Donald K. Capron, 85, of Lanesboro
Donald K. Capron, 85, of Lanesboro, died Thursday, April 5, 2001, at Good Samaritan Center in Preston where he had lived since May 1995.
He was born Dec. 21, 1915, in Lanesboro. He graduated from Lanesboro High School. Following graduation he attended normal training in Preston. He taught for two years at Maland School near Highland and two years at Diamond Creek School near Whalan. He worked for three years at Capron-Brekke Hardware Store. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1945, then returned to Lanesboro and worked in the hardware store. He retired in 1983 but continued to work at Capron Hardware until 1994. He was a member of Richland Prairie "Scotland" Church near Henrytown and later joined the United Methodist Church in Lanesboro. He was also a member of the Lanesboro American Legion, V.F.W. and Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include one brother, J. Hugh (Virginia) Capron of Winona.
The funeral was Tuesday at United Methodist Church in Lanesboro with the Rev. Tony Fink officiating. The American Legion conducted military rites. Spring burial will be in Lanesboro Cemetery.
Elmer Christopherson, 91, of Preston
Elmer Christopherson, 91, of Preston, a retired butter-maker, died Friday, March 9, 2001, at the Preston Good Samaritan Care Center in Preston.
He was born on April 12, 1909, in Holmen, Wis., and attended country school near Holmen. On April 24, 1935, he married Lillian Johnson in Blair, Wis. They farmed and later moved to Preston, where Mr. Christopherson became a champion butter-maker. He retired in 1981. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Preston. He enjoyed playing the accordion and carpentry.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Delores (Merle) Kiehne and Arlene (Darrell) Brekke, both of Preston, and Sue (John) Hansen of Whitehall, Wis.; two sons, Jim (Glad) of South Hill, Va., and Garry of Onalaska, Wis.; 13 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; and a sister, Lillie Severson of Galesville, Wis. He was preceded in death by a daughter, a great-grandchild, 12 brothers and sisters.
Funeral services were held on Monday at Christ Lutheran Church with the Revs. James Rushton and Bernard Daiker officiating. Burial will take place in the spring in Crown Hill Cemetery in Preston.
Leroy Christopherson, 65, formerly of Mabel
Leroy Omar Christopherson, a professional photographer in Orlando, Fla., died Thursday, Dec. 7, 2000, in the hospital in Ocoee, Fla. He was 65.
Mr. Christopherson operated a studio in College Park for a time, and then was a freelance photographer for magazines and newspapers around the world and the Associated Press. He started his own magazine called The Professional Photographer.
He played bluegrass music on the guitar.
Mr. Christopherson was also well known as a frequent writer of letters to the editor and feature articles, some of which were published in the News-Record. In these articles he shared some of his fondest memories of growing up in Iowa and Mabel and raising a family. He was a graduate of the Mabel High School.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Alice; sons, Alan of Lithia, Fla., and Tony of Mascotte, Fla.; daughter, Tloa Carter of Ocoee, Fla.; a brother, Dr. Wayne, of Pittsburgh; and his mother, Ladice, of Pittsburgh.
Voe 'Tug' Ellen Colburn, 83, of GM
Voe "Tug" Ellen Colburn, 83, died Sunday, Aug. 26, 2001, at the Grand Meadow Health Care Center in Grand Meadow where she had resided for about three years.
She was born Sept. 23, 1917, in Osage, Iowa, to John and Estella (Donner) Shumate. She moved with her family to the Dexter area around 1934. She worked for Hormels until her marriage to Claude Colburn Oct. 18, 1937, in Austin, on his 22nd birthday. They lived in the Dexter area until 1944, when they moved to a farm near Nashua, Iowa, where they worked for a large cattle buyer for five years before they started farming for themselves. They farmed in the Nashua, Republic, and Ionia, Iowa, areas until their retirement in 1978, at which time they moved to Austin, Minn., and then to Grand Meadow in 1984.
She was president of the PTA, a member of Farm Bureau, president of the ladies aid and a 4-H leader. She always had a large garden and did a lot of freezing and canning until arthritis made it too difficult to continue. She loved playing cards and loved music, going to many dances with her husband.
She is survived by her husband at the Grand Meadow Health Care Center; a daughter, Ellen (Roger) Jensson of Grand Meadow, four grandchildren, Melanie (David) Mergen of Bloomington, Wis., Matthew (Angela) Jensson, Cambridge, Wis., and Rhonda and Ryan Jensson, both of Grand Meadow; four great-grandchildren, Abby Jo and Jessica Mergan and Halcy and Elsa Jensson; one brother, Wayne (Betty) Shumate of Austin, Minn., and sisters-in-law, Verla Shumate of Sumner, Iowa and Esther Shumate of Fredricksburg, Iowa. She was preceded in death by three brothers, four sisters, and eight nieces and nephews.
The funeral was Thursday at the United Church in Grand Meadow with the Rev. Tom Wilson officiating. Burial was in the Osage, Iowa, cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Grand Meadow was in charge of arrangements.
Christie L. Collett, 89, of Preston
Christie L. Collett, 89, of rural Preston, died Saturday afternoon, Aug. 4, 2001, at the Preston Good Samaritan Care Center.
Christie Wilson was born Sept. 23, 1911, in rural Preston to Henry and Leone (Klein) Wilson. She was raised in rural Preston and was a 1930 graduate of Preston High School. She married William Collett Oct. 9, 1937, in Lanesboro. The couple made their home and farmed in the Harmony and Preston areas. Her husband died Oct. 3, 1994.
She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Preston and had been active in the Ladies Aid. She enjoyed crocheting and reading.
She is survived by three sons, Dave (Ellen) of Preston, Richard (Carole) of Fountain, and Jeff (Mary Rajala) of Green Bay, Wis.; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death two brothers and three sisters.
The funeral was Tuesday at Christ Lutheran Church with the Rev. James Rushton officiating. Burial was in Watson Creek Cemetery in rural Preston.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Donald L. Cook, 88, formerly of Preston
Donald Lawrence Cook, 88, of Iowa Falls, Iowa, a former Fillmore County sheriff, died Feb. 26, 2001, in Iowa Falls.
He was born Aug. 10, 1912, in St. Paul, Minn. He attended school in St. Paul and Preston. He married June Schroeder of Spring Valley in 1938. He spent four years in the African Division of the Army during World War II. He then spent the next 35 years in law enforcement, first as Fillmore County Sheriff and then as head of security at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester. After the death of his first wife in 1958, he married Viola Andersen Hundahl in 1982 and they moved to Iowa Falls.
He had a lifetime love of music and played percussion with the Chatfield Brass Band for many years. He was a member of the St. Mark's Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, V.F.W., Hyman-Peavy American Legion Post #188, and the Iowa Falls Elks Club B.P.O.E. Lodge #1674.
He is survived by his wife; two sons, Robert (Ellen) of Wantagh, Long Island, N.Y., and David (Teresa) of Forest Lake, Minn.; one stepson, Dean (Corinne) Hundahl of Iowa Falls; a stepdaughter, Mary (Keith) Hieber of Moorhead; five grandchildren; seven stepgrandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and 11 stepgreat-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife; one brother, Harold; one sister, Mary Kay; a stepson, James Hundahl; and a stepgrandson, Nathan Hieber.
A funeral Mass was held Thursday, March 1, at St. Mark's Catholic Church, Iowa Falls. Burial was in St. Mark's Catholic Cemetery.
Surls Funeral Home, Iowa Falls, was in charge of arrangements.
Anita Jean Costello, 77, of Spring Valley
Anita Jean Costello, 77, of Spring Valley, a longtime business owner, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, at her home.
Anita Jean Riehl was born March 12, 1923, in Spring Valley. On Nov. 24, 1946, she married James E. Costello, Sr., in Spring Valley. They owned and operated Costello's Service Station in Spring Valley for 35 years and retired in June 1980. She enjoyed embroidery.
Survivors include her husband; a son, James E. (Nancy) of Stewartville; four daughters, Beverly Weltzin of Portage, Ind., Barb (Jerry) Bush and Brenda Churchill, both of Spring Valley, and Betty (Dan) Long of Valparaiso, Ind.; eight grandchildren; three sisters, Pearl Moeller of Chatfield, Blanche (Kermit) Schultz of Spring Valley and Ruth (James) Estes of Ely, Iowa. Two brothers preceded her in death.
A memorial service was held Saturday, Feb. 17, at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley with the Rev. James Ross officiating.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to Seasons Hospice or Ronald McDonald House, both in Rochester.
Harry E. Cronk, 74, of Wykoff
Harry E. Cronk, 74, of Wykoff, died Friday afternoon, March 16, 2001, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.
He was born Oct. 1, 1926, in Chatfield, the son of Otis E. and Hattie (Griffin) Cronk. He grew up in southern Minnesota. He served with U.S. Marine Corp from 1944 to 1946. He married Judith J. Deyo July 4, 1950, in Hot Springs, S.D. The couple made their home in Ree Heights, S.D., where they farmed for a number of years. The couple also lived in the state of Washington and then Minnesota where they finally made their home. During this time He was involved with over-the-road trucking. She died April 2, 1994.
He was a member of the Wykoff American Legion.
He is survived by three children, Carl (Lucila) Cronk of Rochester, Dwayne (Darla) Cronk of Spring Valley, and Kay (Brian) Rathbun of Wykoff; 11 grandchildren; one brother, Harold (Margaret) Cronk of Deming, Wash.; and four sisters, Thelma Groh of Lynden, Wash,, Phyllis Puller of Bellingham, Wash., Ethel Litwiler of Los Osos, Calif., and Ruth (David) Rancourt of Lynnwood, Wash.
He was preceded in death by one granddaughter and one brother.
The funeral was Tuesday at the Wykoff United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bob Kandels officiating. Burial with military graveside rites in the Wykoff Cemetery.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Wykoff was in charge of arrangements.
Lawrence 'Dean' Crouch, 79, of Mabel
Lawrence "Dean" Crouch, 79, of rural Mabel, died Friday, May 18, 2001, at his home.
He was born Oct. 8, 1921, in Webster City, Iowa, to Herman and Zoa (Taylor) Crouch. He grew up in the Webster City area and during World War II from June 1940 to December 1944, he served in the Infantry of the United States Army. During his service he was stationed in North Ireland, England, Italy and North Africa. He was awarded several medals including two Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart after getting wounded in Italy. In the early 1950s he moved to and farmed in the Cherry Grove and Lime Springs areas until 1967 when he moved to the Mabel area. He farmed in the area until retiring in 1983 and in 1986 he moved to a small hobby farm where he has resided. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and enjoyed horses, hunting, fishing, and baseball. (Until the strike.)
He is survived by his special friend, Lois Ask of Mabel; two sisters-in-law, Doris Crouch of Mabel, and Alice Crouch of Webster City, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his 12 brothers and sisters.
Funeral services were held Monday at the Scheie Lutheran Church with the Rev. Mary Waudby officiating. Burial in the Mabel Public Cemetery with military rites by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Mabel American Legion.
Mengis Funeral Home of Mabel was in charge of arrangements.
William H. Curtis, 72, sister of SV woman
William H. Curtis, 72, of Stewartville and formerly of Rochester, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, of cancer at Seasons Hospice in Rochester. He had been ill for 10 months.
He was born Dec. 15, 1928, in rural Olmsted County near Rochester. At age 6, he moved with his family into Rochester. He married Ancille Fordham and they later divorced. On Dec. 20, 1986, he married Iva M. Runkle Sattre at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Employed through his union at several sheet metal shops in Rochester, he also was a self-employed carpenter. For the past 14 years he lived in rural Stewartville and was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by eight sons, Gary (Vickie) of Abilene, Texas, Richard (Janet) of Hammond, Minn., James of Kasson, Randy (Marin) of Austin, and Michael (Ramie), Robert, Jay and John, all of Rochester; three daughters, Cindy Figy of Rochester, Lisa Tonjes of Kasson, and Sally Schmitz of Omaha, Neb.; two stepsons, Richard Sattre of Red Wing, and Mark Sattre of Stewartville; one stepdaughter, Judy (Mark) Zuleger of Stetsonville, Wis.; 18 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; two brothers, Vern (Lila) of Rochester, and Rollie (Rosa) of Sheridan, Wyo.; and five sisters, Beverly Curtis of Boulder, Mont.; Dorothy (Minar) Therneau of Spring Valley, Minn.; Sharon (Alvin) Batdorf of Stewartville, Rose (Jerry) Bacon of New Market, Minn., and Genny Hanf of Rochester. He was preceded in death by one sister and three brothers.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Stewartville, with the Rev. Lyle Kath officiating. Burial will occur in the spring.
Friends may call one hour before the church service Saturday.
Lola Cutler, 89, of Preston
Lola Rosemary (Heinzelman) Cutler died Jan. 20, 2001, in Preston under the care of Mayo Hospice.
She was born Feb. 2, 1911, in Grand Rapids, Minn., to George Charles Heinzelman and Phoebe Myrtle (Cummings) Heinzelman. The family moved to rural Fillmore County when she was nine years old. She graduated from Preston High School and Normal Teacher Training School, and completed a teacher certification program at Winona State College. She taught school in rural Fillmore County and in Harmony. She married Claude Archie Cutler on Nov. 25, 1931. As a young woman she was very active in Preston community affairs and in the Preston Methodist Church. She was known as a talented vocalist, pianist and organist.
She served as a substitute rural letter carrier and was a full-time carrier during WWII. While in Preston she was also receptionist for an optometrist and clerk for the district court judge.
In 1960, she and her husband moved to Florida. She returned to Preston in August of 2000.
She is survived by two daughters, Fauntie (Clair) Wilcoxon of Preston and Doris Forsythe of Port Charlotte, Fla; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and a brother, Frederick Alden Heizelman of Burton, Mich. She was preceded in death by her husband, an infant daughter and a brother, George Cleland Heinzelman.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, in the Preston United Methodist Church. She will be buried in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
