Grace Keenan Swygman, 88, formerly of GM
Grace Keenan Swygman, 88, of Rochester, a longtime Kahler Hotel employee, died of cancer Saturday, Feb. 20, 1999, at her home.
Grace Keenan was born Aug. 24, 1910, in Illinois, and as a child moved with her family to a farm near Grand Meadow. She later moved to Rochester and married William Swygman. Her husband also worked at the Kahler Hotel. He died in 1987. She worked at the Kahler for 40 years.
Survivors include a daughter, Marleen Lenton Lillie of Rochester; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Two brothers and three sisters preceded her in death.
There will be a private memorial service at a later date. Burial will be in St. Finbarr's Cemetery in Grand Meadow.
Macken Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to Mayo Clinic for cancer research.
Thelma Teske, 94, formerly of Spring Valley
Thelma Teske, 94, of Rochester, a retired registered nurse, died Saturday, May 15, 1999, at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth where she had resided for six years.
Born April 23, 1905, in Simpson, she later lived in LeSueur, Minn., and Spring Valley. She graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1925 and was a night telephone operator in Spring Valley before moving to Rochester to attend Methodist Kahler School of Nursing. She received a nursing degree in 1928 and was a nursing supervisor at Colonial Hospital for more than 40 years. She was a member of the Congregational Church, Methodist Kahler Alumnae Association and Minnesota Nurses Association.
She is survived by a niece. A brother preceded her in death.
A memorial service was Thursday in the chapel at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth with the Rev. Larry Tantow, Samaritan Bethany chaplain, and the Rev. Diane L. Harvey of the Congregational Church co-officiating. Private burial was in the Chatfield Cemetery.
Vine Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Dale Sumner Thauwald, 84, Preston
Dale Sumner Thauwald, 84, of Preston, died Saturday, June 5, 1999, at the Season's Hospice in Rochester following a brief illness.
He was born March 21, 1915, in Gibbon, Minn., the son of Dr. Charles and Clara (Frediani) Thauwald. The family moved to St. Paul when he was a young boy, where he graduated from St. Paul Mechanic Arts High School and the University of Minnesota School of Mortuary Science. He was employed in funeral service following graduation in St. Paul, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana before joining the Merchant Marines in 1939. He served with the United States Army Transport Service during WW II, sailing around the world in support of the war effort. Following his discharge in 1945, he worked in funeral service in New York City before moving back to St. Paul, where he married Muriel F. Anderson Oct. 9, 1948. The couple lived there until purchasing the funeral homes in Preston in 1952 and Wykoff in 1962, which still serve the communities as Thauwald Funeral Home. He received his 50-year recognition of practice in funeral service from the Minnesota Department of Health in 1989. He had since retired.
He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Preston; the Crown Hill Cemetery Association for 46 years, serving as president, secretary and treasurer; and was a past board member of the Preston Water & Light Commission. His passions were his family, duck hunting, deep-sea fishing, gourmet cooking and opera.
He is survived by his wife; two sons and daughters-in law, Jeffrey (Debra) of Spring Valley and Craig (Debbie) of Rochester; one daughter, Holly Thauwald of Sausalito, Calif.; three grandchildren, Scott, Charlie and Aaron; and one brother, Peter J. of Waco, Texas. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Holly Brissman and Deloris Bridges.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, at Christ Lutheran Church with the Revs. James Rushton and Karen Grandall officiating. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery in Preston. Friends may call at the Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and at the church on Wednesday one hour before the service.
The family prefers memorials to Crown Hill Cemetery Association, Season's Hospice or Christ Lutheran Church.
Terry Theede, 37, of Fountain
Terry Theede, 37, of Fountain, a farmer and computer programmer at Mayo Clinic, died Tuesday, July 13, 1999, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester of injuries suffered in a one-vehicle accident June 30 near Marion.
He was born Sept. 15, 1961, in Wells, Minn. and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1980. Through ROTC he was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Army and served in the National Guard and Reserves. On Aug. 18, 1987, he married Holly Jo Nelson. They recently moved to a farm near Fountain.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Rebecca, Julia and Susanna, and a son, William, all at home; his mother, Maryanne Theede of Lewiston; two brothers, Thomas and Chad, both of Lewiston; and three sisters, Cynthia (Mrs. Andrew) Kronebusch of Ridgeway, Kathleen Theede of Cherokee, Iowa, and Jodi (Mrs. Joe) Hennessy of Lewiston. His father preceded him in death.
Funeral services were Saturday at Lewiston High School. Burial was in the Fremont Scotch Cemetery in rural Utica.
Hoff Funeral Home-Lewiston Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Meredith LaVonne Theiss, 62, Wykoff native
Meredith LaVonne Theiss, 62, of Lincolnwood Residence, Owatonna, Minn., died Monday, Dec. 20, 1999, at the Owatonna Hospital.
She was born Feb. 25, 1937, on her parents' farm in Wykoff, Minn., the daughter of Alvin C. and Edna W. (Meyer) Theiss. She attended Wykoff area schools. She spent most of her early life in the Wykoff and Fountain areas before moving to Owatonna in 1982. Since moving to Owatonna, she had been employed with the Career Training Center in many different positions. She had also been actively involved in the Parks & Recreation Special Education Group there, and most recently in the CTC Seniors program. She had also enjoyed several trips to Branson and the North Shore of Lake Superior.
She enjoyed taking trips to see relatives and spending time with the staff and residents where she lived. She was known as a hard worker and enjoyed helping out with the many chores and other duties where she lived. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Medford.
Survivors include one brother, Norman (Kay) Theiss of Fountain, Minn.; three sisters, Margie (Edgar) Burmeister of Medford, Minn., Jean (Philip) McClure of South Bend, Ind., and Rhonda Kluender of Modesto, Calif., 13 nieces and nephews, several great nieces and one great nephew.
Her parents preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday), Dec. 23, at 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Medford, with the Rev. Wayne Krohe officiating. Burial in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Deerfield Township.
Michaelson Funeral Homes, Inc. of Owatonna was in charge of arrangements.
Paul H. Thingvold, 77, formerly of Hesper
Paul H. Thingvold, 77, of Decorah, died on Wednesday, June 9, 1999, at Green Lea Manor in Mabel after a sudden illness.
He was born Sept. 20, 1921, to John and Clara (Severson) Thingvold in Hesper Township on the home farm. He was baptized and confirmed at the Hesper Lutheran Church and a graduate of Mabel High School in 1938. On Feb. 22, 1942, he married Corrine Oyen in Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in Glenwood Township. He farmed in Hesper Township until 1990 and also worked for A.S.C.S. Office for about 30 years. He was a member of St. Johns Lutheran church and a member of I.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows) for 50 years.
He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Linda Schwade of Stewartville; four grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Jon and Annette Hurley and Sean of Savage, Minn., Jason and Mindy Hurley, Megan and Braden of Richfield, Minn., Robin and George Osterhus, Nick, Preston and Santana of Owatonna and Rhonda and Robbie Johnson and Skyler of Appleton, Wis.; a sister, Kathryn and Merlin Ford of LaCrosse, Wis.; a son-in-law, Bernie Hurley and his wife, Sandy, of Preston; and her children, Chris Davis and Jamie Davis and Jamie's son, Tyler Davis; and several nieces and nephew. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Brenda Hurly; his parents; three brothers, Gerhard, Charles and Norman; and a nephew, John Thingvold.
Funeral services were Saturday, June 12, at 2 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church at Locust with the Rev. Arland Braaten-Lee officiating. Burial was in the Locust Cemetery.
Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah was in charge of arrangements.
James J. 'Jim' Thompson, 66, Spring Valley
James J. "Jim" Thompson died Friday, Jan. 8, 1999, at his home.
He was born Sept. 18, 1932, in Spring Valley Township and attended area schools near Spring Valley. He farmed his entire life on the farm where he was born; he retired from farming in 1997. He married Iola Erickson on Dec. 29, 1954, in Preston.
He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Marti (Mrs. Tim) Warren and Cyndy (Mrs. Phil) Sheldon, both of Spring Valley; six grandchildren; and a sister, Dorothy Henderson of Spring Valley.
The funeral was Monday at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley with the Rev. James Ross officiating. Burial was in Hamilton Cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
JoAnn K. Thompson, 57, Preston
JoAnn Kathryn Thompson, 57, Preston, died Friday, May 7, 1999, at her home.
JoAnn Kathryn Means was born Sept. 6, 1941, in Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of Eugene and Kathryn (Watson) Means. She graduated from Preston High School. On Jan. 30, 1961, she was united in marriage to Jerry Thompson in Austin, Minn. After the couple's marriage they lived in Austin, Eagan, and Preston, Minn. She was a homemaker and an avid gardener.
She is survived by her husband; three children, Mike, Debbie and Chris; and one brother, Ronald Means of Preston. She was preceded in death by her parents.
There was a private family service on Monday, May 10.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
William J. Timm, 81, formerly of Wykoff
William J. Timm, 81, of Chatfield, a retired farmer, died of complications of multiple sclerosis Thursday, April 29, 1999, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester where he had been a patient four days. He had resided at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield the past 14 years.
He was born Oct. 13, 1917, in rural Wykoff and lived there all his life until entering the care center. In 1946, he married Harriette Erickson Helgerson in Wykoff. She died July 19, 1985.
Survivors include two stepsons, Verlyn Helgerson of Babbitt, Minn., and Paul Helgerson of St. Paul; a stepdaughter, Joanne (Mrs. Victor) Meyr of Cottage Grove, Minn.; five stepgrandchildren; 11 stepgreat-grandchildren; and a brother, Irvin of Wykoff. A sister preceded him in death.
The funeral was Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Wykoff with the Revs. Robert Burmeister and Victor Meyr co-officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to St. John's Lutheran Church in Wykoff or the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Angeline Tollefson, 80, mother of Mabel woman
Angeline Margaret Tollefson, 80, of Decorah, died on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 1999, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester following a lengthy illness.
She was born on Feb. 25, 1919, near Decorah, the daughter of Casper and Ella (Evenson) Guttormson. Angeline was baptized and confirmed at Madison Lutheran Church. She attended country school in Madison Township. She married Orville L. Tollefson on Feb. 5, 1942, at the Madison Church Parsonage. Angeline worked at Luther College cleaning the college library, retiring in 1972. Mrs. Tollefson moved to Decorah one year ago. She enjoyed feeding the birds and Christmas-time. She was very family oriented and especially loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of the Madison Lutheran Church and ladies circle.
She is survived by three daughters, Lorraine (Harlan) Erickson of Decorah, Shirley (Donald) Housker of Mabel, Janet (Bernard) Teslow of Decorah; one son, Lyle (Kathryn) Tollefson of Decorah; 15 grandchildren, Lynn Halweg, Michael, Jim and Renae Erickson, Teresa Kappus, Jeffrey Housker, Duane Nelson, Jeremy Tollefson, Brenda Spilde, Valerie Tollefson, Tammy Tangen, Todd Teslow, Travis Teslow, Ricky Tollefson and Kelly Wheelock; and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Casper and Ella Guttormson; her husband, Orville Tollefson in 1987; one son, Dale Tollefson in 1991; one grandson, Terry Housker in 1991; and one sister, Esther Solum.
Funeral services were Monday at the Madison Lutheran Church in Ridgeway, Iowa, with the Revs. Phillip and Ginny Olson officiating. Burial was at Madison Lutheran Cemetery in Ridgeway.
French and Balik funeral Home in Decorah was in charge of arrangements.
Virginia Tollefson, 87, formerly of Mabel
Virginia (Mrs. Donald) Tollefson, 87, of Rochester, and formerly of Mabel, died on July 12, 1999, at the Charter House in Rochester.
Virginia Ruden Childs was born in St. Paul on July 19, 1911, to Benjamin and Aurelia (Milner) Childs. She was very active in her high school years at Owatonna. She belonged to the Latin Club, the school's orchestra and girls glee club, the Thespians, the school newspaper, girls swim team, Stylus Club, Mask and Wig Club, Declamation, and Luther League. As a 4-H member, she won a ribbon in bread baking and judging at the Minnesota State Fair. She was president of her class her senior year and was also an honor student, graduating in 1929.
She attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, graduating in 1933 with a degree in English. While at the University, she was a member of Kappa Rho (an honorary forensics organization), Minnesota Masquers, Chi Omega sorority and Trailers Club.
On Aug. 24, 1933, she married Donald Tollefson of Mabel in Minneapolis. They moved from St. Paul to Mabel in 1936. They lived in Mabel until 1996 when they moved to Rochester.
In the early 1960s, she helped organize the Gray Ladies Auxiliary at Green Lea Manor where she began a monthly newsletter which continued until the 1990s. She was a Red Cross volunteer chairing local blood drives and received a War Service Award from the Office of Price Administration. She was a Mabel P.T.A. officer and a Sunday school teacher. They were members of Oneota Country Club in Decorah. She won numerous golf trophies. She was also on the boards of Zumbro Valley Mental Health and the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum where she also served as a hostess for visiting celebrities.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Don; her half brother, Henry Councilman of Proctor; her daughters, Susan (Mrs. David) Wilson of East Providence, R. I., Nancy (Mrs. Richard) Gunther of Swansea, MA, Betsey (Mrs. Jimmy) Nichols of Mabel; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister, Aurelia Anderson, and a grandson, Craig Nichols.
Memorial services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, July 17, at the Mabel United Methodist Church in Mabel with the Rev. David Laechel officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. There will be no reviewal.
Mengin Funeral Home in Mabel is in charge of arrangements.
G. Tollefsrud, 77, father of SG man
Gilman Tollefsrud, 77, of Decorah, died Saturday, July 24, 1999, at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah after a short illness.
He was born Nov. 27, 1921, in rural Mabel, the son of George and Selma (Herbranson) Tollefsrud.
He was baptized at Mabel Lutheran Church and confirmed at Big Canoe Lutheran Church. He attended area rural schools through the eighth grade.
On Nov. 8, 1942, he was united in marriage with Irene Melbostad at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church.
He served in the U.S. Army at Ft. Bliss, Texas, from May to October of 1943, and received an honorable medical discharge.
After serving in the Army, Gilman worked in Waterloo, Iowa, for a short time, before returning to Winneshiek County to begin farming. He continued to farm until 1978, when he retired and moved to Decorah. During the 1980s he and his wife spent the winters in Tucson, Ariz.
Tollefsrud was a longtime member of the Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church, and a member of American Legion Post No. 0249, Spring Grove for 31 years.
He enjoyed farming, trout fishing, attending church, playing euchre with family and friends and following the activities of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His sense of humor, his joke telling and his smile will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his wife of Decorah; a son, Jim and Lois (Swenson) Tollefsrud of Spring Grove; and four daughters, Shirley and Ron Bigler of Decorah, Cathy and Greg Mohwinkle of Waukon, Julie and Rich Lukes of Calmar and Cindy and Steve Palmer of Moline, Ill.; 12 grandchildren, Mikal and Shannon Tollefsrud, Kelly and Bryan Wood, Wendy and Scott Twait, Rick Bigler, Stacy and Corey White, Jason Mohwinkle, Jennifer Mohwinkle, Jeremy Mohwinkle, Janet Mohwinkle, Amy and Bob Gross, Adam Lukes and Allison Lukes; and six great-grandchildren; Breanna, Amanda and Chelsey Twait, Erik and Jacob Tollefsrud, and Sawyer White; one brother, Charles and Lucille Tollefsrud of Decorah; six sisters, Donna (Mrs. George) Kruse of Decorah, LuVerne (Mrs. Raymond) Hegland of Brandon, Miss., Florence (Mrs. Milo) Headington of Decorah, Inga Halverson of Rochester, Deloris Armstrong, of West Plains, Mo., Margaret (Mrs. Richard) Kemple of Rochester; and numerous nieces and nephews, including one very special niece, Marian Rovang Rude of Decorah.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Truman, and one sister, Gloria Lind.
Army Veteran Robert Gross and Airman First Class Adam Lukes performed a veteran flag-folding ceremony and presented the flag to Gilman's wife.
Funeral services were held on July 27 at the Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church with burial in the church cemetery. The French and Balik Funeral Home of Decorah was in charge of arrangements.
Ralph E. Triggs, 82, Spring Valley native
Ralph E. Triggs, 82, of Madison, Wis., died on Saturday, Sept. 11, 1999, after a 13-year battle with prostate cancer.
He was born June 10, 1917, on a farm near Spring Valley, the son of J. Archie and Calla (Wilkins) Triggs. He left high school and went to Madison, Wis., digging ditches for his uncle, a plumber. Later he went to work as a tile setter for Lumina Terrazzo and Tile. He served in the Army in 1945 and 1946 in the military police during the occupation of Japan following World War II. He served in the Madison Fire Department for 30 years, retiring as a lieutenant in 1972. He put his construction skills to use, building a home for his family with his own hands. He largely taught himself to service furnaces by working on his own, and purchased General Heating and Air Conditioning in the 1950s. From running this part-time with two part-time employees out of a small rented garage, he expanded it into modern facilities employing a substantial workforce. He operated the business full-time from 1972 until his retirement in 1982. His greatest love was in building and fixing up all things mechanical. His favorite recreation was fishing. He began with a small motorboat and eventually acquired an inboard cabin cruiser. Especially in his later years he enjoyed dancing and gardening. He continued to work on mechanical and household projects until the last few months of his life.
He was married Aug. 5, 1939, to Irma Schumacher, who survives. Other survivors include a brother, Joseph (Gertrude) Triggs of San Antonio, Texas; a sister, Eloise (Jack) Best, of Phoenix, Ariz.; four sons, John of Kansas City, Kan., Tim of Boulder, Colo., Dan of Newnan, Ga., and Ed of Franklin, Tenn.; and a daughter, Thia, of Madison; 16 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; numerous cousins; and a special friend, Ann Midstokke, who cared for him in his later years. A memorial Mass was on Monday, Sept. 20, 1999 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or Hospice Care, Inc.
Neil Trygstad, 79, Mabel
Neil Trygstad, 79, of Mabel, a retired rural mail carrier, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 1999, at his home after a lengthy illness.
He was born April 13, 1920, in Mabel and graduated from Mabel High School in 1939. On June 17, 1944, he married Juletta Ramlo at Mabel First Lutheran Church, and they resided on the Trygstad farm in rural Mabel. He was a rural mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service for 18 years and retired in 1987. He was a member of Mabel First Lutheran church, and Luren Singing Society since 1970.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Craig of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and a sister, Eunice Kyseth of Waterloo, Iowa. A brother and a sister preceded him in death.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday at Mabel First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Lloyd Menke officiating. Burial will be in the Mabel Lutheran Cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel and an hour before the service Friday at the church.
Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel was in charge of arrangements.
Geneva M. Tvedt, 92, mother of Wykoff man
Geneva May Tvedt, 92, of Stewartville, died Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999, of natural causes at Stewartville Care Center.
Geneva May Alberts was born April 10, 1906, in Mantorville, where she attended rural schools. She graduated from Mantorville High School and Winona Teachers College, and taught in rural schools prior to her marriage. On Sept. 11, 1930, she married T. Clifford Tvedt in Mantorville. After their marriage, the couple farmed in the Kasson area until 1943, and rural Stewartville until 1961. He died in 1983. In addition to farming, she taught special education in the Stewartville School District. She was a member of Stewartville United Methodist church and its UMW, and was active in the church and volunteer work in the community.
Survivors include two daughters, Wanda (Mrs. Dale) Theel of Embarrass, Minn., and Eileen (Mrs. Gordon) Westphal of Rochester; two sons, Clayton of Wykoff and Kenneth of Alexandria, Minn.; 17 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Mrs. Viola Hein of West Fargo, N.D. Four brothers preceded her in death.
Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville was in charge of arrangements.
