, Dave of Brownsdale, and Doug of Grand Meadow; two daughters, Deb (Mrs. Larry) Sherman of Grand Rapids, Minn., and Darcy (Mrs. Jim) Richardson of Grand Meadow; eight grandchildren; and two brothers, Vernon of Austin and Franklin of St. Paul.
A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday (today) at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church with the Rev. Bert Boschert officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Hayfield. Military honors will be by the Hayfield American Legion Rothie Post 330.
Friends may call an hour before the service Wednesday at the church.
Czaplewski Family Funeral Home, Brownsdale, was in charge of arrangements.
Wayne R. Struwe, 75, Grand Meadow
Wayne R. Struwe, 75, of Grand Meadow, died Wednesday, July 28, 1999, at his home of cancer.
He was born May 1, 1924, in Ringold County, Iowa. His family moved to the Grand Meadow/Sargeant area when he was 5 years old. He graduated from Austin High School and served in the Army during World War II.
He married Beverly Knutson on Oct. 6, 1949, and they lived in Grand Meadow. He worked at IBM in Rochester for 32 years until retiring in 1989.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Ken of Minneapolis and Curt of Lake City; two daughters, Barb (Mrs. Jerome) Ahles of Hartland, Minn., and Jan (Mrs. Lorin) Hammon of Spring Valley; eight grandchildren; three sisters, Lucille Kiefer of Taopi, Mary Heffern of Grand Meadow and Leona Overholser of Diagonal, Iowa. Two sisters preceded him in death.
The funeral was Saturday at the Grand Meadow Lutheran Church with burial in the Grand Meadow Cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Grand Meadow was in charge of arrangements.
Pauline Sulenski, 75, of Wykoff
Pauline Sulenski, 75, of Wykoff, died of natural causes Friday morning, June 25, 1999, at her home.
Pauline Krueger was born March 18, 1924, in Ellsworth, Kan. In 1945 she married John Sulenski in Chicago, Ill., where the couple made their home. He died in 1969. After her retirement in 1985, she moved to Wykoff.
Survivors include four daughters, Dawn Claywell of Chicago, Karen (Mrs. Larry) Riddle, Diane Sulenski and Melody Sulenski, all of Wykoff; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Her husband, one brother and two sisters preceded her in death.
The funeral was Tuesday at Wykoff United Methodist Church with the Rev. James Ross of Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley officiating. Her body will be cremated.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Wykoff was in charge of arrangements.
Gerald "Joe" Sullivan, 80, of Lanesboro
Gerald "Joe" Sullivan, 80, of Lanesboro, an auto mechanic, died of lung cancer Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at his home.
He was born Nov. 12, 1919, in rural Stewartville, High Forest Township, and graduated from Stewartville High School in 1938. On April 10, 1944, he married Harriet Glover at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Simpson. From 1942 to 1945, he served in the Army. He lived in Chatfield 23 years and in North Fort Myers, Fla. for five years before moving to Lanesboro in 1976. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Lanesboro American Legion. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and trapping.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Patrick J. of Dodge Center; three daughters, Carol (Mrs. Ronald) Nordstrom of Muskego, Wis., Joan Hoffman of Lanesboro and Lynda Nelson of Caledonia; five grandchildren; three brothers, Lawrence of Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. John of Sarasota, Fla. and Paul of Seattle; and two sisters, Dorothy (Mrs. Francis) Lair of Apple Valley, Minn., and Rosella (Mrs. Joe) Ellis of Chatfield. A son and a brother preceded him in death.
Funeral services were Saturday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Lanesboro with the Rev. Tom Loomis 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.
Ralph E. Sveska, 75, of Spring Valley
Ralph E. Sveska, 75, of Spring Valley, died Wednesday, June 30, 1999, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.
He was born June 11, 1924, in Lidgerwood, N. D., to Louis and Ann Sveska. On June 5, 1944, he was united in marriage to Threasa A. Doyle in Webster, S. D., and to this union four children were born. He worked as a police officer for many years serving as police chief in Grand Meadow and Spring Valley. He was an avid camper and along with his wife enjoyed many outings throughout the years. In his younger days he also enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He is survived by his children, Mary Jean (Mrs. Ronald) Oviatt of Rochester, Marshall Sveska of Rochester, Michael Sveska of Spokane, Wash., and Monica Suess of New Ulm, Minn.; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild, also one stepgranddaughter and two stepgreat-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife in April of 1997.
Services were held Tuesday, July 6, at the Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley with the Rev. Russell Scepaniak officiating. Burial was in the Grand Meadow Cemetery in Grand Meadow.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley was in charge of arrangements.
Edna Swenson, 84, of Mabel
Edna Margaret Swenson, 84, of Mabel and formerly of Spring Grove, died Thursday, Aug. 19, 1999, at Green Lea Manor in Mabel.
She was born July 14, 1915, in Winneshiek County, Iowa, to Josiah and Augusta (Busness) Casterton. She was a lifelong resident of the Spring Grove and Mabel area. She attended rural school at the Kjome school in rural Spring Grove. On June 12, 1937, she married Alvin M. Swenson at Highland Lutheran Church in rural Spring Grove. The couple farmed in rural Spring Grove until 1945 when they moved to the rural Mabel area and farmed until 1987. She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Mabel where she was active in its various groups.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Jeff (Deb) Swenson and Garry (Sally) Swenson both of Mabel; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers, James (Shirley) Casterton of Spring Grove and Bernard (Martha) Casterton of Decorah; one brother-in-law, Orville Wermager of Decorah; three sisters, Myrtle (Melvin) Noecker of Decorah, June (Leonard) Olson of Stillwater, Minn., and Belva Fadness of Decorah; and one sister-in-law, Ethel Casterton of Spring Grove. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Lawrence and James, and one sister Palma Wermager.
Funeral services were Saturday at Mabel First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Mary Waudby officiating. Burial was in the Mabel First Lutheran Cemetery.
Roble Funeral Home in Spring Grove was in charge of arrangements.
Thelma E. Swenson, 88, of Mabel
Thelma E. Swenson, 88, of Mabel, died Saturday, Oct. 2, 1999, at her home.
She was born April 21, 1911, in Ridgeway, Iowa, to Henry and Mathilda (Anderson) Halvorson. In 1928 she graduated from the Cresco High School in Cresco, Iowa, and then attended the Cedar Falls Teachers College. She taught in the Grindeland Country School south of Spring Grove for three years. On Aug. 11, 1931, she married John Swenson. They farmed in the rural Spring Grove area until 1936 when they moved to the Ridgeway area before buying a farm north of Mabel in 1945. In 1957 they built a house across the road and she has resided there since. John passed away Nov. 7, 1975. She was a member of the Mabel First Lutheran Church in Mabel and was formerly active in 4-H, Sunday school, garden club, and the county nursing service board.
She is survived by three sons, Jerald of Santa Monica, Calif., Stanley (Lois) of Mabel, and Orville (Sandy) of Cloquet, Minn.; one daughter, Marilyn (Mrs. Dick) Vickerman of Eagan, Minn.; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two daughters, Alice Fretheim of Decorah, Iowa, and Valborg Vaala of Cresco, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; a grandson Christopher; and a sister, Helen Kjos.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 7, 1999, at the Mabel First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Lloyd Menke officiating. Burial will be in the Mabel Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1999, at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel and one hour prior to services at the church.
