J. Douglas Utley, 96, of Preston
J. Douglas Utley, 96, of Preston, died Sunday evening, Sept. 3, 2000, at the Preston Good Samaritan Center.
He was born Nov. 25, 1903, in Preston, the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Hutton) Utley. He was raised in the Preston area and graduated from Preston High School in 1922 and was proud to represent that class in the 2000 All-School Reunion, as its oldest living member to attend. He married Mildred Hovelson on Nov. 27, 1924, in Preston moving to the Utley family farm home, also known as "The Pines," one mile west of Preston where they farmed and lived until retiring and moving into Preston in 1966. He worked for the Preston school district for many years as a bus driver. He particularly enjoyed driving the kindergarten bus and the athletic bus. He prided himself on a perfect driving record. After the death of his wife, in 1992, he remained in his home for many years doing his own work and caring for his beloved cat, Bailey. He moved to the Preston Care Center in late 1999.
He was a member of the Preston United Methodist Church.
He is survived by a daughter, Bonnie Austin of Northfield; a son, Robert, and his wife, Arlene, of Reedsburg, Wis; a daughter-in-law, Phyllis Cummings Utley of Preston; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; a great-great step-granddaughter; two sisters, Esther Pickett and Ruth Sample, both of Preston and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife; a son Charles; a brother, Wilbur; and a sister, June Maust.
The funeral was Wednesday at the Preston United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Anthony Fink officiating. Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery in Preston.
Thauwald Funeral Home of Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Violet Van Sande, 93, of Preston
Violet Van Sande, 93, of Preston, died Thursday, July 6, 2000, at Olmsted Community Hospital, Rochester of congestive heart failure.
She was born Aug. 29, 1906, in Carimona Township, Fillmore County, the daughter of Henry and Annie (Hopeman) Van Sande.
Her formal education was limited to eighth grade rural schooling, but she was a life-long learner in many fields. Her many visitors came away from talking to her much richer because of being with her. She was a faithful, devoted member of the Greenleafton Reformed Church of Greenleafton. She was a beloved Sunday school teacher in the children's department, and took an active part in the women's department.
After her mother died, she spent the next 25 years caring for their father at their rural home in Carimona Township. When he died, she and her sister spent the six months of winter in Preston and the summer months on the family farm. In 1968, they bought a home in Preston and she and her sister lived there. Her sister, Bernice, died in 1993 and Miss Van Sande remained in the same home until she entered the Preston Care Center June 15, 2000, and the Olmsted Community Hospital on June 29.
She had many interests and one was her love of flowers. Because of this, she was employed by Howard Gartner in the Garden Center of his store and also by Mrs. Lillejord in her greenhouse in Preston.
She enjoyed anything pertaining to history and historical artifacts and was given the position of manager of the Fillmore County Museum. She was employed there until the museum was moved to its present location in Fountain.
Miss Van Sande is survived by special caregivers, Beth Ann, Milo, David and Larry Broadwater of Preston and Jackie and Richard Burmeister of Harmony; a number of cousins and many friends. She was preceded in death by one sister, Bernice.
The funeral was held Monday at the Greenleafton Reformed Church with the Rev. Jonathan Loper officiating. Burial will be in the Greenleafton Cemetery. Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Signe L. Vatland, 93, formerly of Mabel
Signe L. Vatland, 93, of Stillwater and formerly of Mabel, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2000, at the Linden Health Care Center in Stillwater.
She was born May 2, 1907, in Canton to Emery and Mina (Eggerbrotten) Johnson. She married Floyd M. Inglett in 1923. They had one son, Carlyle Manford Inglett. Floyd died in 1932. On Oct. 12, 1933, she married Gustav Vatland in Fillmore County. They had one daughter, Joyce, who was born in 1935.
They lived most of their lives in the Fillmore County area except for 13 years from 1934 to 1947 when they lived in northern Minnesota. In 1989, they moved to Stillwater to be closer to their daughter. Mr. Vatland died on Nov. 25, 1992.
She was a member of Garness Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Mabel.
She is survived by her daughter Joyce (Mrs. Burgee) Amdahl of Stillwater; a daughter-in-law, Phyllis Inglett of St. Paul, Minn.; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and a sister, Verna Ladsten of Spring Grove.
She was preceded in death by her son; two brothers, Melvin and Harold; and three sisters, Jenny Malosh, Helen Haugen and Ida Johnson.
Funeral services were Saturday at the Garness Trinity Lutheran church in rural Mabel with the Rev. Mary Waudby officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Mengis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Memorials are preferred to the Garness Trinity Lutheran Church.
Elijah N. Vaughn, 23, brother of SV women
Elijah Nyles Vaughn, 23, of Austin died Saturday, April 29, 2000, at Austin Medical Center. He was born Feb. 14, 1977, in Austin, to Elliot and Pamela (Evans) Vaughn. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. He graduated from Austin High School in the class of 1995. He had worked for Godfather's Pizza and George's Pizza and most recently worked for Bell Liquor and Steve's Pizza.. He was a Jeopardy enthusiast and enjoyed all subjects of trivia. He enjoyed spending time with his friends playing disc golf, going to music festivals, playing chess, and camping. He liked hunting and fishing and was a big sports fan. He loved being with his family and spending time with his nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his mother, Pamela Vaughn, and special friend John Kruger of Austin; his father, Elliot Vaughn, of Austin and special friend, Jean Maher of Circle Pines; two sisters, Angie (Jeff) Thomas and Michelle McLaughlin, both of Spring Valley; one brother, Cuyler Vaughn of Austin; grandparents, Russell and Donna Shelton of Belvidere, Ill., and Eleanor Vaughn, of Austin; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, and special friend, Heather Livingood, of Austin.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Lester Vaughn, grandmother, Evelyn Beckman; and cousin, Macy Renwick.
Funeral services will be held today (Wednesday) at 1:30 p.m. at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with the Rev. Greg Mannel officiating. Interment will be in the Oakwood Cemetery in Austin. Visitation will be held at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Tuesday, May 2, from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday at St. Olaf Lutheran Church one hour before the service.
Clasen-Jordan Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Rudolph Veglahn, 83, formerly of Preston
Rudolph E. (Rudy) Veglahn, 83, of Chatfield, formerly of Preston, died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2000, at the Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield.
He was born April 9, 1916, in LaCrosse, Wis., the son of Paul and Mathilda (Lemke) Veglahn. In 1926, the family moved to a farm in rural Preston and he attended school in Preston, graduating from Preston High School in 1934. Following graduation he worked on the family farm until his induction into the military service in March, 1941, serving in the 36th Infantry, Texas Division. He served overseas in the European-African and Middle Eastern Theaters, and was discharged August 13, 1945. He married Ruth Johnson of Preston on May 12, 1948, and the couple farmed on the family farm until moving to Preston in August, 1990. He had resided in the Preston Good Samaritan Care Center for six years and Chosen Valley Care Center the past two years.
He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Preston, the Preston American Legion and VFW posts and the Farm Bureau.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth, of Chatfield, two daughters, Rosalie (Mrs. James) Krips of Lewiston and Renita (Mrs. Kevin) Heibel of Harmony; five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Aletta Friemann and Ella Veglahn, and one brother, Frederick Veglahn.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday at Christ Lutheran Church, with the Rev. James Rushton officiating. Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery in the spring. Military services were conducted by the Preston American Legion and VFW Posts following the church service.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Roland R. Wagner Sr., 81, Elysian
Roland R. Wagner Sr., the father of Jim Wagner of Lanesboro, died Friday, Aug. 18, 2000, at Nancy's Comfort Kare in rural Kasota, Minn.
Other survivors include a daughter; another son; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a half brother and a half sister. He was preceded in death by two wives.
The funeral was Tuesday in Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Elysian, with the Rev. Christopher Meyer officiating. Burial was in St. Peter (Bell) Lutheran Cemetery in rural Waterville.
Prosch-Dennis Funeral Home in Waterville was in charge of arrangements.
Robert J. Waldemar, 67, Stout, Iowa
Robert J. Waldemar, 67, of Stout, Iowa, died Thursday morning Aug. 17, 2000, at the hospice in Waterloo, Iowa, after a two year battle with cancer.
He was born Aug. 5, 1933, in Albert Lea, Minn., the son of Art and Isabelle Waldemar. He married Ilene Struve on March 9, 1952, in Spring Valley. He worked at Rath Packing House for 34 years. He also drove truck. He was in the U. S. Army from 1957 to 1962. He was the mayor of Stout for many years, along with being on the council and street commissioner. He was a member of the fire department for many years.
He is survived by his wife and two sisters, Beatrice (Joe) Lankey of Lecenter, Minn., Delories (Bill) Oeltjen of Spring Valley; three brothers, Allan (Betty) of Waterloo, Iowa, Dean (Kathy) of Scottsboro, Al., Kenneth of St. Louis, Mo., and many nieces and nephews. His parents preceded him in death.
The funeral was held Aug. 21, at Stout Reformed Church with Pastor David Powers officiating.
Burial was at Stout Cemetery with military honors and the ringing of the old fire bell by the fire department.
Dike Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Harold E. Wallman, 91, Wykoff native
Harold E. Wallman, 91, of Rochester, a retired Kruse Lumber Co. employee, died Saturday, May 6, 2000, at Saint Marys Hospital following a brief illness.
He was born April 22, 1909, in Wykoff. On June 15, 1935, he married Virginia Mueller in Gaylord, Minn., and they moved to Rochester from Wykoff in 1943. His wife is a homemaker and taught kindergarten at Rochester Central Lutheran School for 10 years. He worked for Waters Conley Corp. for 25 years and then at Kruse Lumber Co. until he retired at age 70. During his youth, he was an outstanding softball pitcher. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he had served as deacon and belonged to the Men's Club.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Lee of Little Canada, Minn., and Curtis (Kathrine) of Brooklyn Park, Minn.; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Two brothers and a sister preceded him in death.
Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Ranfranz Funeral Home and an hour before the service Wednesday at the church.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. John Rasmussen officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens.
Bessie Jeanette Ward, 85, of Burr Oak
Bessie Jeanette Ward, 85, of Burr Oak, died Monday evening, July 31, 2000, at her home after a brief battle with cancer.
She was born on March 6, 1915, in Bluffton Township, Iowa, the daughter of John Leigh and Dianthia (Dinger) Halse. She lived her entire life in Winneshiek County, near or in Burr Oak, attending rural schools. She married Percy Ward on June 17, 1933, in the Methodist Parsonage in Decorah, Iowa. To that union, three children, Johnny, Norrene and Donald, were born.
Mrs. Ward was a homemaker, worked at the State Line Restaurant near Prosper and spent many years as the custodian of the Burr Oak United Methodist Church. She was a member of the United Methodist Women Circle. She enjoyed gardening, quilting for her family, and baking pies at holidays and cookies for her grandchildren.
She had a very special friend, Tom, her cat, who was her great companion the past few years. Mrs. Ward will be remembered for her walnuts at the church bazaar and delicious potato salad.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Marilyn Ward of Burr Oak; her daughter, Norrene (Richard) Winters of Marion, Iowa; and her son, Donald (Dawn) Ward of Burr Oak. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Percy, on July 22, 1988; her sister, Nellie; two brothers, Leigh and Raymond; a daughter-in-law, Carol Ward; a son, Johnny Ward; and a stepgrandson, Jason Himmer.
Funeral services were held Friday at the Burr Oak United Methodist church with the Rev. James Dale officiating. Burial was in the Burr Oak Cemetery.
Fjelstul Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Cecil C. Ward, 99, formerly of Lanesboro
Cecil C. Ward, 99, formerly of Lanesboro, a writer and former movie projectionist, died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford, where she lived since April of 1986.
She was born Oct. 1, 1901, in Lanesboro, where she lived all her life until entering the nursing home. In her early years she was a projectionist at the State Theater in Lanesboro, and at that time was recognized as the only female projectionist in Minnesota and only one of three in the United States. She also played the piano at the theater. Her writings included 16 novels and many poems, which are now on display at the Lanesboro Historical Preservation Association building in Lanesboro, along with her collection of 2,862 matchbooks. She was proud of the fact she and a brother had traveled by car to all but four of the lower 48 states. Miss Ward was considered to be the humane society of Lanesboro for 50 years. She worked in Lanesboro at the millinery store, Culbertson Electric and Hank’s Café, wrote for the Lanesboro Leader and, before her retirement, was a grocery clerk.
She is survived by nieces and nephews. Two brothers and a sister preceded her in death.
Funeral services were Friday at the United Methodist Church in Lanesboro, with the Rev. Marilyn Loken officiating. Burial will be in Lanesboro Cemetery in the spring. Johnson-Riley Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Walter 'Fish' Ward, Sr., 98, of Harmony
Walter "Fish" Ward, Sr., 98, of Harmony and formerly of the Mabel and Burr Oak areas, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000, at the Harmony Health Care Center in Harmony.
He was born June 21, 1902, in Henrytown to Isaac and Maria (Connelly) Ward. He attended school in Henrytown and on Feb. 18, 1925, he married Margaret Rice in Canton. They farmed in the Canton, Mabel and Burr Oak areas until their retirement in 1968.
The couple lived in rural Mabel until seven years ago when she died and then he moved to the Harmony Health Care Center where he has resided since. He was a member of the Canton-Scotland Presbyterian Church and enjoyed gardening and dartball.
He is survived by four sons, Robert (Marleene) of Mabel, Jimmie (Valli) of Cresco, Walter, Jr. (Carol) of Harmony and Earl of Minneapolis; 11 grandchildren Dwight (Joan), Marcia Ward (Mrs. Bob Tasca), Douglas (Traci), Michael (Bonnie), Larry (Maureen), Renae (Mrs. Charles) Zumwalt, Jim, Gerri Lou (Mrs. Gary) Ehler, Terri Sue (Mrs. Tom) Peterson, Gary (Jackie), and Kim (Mrs. Kevin) Knutson; 26 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife; a grandson, Durwin; a granddaughter, Lori Ann Ward; three sisters, Bernice, Sadie and Mabel; and seven brothers, Matt, Ray, Charlie, Earl, Harry, Frank and Merlin.
Funeral services were held Friday at the Canton-Scotland Presbyterian Church in Canton with the Rev. Jim Scaife officiating. Burial was in the Mabel Public Cemetery in Mabel. Mengis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Vermona Ione 'Monnie' Webster, 90, of SV
Vermona Ione "Monnie" Webster, 90, of Spring Valley, a homemaker, died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000, at Spring Valley Care Center, where she had resided since December 1997.
Vermona Ione Alberts was born June 24, 1909, in Spring Valley to Louis Alberts and Mattie Ploof Alberts and attended Spring Valley schools. On Oct. 4, 1928, she married LaVerne "Web" Webster at the Congregational Church in Spring Valley. She was a member of Faith United Methodist Church. In her early years she enjoyed dancing.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Dick (Gerrie) Webster and Kevin (Ann) Thon, both of Spring Valley, and Jerry (Shirley) Webster of Indian Wells, Calif.; a daughter, Terry (Mrs. Lloyd) Leibfried of Spring Valley; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Evelyn Larsen of Colorado. Two sisters, Lucille and Gertrude, and a brother, Louis, preceded her in death.
The funeral will be today (Wednesday) at 11 a.m. at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley with the Rev. James Ross officiating. Burial will be in the Spring Valley Cemetery.
Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley.
Eunice Helen Weeks, 88, once of Preston
Eunice Helen (Peterson) Weeks, 88, a resident of Menlo Park, Calif., died on May 9, 2000.
She was born March 13, 1912, in Preston, the daughter of Clarence and Myrtle Peterson. After graduating from Preston High School, she attended Normal training and became a country school teacher. She married Tom Weeks and moved to Rochester, where she was a bookkeeper for Tom's Electric Company. They had one daughter, Kay, and were later divorced.
In 1960, she moved to Denver, Colo., where she worked as a clerk bookkeeper for Financial Programs until her retirement in 1977. She moved to California and became an active member of Little House, a senior center in Menlo Park. During the past several years she acted as corresponding secretary for Little House, and was known by her many friends as the "Sunshine Chairman" because of the many greeting cards she sent to people.
She is survived by a daughter, Kay Weeks of Palo Alto, Calif.; two brothers, Vincent Peterson of Altoona, Penn, and Arlyn Peterson of Sun City West, Ariz.; and two sisters, LaVonne Richardson of Altoona, Penn., and Marge Brown of Pleasant Hope, Mo.
Arrangements were by Neptune Society.
Grace Welander, 86, mother of area man
Grace O. Welander, 86, of Minneapolis, died Aug. 6, 2000.
She was born in Duluth and graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1933. She married Carl Welander Sept. 11, 1937, and was a longtime member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia.
She worked at the Virginia Regional Hospital admitting desk for many years. She was an avid Minnesota Twins fan and loved to fish. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1981.
She is survived by four sons, Richard (Kathy), Donald (Karen), of Wykoff, Gerald (Patty), James; five grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and former daughter-in-law, Kate Larkin.
Memorials are preferred to Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia.
Services were held Wednesday, Aug. 9, at First Memorial Edina Chapel, 7110 France Ave., S., Edina 952-4900.
Dennis Wendt, 65, of Harmony
Dennis Wendt, 65, of Harmony, died at the Harmony Community Nursing Home on May 25, 2000.
He was born Nov. 24, 1934, near Canton, the son of Reuben and Dorothy (Sanden) Wendt. He attended the Wilton Center School and Preston High School. He united in marriage to Marie Buchanan in 1956 and to this union three children were born. They were divorced. He later married Kathy Raeder in 1970 and to this union one son was born. They were later divorced. Mr. Wendt worked for Armour Foods for many years.
He was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his children: Roger Wendt and Barbara Oelkers both of Rochester, Pamela Schimek of Byron, and Brian Wendt of Colorado Springs, Colo.; his mother of Preston; six grandchildren; two great grandchildren; a special friend, Marilyn Norton, of Harmony; three brothers, John of Fountain, Dick of Rochester, and Steve of Minneapolis; and two sisters, Susan Turk of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Linda Wilson of Lodi, Wis.
Services were at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony on Saturday with burial in the Big Spring Cemetery, rural Harmony. The Rev. Jonathan Sorum officiated at the services.
Leslie G. Wennes, 82, of rural Spring Grove
Leslie G. Wennes, 82, of rural Spring Grove, died Sunday, March 19, 2000, at Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital in Decorah.
He was born Jan. 14, 1918, in Highland Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, to Peter N. and Ida B. (Kittleson) Wennes. He attended rural school in Highland Township at "The Exey School." He was a lifelong resident of Highland Township. On Dec. 17, 1949, he married Gladys A. Landsom at the Trinity Lutheran Church parsonage in Spring Grove.
He farmed and also owned and operated a trucking service. He was a lifelong member of Highland Lutheran Church, rural Spring Grove, where he was very active.
He enjoyed working with his horses, and is remembered for teaching all of his grandchildren how to drive. He loved old-time music and dancing. He loved to visit with people and play cards. He is also remembered for a witty sense of humor.
He is survived by his wife; one son, Greg (Jacque) Wennes of Spring Grove; two daughters, Brenda Gullickson of Independence, Minn., and Patty Holck of Decorah; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one sister, Ione Hagen of Buffalo, Minn.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Wednesday at Highland Lutheran Church in rural Spring Grove with the Rev. David H. Andreae officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Roble Funeral Home in Spring Grove was in charge of arrangements.
Helen Eldora Westphal, 78, formerly of SV
Helen Eldora Westphal, 78, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, at Bethany Covenant Nursing Home, Minneapolis, where she had lived the past four months.
Helen E. Howard was born April 4, 1921, in Des Moines, Iowa. She grew up in the Spring Valley area and attended Spring Valley High School. She married Henry Westphal on March 3, 1939, in Spring Valley. Her husband, a longtime mechanic at House Chevrolet in Stewartville, died in 1990. She worked as an egg candler at the former Christenson Produce Co. in Stewartville. She later was employed at Waters Conley Co. in Rochester for 15 years, retiring in 1969. The couple moved to Minneapolis after retirement.
Survivors include two sons, Leonard of Minneapolis and Gerald of Hastings, Mich.; six grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
The funeral is today (Wednesday) at 1:30 p.m. at Griffin-Gray Funeral Home of Stewartville, with the Rev. Jef Olson of United Methodist Church in Stewartville officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens, Rochester.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. until the time of the service Wednesday at the funeral home.
