Lorena Maria Bicknese, 90, Wykoff native
Lorena Maria Bicknese, 90, of Chatfield, died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000, at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield.
She was born Lorena Maria Kohlmeyer on June 1, 1909, in Wykoff. On Oct. 26, 1927, she married Edwin A. Bicknese in Wykoff. They moved to Chatfield, where she was a homemaker. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Ladies Aid and Lutheran Women's Missionary League. On Jan. 27, 1997, she moved to Chosen Valley Care Center.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Gerald of Chatfield; a daughter, Yvonne (Mrs. Robert) Fix of Winona; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren. A sister and a twin brother preceded her in death.
The funeral was Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatfield with the Rev. Clark Jaeger officiating. Burial was in St. Paul Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield was in charge of arrangements.
Bruce Bigalk, 49, of Harmony
Bruce Bigalk, 49, of Harmony died from complications of cancer on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester.
He was born Nov. 3, 1950, in Rochester. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor of science degree in animal science in 1972. He was active in many community organizations, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and Greenfield Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Harmony Community Band and Lions Club. He was instrumental in the development of the Harmony-Preston bike trail.
On Dec. 16, 1972, he married Alice Junge at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Granger. They enjoyed farming near Granger for 28 years and shared their lives with numerous friends in the area. They are grateful for those friends and family.
Survivors include his wife, two daughters, Kate Bigalk of Rochester and Molly Bigalk, a student of the University of Wisconsin in LaCrosse; a son, Adam Bigalk at home; his father, Samuel Bigalk of Harmony; two sisters, Rosalie (George) Rusovick of Rochester, and Rita (Jerry) Vollmer of Prior Lake, Minn., and a brother, David (Jane) Bigalk of Harmony. His mother and an infant son preceded him in death.
A memorial service was held at Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony on Sunday with the Rev. John Hagen officiating. The body was donated to Mayo Medical Research Foundation. Cremation and burial will be a later date.
Memorials are suggested to The Bigalk Family Scholarship Fund, Harmony-Preston Bike Trail or Cancer Research.
Mildred E. Bigalk, 93, formerly of Preston
Mildred E. Bigalk, 93, formerly of Preston, died Friday morning, April 21, 2000, at the Stewartville Care Center.
Mildred Ethel Pfister was born Sept. 14, 1906, in Berlin, North Dakota, the daughter of George and Tilla (Goldberg) Pfister. At a young age she moved with her family to a farm between Preston and Harmony. She attended rural school and was a graduate of Harmony High School. She married Arno Bigalk, Sept. 16, 1931, in Owatonna, Minn. The couple farmed south of Preston until 1958 when they moved into Preston. She was a homemaker. Her husband died August 7, 1986. She moved to Rochester in 1988 and became a resident of the Stewartville Care Center in June of 1994.
She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Preston where she had taught Sunday school and had been active in the church circle.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and James W. Hughes of Rochester; two grandchildren; one great-granddaughter and a sister, Lucille Burmeister, of Caledonia.
She was preceded in death by her husband, a son, a sister and a brother.
The funeral was held Monday at Christ Lutheran Church with Rev. James Rushton officiating. Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery in Preston.
Thauwald Funeral Home, Preston, was in charge of arrangements.
Alton H. Bjurquist, 76, formerly of GM
Alton H. Bjurquist, 76, died on May 3, 2000, at the Charter House in Rochester, after a long illness.
He was born on July 22, 1923, in Stockholm, Wis. After graduating from Maiden Rock High School, he served in the U. S. Air Force between 1942-1945, as a second lieutenant and P-47 pilot in Europe. After the war he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, and was a member of Phi Delta Kappa. He married his wife, Vi, on July 30, 1949. They moved to Grand Meadow in 1949, where he taught business courses and served as principal until 1956. He completed graduate courses at the University of Minnesota and the University of Colorado in Boulder, earning his MBA and Education Specialist degrees.
In 1956 he accepted a teaching position at John Marshall Senior High School in Rochester, Minn. "Mr. B" taught business courses, served as DECCA advisor, and coached the JM boys' golf team for 25 years, prior to his retirement in 1985. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his big heart, his tough spirit, and his love of life….and golf.
He will be missed by his wife; Barbara, David and Alexandra Roberts of Woodbury (daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter); Debra and David Aune and Jessica and Melissa ReMine of Burnsville (daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters); Adeline Florness and Joyce Wirth (sisters), and many other family members and friends. His father, mother, brother, sister-in-law, brother-in-law and nephew preceded him in death.
A memorial service was held Saturday, May 6, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Rochester. A private burial service will be held on a later date at Sabylund Lutheran Church in Lund, Wis.
Milford H. Blagsvedt, 84, of Mabel
Milford H. Blagsvedt, 84, of Mabel, died Friday, June 23, 2000, at his home.
He was born April 30, 1915, in Amherst Township, Fillmore County, to Ole and Frieda (Selbach) Blagsvedt. He attended school in Newburg and Prosper. On May 7, 1935, he married Ruby E. Gillund. They later divorced. During World War II he served with an engineer company in the Pacific Theater. He worked as a farmer, carpenter, and heavy equipment operator. On Oct. 7, 1976, he married LaVaughn Benson. They lived in Rushford until 1999 when he moved to Mabel. He has resided there since. He was a member of the Rushford VFW and the National Rifle Association. He enjoyed music, horses, working with leather and target shooting.
He is survived by his wife, LaVaughn, of Rushford; a son, Dean of Mabel; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; six stepchildren, Terry Benson of Foster, R.I., Sheila Cheeks of North Chicago, Ill., Dennis Benson of Fountain, Wis., Duane Benson and Nancy Benson, both of Winona, and Kenny Benson, of Rushford.; 12 stepgrandchildren; three stepgreat-grandchildren; two sisters LaVonne Petersdorf and Orlie Brenno, both of Mabel, and two brothers, Wayne of Rochester and Sidney of Sacred Heart. He was preceded in death by a son, Howard, and a brother, Vernon.
Funeral services were Tuesday at the Mabel First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Lloyd Menke officiating. Burial was in the Mabel Lutheran Cemetery. Military rites by the Mabel Legion Post and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Mengis Funeral Home, Mabel, was in charge of arrangements.
Harold H. Blomgren, 86, father of SV man
Harold H. Blomgren, 86, of Cresco, Iowa, died Friday, May 12, 2000, at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah, Iowa.
Survivors include his wife, Sarah; a son, Gene of Spring Valley; a daughter, Sharon Bronner of Cresco; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Fern Schmauss of Cresco and Violet Pedersen of Mabel. Two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.
The funeral was Tuesday at First Lutheran Church in Cresco. Burial was in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Cresco.
Conway Funeral Home in Cresco was in charge of arrangements.
Diane Boland, 51, wife of former resident
Diane Boland, 51, of Lubbock, Texas, died June 27, 2000, at Lutheran Home of West Texas.
She was born July 8, 1948, in Sawtry, England. She married Harry Boland, formerly of Spring Valley, on Feb. 15, 1969, in Sawtry while he was in the U. S. Air Force. She had lived in Arizona, North Carolina, Germany and New Hampshire before moving to Lubbock in 1986. She worked as a vendor stocker for Reese Air Force Base commissary until 1994.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Glen of Anchorage, Alaska, and Carl of Lubbock; a daughter, Lynda Crites of Lubbock; two brothers, Tony Nickerson and Brian Bailey, both of England; and a grandchild.
Services were held July 1 at Grace Church in Lubbock with Larry Doyle officiating. Cremation was under the direction of the Chapel of Angels Funeral Home.
The family suggests memorials to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Erwin Borgen, Sr., 68, formerly of Lanesboro
Erwin "Erv" Borgen, Sr., 68, of Rochester, died Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000, in Franciscan Skemp Healthcare in LaCrosse, Wis., after a lengthy illness.
He was born June 9, 1932, in Lanesboro. He married Verleen Poppe on July 12, 1952 in Fountain. He was owner/operator of Quality Lath and Plastering, which he founded in the 1960s. He sold the business in 1970 and continued in the construction business in supervisory roles until illness forced him to retire. He was in Valley View Nursing Home in Houston since February of this year. He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church and a former member of the NRA and Moose Lodge. He was involved in coon hunting clubs and was an avid fisherman, hunter and outdoorsman.
Surviving are his wife; his mother, Nettie Wehrenberg of Stewartville; two daughters, Roxanne (Jim) Heise of Onalaska, Wis., and Patricia (William) Belander of Maple Grove; two sons, Erwin, Jr., (Carla) and Mark (Jane), both of Rochester; and three grandchildren.
The funeral was held Tuesday in Bethel Lutheran Church. There was a private family burial.
Vernon H. "Spud" Born, 82, of Spring Valley
Vernon H. "Spud" Born, 82, of Spring Valley, died Monday, Aug. 21, 2000, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester. He was born June 29, 1918 in Fillmore Township, Fillmore County, to A. E. Born and Dorthea "Dora" Drewes. He attended schools in the area and went on to three years of college in Rochester. He was united in marriage to Lela Maloney on April 22, 1957, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa, and to this union six children were born.
He worked in the ship yards in California during WWII and was involved with the building of the first atomic bomb plant. When he returned to the area he drove truck for a number of years. He was also in partnership with his father in the plumbing and heating business in Spring Valley for ten years and later farmed in Fillmore Township near Spring Valley for approximately 45 years. He was also actively involved with disaster relief throughout the country for many years.
He is survived by his wife; and children, Ray (Marty) Born of Guam, Susan (Roger Bendickson) Born-Bryant of Rochester, Charlene (Richard) Christopherson of Stewartville, Steven (Gail) Born of Tulsa, Okla., Sandy (Chris) Ball of Tiffan, Iowa, and Joyce Mensink of Spring Valley; 16 grandchildren and one sister, Margaret (Lorenze) Russert of Winona.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Helen and Frieda and two brothers, Harold and Earl.
Services were held Friday, Aug. 25 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Kevin Woestehoff officiating with burial in the church cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Eileen Botelho, 90, of rural Harmony
Eileen Ryan Botelho, age 90, of rural Harmony died on Sunday, April 23, 2000, at the Cresco Care Center in Cresco following a long illness.
She was born August 19, 1909, in rural Riceville, Iowa, the daughter of Walter and Winifred (Cashman) Ryan. Following graduation from Cresco High School she taught for several years in rural schools near Cresco. She then entered St. Francis School of Nursing in LaCrosse, Wis., graduating as a registered nurse in 1944. She practiced nursing at St. Francis Hospital in LaCrosse, Veteran's Hospital in Chicago and County Hospital in San Jose, Calif. She served one year in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during WWII. On February 19, 1947, she married Joseph Botelho in San Jose, Calif. They made their home there until Joseph's death in 1962. She then returned to the Harmony area.
She was preceded in death by her husband, three brothers; Vincent Ryan, Donald Ryan and Martin B. Ryan, four sisters; Catherine Hill, Lavonne Addison, Elizabeth Ryan and Alice Lavonne Ryan.
Survivors include her sister, Mercedes Ryan of Mason City, Iowa; two brothers, Roger (Dorothy) Ryan and William (Dorothy) Ryan of Harmony; a sister-in-law, Marie Ryan, and many nieces and nephews.
Services were held at Nativity Catholic Church in Harmony at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2000, with burial in the State Line Cemetery with Rev. Steve Peterson officiating.
Lindstrom Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
R. Bothun, 87, brother of Wykoff woman
Raymond Arnold Bothun, 87, of Des Moines, Iowa, formerly of Lanesboro, died Sunday, July 2, 2000.
He was born Sept. 2, 1912, in rural Lanesboro. He worked for Deco Aluminum Company in Des Moines for many years before his retirement. He married Jean Bellah and they were later divorced.
Survivors include a son, Raymond, Jr., of Des Moines; three grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Raymond (Aleda) Schwier of Wykoff; and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Earl (Vollie) Bothun. Two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.
A memorial service will be held Friday, July 14, at 2 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lanesboro. The body was cremated. Johnson-Riley Funeral Home in Lanesboro is in charge of arrangements.
Alice T. Bowers, 96, mother of Mabel woman
Alice T. Bowers, 96, formerly of Chatfield, died Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, in Heritage Living Center, Park Rapids, Minn.
She was born in Bemidji, Minn., on Nov. 22, 1903, and lived there until 1984. She moved to Chatfield following the death of her husband. She moved briefly to Mexico in 1994. On leaving there she entered a nursing home in Sauk Rapids and then in Park Rapids.
She is survived by two sons; a daughter, Karen Luoma of Mabel; 12 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Her body was donated to the University of North Dakota and will be cremated.
Syrald J. Bremseth, 79, of Lanesboro
Syrald J. Bremseth, 79, rural Lanesboro, a farmer, died of cancer on Sunday, June 4, 2000, at Harmony Health Care Center, where he had been a patient four days.
He was born March 31, 1921, in Fillmore County, served in the Army during World War II and lived in Fillmore County most of his life.
He is survived by five brothers, Alvin of Brooklyn Park, Minn., Carroll (Sharon) of Brookings, S.D., Roger (Marge) of Buffalo, Minn., Charles (Peggy) of St. Anthony, Minn., and James (Janet) of Brooklyn Center, Minn.; and four sisters, Lois (Percy) Peterson, Eleanor (Gerald) Peterson and Rebecca (Marvin) Sandness, all of Lanesboro, and Phyllis (Roger) Kvitrud of New Brighton, Minn. Two brothers and three sisters preceded him in death.
The funeral was held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Elstad Lutheran Church in rural Lanesboro, with the Rev. Rodney K. Nygren officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Johnson-Riley Funeral Home, Lanesboro, was in charge of arrangements.
Glenn E. Brink, 86, of Preston
Glenn E. Brink, 86, of Preston, died Friday afternoon, Nov. 24, 2000, at Harmony Health Care in Harmony.
He was born April 3, 1914, in Florenceville, Iowa, the son of Edward and Gladys (Dixson) Brink. He was raised in the Cherry Grove area and was confirmed in the Lutheran church in Spring Valley. He married Ruth Ramaker on March 25, 1936, in Spring Valley. The couple made their home on a number of farms in Fillmore County until retiring from farming in 1973 and moving into Preston. He then worked for Liudahl Plumbing and Heating in Harmony and then Dick's Automation in Preston for a number of years.
He was a member of the Preston United Methdost Church and was a former member of the Cherry Grove EUB Church.
He is survived by his wife, three children and their spouses, Don and Sylvia Brink of Harmony, Joyce and Richard Prinsen of Greenleafton, and Jerry and Linda Brink of Rochester; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandsons; and four sisters, Helen Engle of Harmony, Sophia (Harry) Englehart of Chester, Iowa, Florence Miller of Preston, and Dorothy (Wally) Santo of Janesville, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one great-granddaughter, and three brothers.
The memorial service was Tuesday at the Preston United Methodist Church with the Rev. Anthony Fink officiating. Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery in Preston.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Wayne L. Broadwater, 54, of rural Preston
Wayne Lyle Broadwater, 54, of rural Preston, died Sunday morning, June 11, 2000, at his home.
He was born Aug. 24, 1945, in Preston, the son of Porter and Betty (TerMaat) Broadwater. He was raised on the family dairy farm in rural Preston. He was also a school bus driver for the Fillmore Central School District since September of 1995.
Mr. Broadwater was a member of the Root River Church of the Brethren in rural Preston. He was a Green Bay Packer fan, John Deere enthusiast, enjoyed water skiing and boating and loved his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Jill, two daughters and sons-in-law, Michele and Lance Peterson of Underwood, Minn., and Melinda and Scott Daniels of Chatfield; one son and daughter-in-law, Brett and Kari Broadwater of rural Preston; five grandchildren, Chad and Carter Peterson, Dustin and Charity Daniels, and Kenzie Broadwater; his mother, Betty Broadwater of Preston; one brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Teri Broadwater of rural Preston; two sisters and brothers-in-law, his twin, Wanda and Gary Grebin of Lanesboro, and Bonnie and Randy Hahn of Preston; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and a nephew.
The funeral was Wednesday at Christ Lutheran Church, Preston, with the Rev. Frances Townsend of the Root River Church of the Brethren and Rev. Bernard F. Daiker co-officiating. Burial will be in the Waukokee Cemetery in rural Preston.
Thauwald Funeral Home of Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Geneva Brooks, 90, formerly of Mabel
Geneva Cora Brooks, 90, of Austin and formerly of Mabel, died Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea.
Geneva Cora Enockson was born Jan. 2, 1910, in Spring Grove and grew up in Mabel. On June 15, 1929, she married Arthur A. Brooks in Austin. She worked at Hormel for many years and was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church.
Survivors include a son, Marcus (Sharrene) of Austin; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, sisters and a granddaughter.
A private graveside service was conducted in Grandview Cemetery in Austin. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Worlein Funeral Home in Austin was in charge of arrangements.
Madeline Brownlow, 86, formerly of SV
Madeline Mae Brownlow, 86, of Willmar and formerly of Spring Valley, died Friday morning, March 10, 2000, at the Ashwood Care Center in Willmar.
Madeline Mae Amundson was born May 5, 1913, in Trempealeau County, Wis., the daughter of Henry and Polly Ann (Anderson) Amundson. They moved to the Ostrander, Minn., area, where she attended the Ostrander/Spring Valley schools. In 1930, she married Harold F. Brownlow and they made their home in Spring Valley. She was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Spring Valley.
She is survived by three children, Roger (Violet) Brownlow of Rochester, Neil (Shirlie) Brownlow of Albert Lea and Anne (Phil) Anderson of Willmar. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband and two brothers.
Funeral services were Sunday, March 12, at the Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley with the Rev. Norman Bauer officiating. Interment was in the LeRoy City Cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley and the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar were in charge of arrangements.
Kenneth S. Briggs, 86, of Spring Valley
Kenneth S. Briggs, 86, of Spring Valley, died Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2000 at Season's Hospice in Rochester.
He was born March 4, 1914, in Finchford, Iowa. He moved as a child to the Spring Valley area and lived here all his life. On Nov. 1, 1939, he married Hope Martin at Saratoga, Iowa. He helped to develop Mystery Cave and was a guide there in the 1930s. He served with the Army Engineers in the European Theatre during World War II. After the war, he was a heavy equipment operator for Miller Brothers and Freeman Construction until retiring in 1982. He was a member of the Operator Engineers Local #49, the VFW, American Legion, the Spring Valley Historical Society and Faith United Methodist Church. He enjoyed playing the guitar, fishing and gardening.
Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Bev (Jim) Faulhaber of Rochester and Shirley Henderson of Lancaster, Texas; two sons, Gordon (Donna) and Kevin (Barb), both of Rochester; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Keith; a daughter, Barbara; granddaughter, Sherrie Henderson; great-granddaughter, Lyndsea Henderson; three brothers; and one sister.
The funeral was Saturday at the Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley with the Rev. James Ross officiating. Burial was in Spring Valley Cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home of Spring Valley was in charge of arrangements.
Mabel Amelia Briggs, sister of SV woman
Mabel Amelia Briggs, 75, of Pine Island, formerly of the Oronoco area, died Saturday, Dec. 2, 2000, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.
Mabel Amelia Sutherland was born April 25, 1925, in Chatfield. On Dec. 9, 1946, she married Donald James Briggs in Colorado Springs, Colo. The couple lived in the Oronoco area for many years. Her husband, who was employed by AMPI for 36 years, died in 1996, She was an upholsterer and seamstress for Lloyd's Upholstery for six years and then for Orlen Ross for 17 years. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Survivors include two sons, Gordon D. (Terry) of Adams and David G. (Carolyn) of Mesa, Ariz., two daughters, Donna Jean Meyer of Janesville, N.Y. and Marilyn Mabel (Charles) Churchward of Dodge Center; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and four sisters, Josephine (Dewey) Baker of Spring Valley, Edith (Melvin) Eickhoff and Maxine (Arthur) Rowe, both of Wykoff, and Eva Briggs of Millville. Two brothers and five sisters preceded her in death.
The funeral was Tuesday at Ranfranz Funeral Home in Rochester with the Rev. Linda Helberg officiating. Burial was in Grandview Memorial Gardens.
Bernice Hazel Brusse, 80, formerly of SV
Bernice "Bea" Hazel Brusse, 80, of Harmony, died Friday, June 16, 2000, at her home.
Bernice Lange was born July 9, 1919, in Granger, Minn., the daughter of Herman and Emma (Bronner) Lange. She attended country school in rural Harmony. After her schooling she worked on the family farm until her marriage. On Nov. 10, 1939, she was united in marriage to Russell Brusse at Big Springs Lutheran Church in rural Harmony. Following their marriage the couple lived in the Harmony and Cherry Grove areas. She had many occupations, including owning and operating the Cherry Grove Shipping Association, and also trucking for Libby's Canning Corporation. She also managed the Spring Valley American Legion, and worked at Denny's Super Valu in Spring Valley. She was also a homemaker. She was a member of Cherry Grove United Methodist Church, the Ladies Aid of the church and the Spring Valley American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed gardening and loved her grandchildren.
She is survived by two sons, Elwood of Austin, and Dennis (Peggy) of Preston; two daughters, Marlene Bamlet of Eyota and Kim Brusse of LeRoy; 28 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ethel Kiehne of Harmony and Lois (Ernie) Kelley of Silver Bay, Minn., one brother, Allan Lange of Bryan, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her husband, one brother, George Lange, and one sister, Irene Kiehne.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 20, at 10:30 a.m. at Cherry Grove United Methodist church with the Rev. Mark Rader officiating. Burial was in Big Springs Cemetery in rural Harmony.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Bonita Marjorie Bushman, 85, Fountain
Bonita Marjorie Bushman, 85, of rural Fountain, a longtime area farm homemaker, died Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, where she had been a patient five days.
Bonita Marjorie Finley was born March 5, 1915, in Jordan Township, Fillmore County, grew up on the family farm and attended rural schools. On Sept. 24, 1934, she married John Bushman in Racine, and they farmed in the Chatfield-Fountain area until their retirement in 1976. After her husband's death in 1981, Mrs. Bushman continued to live on the farm until entering Chosen Valley Care Center in March. She was a member of the Fountain United Methodist Church and enjoyed fishing, gardening, flowers and cooking.
Survivors include six sons, Eugene and Kenneth (Ruby) both of Roscoe, Marvin (Dorothy) of Chatfield, Larry (Doreen) of Wykoff, Steven (Deb) of Mankato and David (Wendy) of Rochester; two daughters, Marjorie (Daniel) Cambern of Fountain and Virginia (Donald) Horsman of Chatfield; 24 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; five brothers, Archie Finley of Wabasha, Albert Finley of Rochester, Vernon Finley of Chatfield, Ivan Finley of Las Vegas, and Howard Finley of Stewartville; and three sisters, Iva Smith of Spring Valley, Mildred Zillget of LeRoy and Kay Powell of Las Vegas. She was preceded in death by four brothers, three sisters and a granddaughter.
The funeral was Friday at Stewartville United Methodist church with the Rev. Robert Kandels of the Fountain United Methodist Church officiating. Burial in Woodlawn Cemetery in Stewartville.
Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville was in charge of arrangements.
Grace Street Byers, 95, formerly of Hesper
Grace Street Byers, 95, formerly of Hesper, died in Saint Marys Hospital on Monday, Jan. 3, 2000.
She was born Sept. 20, 1904, on a farm east of Hesper. She was the fourth born of six children of Oscar and Minnie (White) Street. She attended Hesper Elementary School and graduated from Mabel High School. After earning her teacher's certificate she taught in the rural schools of Winneshiek County, Iowa. On July 8, 1934, she married Harold Byers of Spring Valley in Hesper, Iowa. They lived in Harmony for several years until the early forties when they moved to Rochester. Mr. Byers worked in the Olmsted County Bank and Grace clerked at the Penney's store until their retirements.
She is survived by her husband, Harold; her sister-in-law, Lueda Street, who resides in Green Lea Manor in Mabel; and seven nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers, Guilford, Granville, Merrill, Leroy, and Byron; and four nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held today (Thursday) in the Chapel of Christ United Methodist Church of Rochester with burial in Spring Valley. Visitation will be 1 p.m. at the chapel with the service following at 2 p.m.
Ranfranz Funeral Home in Rochester was in charge of arrangements.
LaVerne Byrge, 80, formerly of SV
LaVerne Curtis Byrge, 80, of Hopkins, Minn., and formerly of Spring Valley, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2000, of natural causes.
He was born May 10, 1920 in Mt. Horeb, Wis., the son of William and Mae (Larson) Byrge. He was raised on his mother's farm near Ostrander. He graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1938. He married Katherine Conner in 1953 and they lived in Ostrander, then in 1961 they moved to his father's farm a mile from town. In 1980, they sold the farm and moved to San Jose, Calif., where he worked as an electrician until he retired. In 1989 they moved to Cave Junction, Ore., on a homestead at the edge of town. In May of 1999, he was admitted to a care facility in Hopkins.
He was a devoted member of the Lutheran church. He loved his family and enjoyed woodworking, music, and visits with friends and neighbors.
He is survived by three sons, Phillip, Gary, and Joel and granddaughters, Michele and Melisa.
He was preceded in death by his wife and two sons, Ralston and Kevin.
The funeral service was Monday at the First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea with burial at the Graceland Cemetery in Albert Lea.
Washburn McReavy Strobeck Johnson Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
