Ameta A. Wager, 80, of Mabel
Ameta A. Wager, 80, of Mabel, formerly of Harmony, died at the Harmony Community Nursing Home on March 30, 2001, after a short illness.
She was born July 16, 1920, to Amelia (Ready) and Emil Mades Sr. She was united in marriage to Allen Wager on Sept. 9, 1939, in Decorah, Iowa. They farmed most of their lives in the Houston area and also in North Dakota. She also worked at Harmony Health Care for 15 years.
Survivors include two daughters, Charlotte (David) Flatten of Harmony and Donna Wager (Manford Nelson) of Mabel; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and a sister, Doris (George) Williams of LaCrescent. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1978, three brothers and a sister.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday at Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony with burial in Silver Creek Cemetery in Looney Valley, near Houston, with the Rev. John Hagen officiating.
Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony was in charge of arrangements.
H. Walhus, 93, longtime Mabel resident
Helen "Beth" Walhus, 93, a longtime Mabel resident, died Sunday, June 3, 2001, at Tweeten Health Services in Spring Grove.
She was born Helen Corson on Feb. 8, 1908, in Ada, Minn. She graduated from Ada High School in 1925 and after graduating from St. Cloud State College taught second grade in Hallock, Minn. On Aug. 15, 1933, she married Leonard Walhus in Ada. They purchased the Skogmo Store in Mabel in l953, operating it until their retirement in 1973. She was a member of Mabel First Lutheran Church and its WELCA, was a member of the church board and choir, and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Lodge and Royal Neighbors.
Survivors include a son, Lionel of Los Angeles; and a sister, Marjorie Zimmerman of St. Paul. Her husband preceded her in death.
The funeral was held on Friday at First Lutheran Church in Mabel with the Rev. Gene Hermeier officiating. Burial was in Mabel Lutheran Cemetery.
Mengis Funeral Home, Mabel, was in charge of arrangements.
Gilma Thoen Walsh, 85, of Lanesboro
Gilma Thoen Walsh, 85, of Lanesboro, a longtime librarian and grocery store employee, died Saturday, June 2, 2001, at the Preston Care Center where she had lived six months.
Gilma Thoen was born July 8, 1915, in rural Lanesboro and graduated from Lanesboro High School in 1933. On Sept. 8, 1958, she married Edward Walsh in McGregor, Minn. He died in 1977. A lifelong Lanesboro resident, she worked at the Lanesboro grocery store for 30 years and was librarian at the Lanesboro Public Library for 31 years. In 1949 she helped organize the VFW Auxiliary, and served as its president for 17 years and as secretary for 17 years. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, its serving group and WELCA. She collected salt and pepper shakers.
Survivors include a brother, Harold (Helen) Thoen of Lanesboro.
The funeral was Wednesday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lanesboro, with the Rev. Kerry Eversole officiating. Burial in St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Lanesboro.
Johnson-Riley Funeral Home in Lanesboro was in charge of arrangements.
Jerome Wangen, 52, once of Fountain
Jerome P. Wangen, 52, formerly of rural Fountain, died Feb. 26, 2001, at Community Memorial Hospital in Missouri Valley, Iowa.
He was born July 16, 1948, in Lanesboro. He grew up in rural Lanesboro and graduated from Lanesboro High School in 1966. He married Mary Foster on June 9, 1967, in Fountain. He worked as a carpenter in the area and they farmed on the rural Fountain family farm for 18 years. He was in the registered Holstein and Black Angus associations. After farming they moved to a hobby farm by Wells, Minn., lived there for six years and moved to Missouri Valley, Iowa, in 1999.
He enjoyed raising many breeds of cattle. He loved raising and riding his horses. His interests included woodworking, horses, bird watching and reading. He enjoyed being with his family, loved family gatherings and was always the life of the party. He was one that won the heart of every child he knew.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; a son, Jeremy (Karolyn) Wangen of Chatfield; two daughters, Michelle Wangen of Wheat Ridge, Colo., and Jessica Wangen of Ames, Iowa; three sisters, Darlene (Carroll) Tudahl of Rushford, Julie (Gary) Burkholder of Harmony, and Carolyn (Dean) Solberg of Lanesboro; two brothers, David (Kim) Wangen of Harmony and Jason (Kelly) Wangen of Harmony; his parents, Peter and Naomi Wangen of Harmony; his maternal grandmother, Beulah Hermanson of Harmony; a brother-in-law, Jerry Foster of San Jose, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Jean, and paternal grandparents, Edward and Bertha Wangen and his maternal grandfather, Herman Hermanson Sr.
Funeral services were held Saturday at Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony, with the Rev. John Hagen officiating.
Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony was in charge of arrangements.
Roger J. Webb, 78, of Spring Valley
Roger J. Webb, 78, of Spring Valley, died Sunday, April 15, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester following a lengthy illness.
He was born July 21, 1922 at Montour, Iowa. He married Elaine Ellenberg at the Racine Evangelical Church Sept. 18, 1948.
He was a long-ime resident of Sumner Township, where he farmed for more than 50 years. He was a member of the Sumner Center United Methodist Church since 1948 and served as trustee for many years. He also served as clerk of the Sumner Town Board for 20 years and was a past member of the Racine Creamery Board and the Fillmore County Zoning Commission.
He is survived by his wife; two sons, Larry of Spring Valley and Randal (Kathy) of Chatfield; five grandchildren; two brothers, Ronald (Ruth) of Burr Oak, Iowa, and Wayne (Ella) of Hemet, Calif.; and one sister, Ethel (Arthur) Hoskey of Long Prairie, Minn.
He was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.
There will be no visitation at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Mayo Cancer Foundation, the Eugenio Litta Children’s Hospital at Saint Marys or the Ronald McDonald House.
A memorial service will be held today, (Wednesday), at 1:30 p.m. at the Sumner Center Methodist Church. Interment will be at the Sumner Cemetery at Sumner Center with the Rev. Burton Hoag officiating.
Griffin Gray Funeral Home of Stewartville was in charge of arrangements.
Orville W. Wempner, 74, of Winona
Orville Willard Wempner, 74, of Winona, a retired truck driver, formerly of Millville, died of natural causes Sunday, July 1, 2000, at his home.
Born June 20, 1927, in Millville, he attended Millville Elementary School, District 42 school in rural Plainview and graduated from the eighth grade at Smithfield School in rural Plainview. In 1956, he married Lois Berg in Elgin and they were later divorced. He married Dixie Callahan in Plainview and they also divorced. In 1977 he married Jalaine Dorman in Plainview and they divorced. On June 27, 1995, he married Mary Rood in Lanesboro. She survives. A trucker and farmer, he worked for Eugene Lehnertz of Plainview, Jackson Transfer of Zumbrota and Joe Fredrickson of rural Lake City. He also worked at Gould National Battery in Lake City and for a short time was a DHIA milk tester for Wabasha County. He lived in southeastern Minnesota most of his life, including on a farm in rural Whalan. He moved to Winona in 1999. He was a member of American Legion Post 579 of Millville. His interests included hunting, fishing and horses.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Anna Newman of Austin; eight sons, Eugene (Cheryl) of Zumbrota, Robert (Janet) and Dennis (Michelle) both of Lake City, Orville (Lisa) Jr. and Scott, both of Oceanside, Calif., Mike (Lynn) and James, both of Austin, and Carl of St. Cloud, Minn.; four stepdaughters; four stepsons; 10 grandchildren; 10 stepgrandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two brothers, Franklin of Millville and Marvin (Roberta) of Lake City. Two infant children and a brother preceded him in death.
The funeral will be today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. at Schleicher Funeral Homes, Plainview Chapel, with the Rev. Gerald Melby officiating. Burial in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Lake City.
Friends may call an hour before the service Thursday at the funeral home.
Wilma Wesselink, 90, of Cherry Grove
Wilma Henrietta Wesselink, 90, of Cherry Grove, died Friday, May 11, 2001, at the Spring Valley Care Center in Spring Valley where she had resided for a short time.
She was born Oct. 29, 1910, in York Township to John Hebrink and Maggie Scheevel Hebrink. She attended the Red School through the eighth grade and on Sept. 25, 1935, she married Peter Mathews. He died in 1977. She was later united in marriage to Howard Wesselink on Nov. 6, 1982.
She was a faithful member of the Cherry Grove United Methodist Church for almost 75 years.
She is survived by her husband of Cherry Grove; two foster children, Shirley Heddlesten of Marysville, Calif., and Ruth (Orlo) Link of Wykoff; a stepson, Floyd (Carol) Wesselink of Marion, Iowa, and two stepdaughters, Coleen (Marvin) Schmidt of Rochester, and Marlys (Paul) Nagel of Jesup, Iowa; 16 stepgrandchildren and many nieces and nephews, also a sister-in-law, Delia Hebrink of Cresco. She was preceded in death by three sisters, Nancy, Ruby and Helen; and two brothers, Loren and Galen.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Cherry Grove United Methodist Church in Cherry Grove with the Rev. Mark Rader officiating. Burial in the Cherry Grove Cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley was in charge of arrangements.
Monica M. Westphal, 81, of SV
Monica Westphal, 81, of Spring Valley and formerly of the LeRoy area, died Thursday, June 14, 2001, at the home of her daughter in Spring Valley.
She was born May 24, 1920, in Pocohontas, Iowa, to Frank Nedved and Agnes Hronek Nedved. On Feb. 10, 1940, she was united in marriage to Dale G. Westphal in Fairmont, Minn., and they lived in Pocohontas until 1946 when they moved to Grand Meadow, where they resided until 1957 when they moved to Taopi, Minn. In 1962 they moved to LeRoy. She was a homemaker and also worked at the Sweet Shop in LeRoy as a waitress for many years. Together they ran the garbage route in LeRoy from 1975 to 1981. Her husband died in 1982. In 1997 she moved to Spring Valley where she resided until her death. She enjoyed babysitting, birds, dances and old-time music.
She is survived by three sons, Daniel (Billie) Westphal of Colorado Springs, Colo., Roger (Reta) Westphal of Rochester, Jeffrey (Angela) Westphal of Rochester; one daughter Margaret "Peggy" (Doug) Guy of Spring Valley; 19 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren; one sister, Blanche (George) Wilson of Indian Harbor Beach, Fla.; one niece and four nephews. She was preceded in death by one son, Lelan in 1975, and daughter, Diane in 1969, also one brother, Benjamin, in 1963.
Services were held Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in LeRoy with the Rev. Russell Scepaniak officiating. Burial was in the LeRoy Cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in LeRoy was in charge of arrangements.
Jeannette Whiteis, once of Lanesboro
Jeannette (Culberson) Whiteis, 86, died April 23, 2001, at a care center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
She was born June 11, 1914, to Anna Marie and Albert Duncan Culberson and was a 1932 graduate of Lanesboro High School and Mankato State College. She served the children of Minnesota and Iowa as a first grade teacher for 43 years. She taught first through fourth grades in Whalan from 1934 to 1936. She married O.G. Whiteis, May 31, 1942.
She is survived by a daughter, Bonnie Wubbena of Colorado Springs, Co; a son, Monty Whiteis (Kathy) of Rush, Colo.; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her husband, a brother, Albert Culberson and a sister, Mildred Johnson.
Memorial services were held at the First Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs.
Lyle E. Wilbur, 83, once of Prosper
Lyle E. Wilbur, 83, of Decorah, formerly of Prosper, died of congestive heart failure on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2001, at Oneota Riverview Care Facility in Decorah.
Survivors include his wife, Alice; three sons, Curtis of Miller, S.D., Cleon of Prosper and Mark of Burr Oak; two daughters, Karen Arneson of Canton, Wanda Haack of Bemidji, Minn; 17 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Leta Rongley of Mabel.
The funeral was held Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Burr Oak with the Revs. Letha Rogers and Wayne Wasta co-officiating. Burial was in Burr Oak Cemetery.
Fjelstul Funeral Home, Decorah, was in charge of arrangements.
Marjorie L. Wilson, 82, of Preston
Marjorie L. Wilson, 82, of Preston, died Sunday, June 3, 2001, at the Preston Good Samaritan Care Center.
She was born Feb. 20, 1919, in Hutton, Preston Township in Fillmore County, the daughter of Henry and Leona (Klein) Wilson. She graduated from Preston High School in 1935. She graduated from Preston Normal School in 1936. She taught rural school in Fillmore County for five years, then joined the WAVES on Oct. 9, 1942, and served three years, three months and 19 days and was discharged in January 1946. While with the WAVES she worked for the chief of naval operations in Washington, D. C. She was one of the first women in the United States to volunteer for active duty. After her discharge she farmed in the Preston area until the year 2000 when she entered the Preston Good Samaritan Care Center. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Preston.
She is survived by one sister, Christie Collett of Preston, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.
The funeral was Wednesday at Christ Lutheran Church with the Revs. James Rushton and Bernard Paiker officiating. Burial with full military rites was performed by the Preston Servicemen's Club at Crown Hill Cemetery in Preston.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Devan Leonard Winfield, Infant son of former GM couple
Devan Leonard Winfield, infant son of Nicole and Bill Winfield of Shakopee and formerly of Grand Meadow, was stillborn Thursday, May 17, 2001, at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee.
He is survived by his parents, Bill Winfield and Nicole (Jacobson) Winfield; a brother, Cody; and a sister, Camille; maternal grandparents, Leonard and Nancy Jacobson of Grand Meadow and paternal grandparents, Leu and Linda Winfield of LeRoy; also maternal great-grandmother Doris Jacobson of Grand Meadow and maternal great-grandfather Royce Wentworth of St. Gorge, Utah and formerly of Cresco, Iowa; paternal great-grandparents Barney and Jerry Winfield of LeRoy and Harold and Clarice Bauer of Riceville, Iowa; also many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services were held Saturday at the Grand Meadow Lutheran Church in Grand Meadow with the Rev. Elaine Siemsen officiating. Burial in the Grand Meadow Cemetery.
Elmer Winslow, 85, former SV resident
Elmer Winslow, 85, Pine River, died Wednesday, June 27, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
He was born July 17, 1915, in Spring Valley to Ralph and Zillah Winslow.
Survivors include two daughters, Nancy Rollins, Pequot Lakes, and Susan Eveland, Connecticut; seven grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a brother, Lyle Winslow, of Lakeland, Fla.
His wife, Shirley; a grandson; and a brother, Caroll Winslow, preceded him in death.
Services were held at Kline Funeral Home in Pine River.
Edna Wiste, 84, of Spring Grove
Edna Alma Emilia Wiste, 84, of Spring Grove, a former area farm homemaker, died Sunday, April 15, 2001, at Tweeten/Lutheran Health Care Center in Spring Grove.
Edna Alma Emilia Bjertness was born Oct. 4, 1916, in Blackhammer Township, Houston County, and attended Storlie School in rural Spring Grove. She lived in the area all her life. On Nov. 3, 1944, she married Henry Carl Wiste at the Faith Lutheran Church parsonage in Blackhammer and they farmed in the Blackhammer area. Her husband died Jan. 28, 1983. She was an active member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Riceford and its WELCA group.
Survivors include two sons, Truman and Larry (Sharon), both of Spring Grove; three daughters, Helen (Darrel) Mann of Sheridan, Wyo., Florence (James) Schmit of Austin and Carol (Merlin) Melver of Buffalo, Wyo.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A grandson, two brothers and a sister also preceded her in death.
The funeral was Wednesday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Riceford with the Rev. William A. Horn officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Riceford.
Roble Funeral Home in Spring Grove was in charge of arrangements.
Olive M. Wright, 93, of Fountain area
Olive M. Wright, 93, of Chatfield, a former farm homemaker, died Thursday, Aug. 2, 2001, at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, where she had been a patient since June.
Olive M. Johnson was born Aug. 16, 1907, in Preston. On Dec. 30, 1925, she married Edward Wright in Lanesboro and they lived in the Preston, Lanesboro, Fountain and Chatfield areas and moved into Chatfield following retirement from farming more than 20 years ago. Her husband died Nov. 13, 1986. She was a member of the Chatfield United Methodist Church, Farm Bureau and Fillmore County Historical Society, volunteered with Meals on Wheels and enjoyed traveling.
Survivors include three sons, William (Mary) of Chatfield, Edwin (Charlotte) of Preston, and Everett (Karen) of Lakeville, Minn.; five daughters, Mary (Roger) Remington of Reads Landing, Alice Kraby of Roseville, Minn., Gladys (Marion) Davidson of Spring Valley, Olivia "Cookie" (Larry) Heikes of Braham, Minn., and Wanita (Jack) Parker of Sartell, Minn.; 31 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Raymond (Elvera) Johnson of Chatfield and Orvis (Edna) Johnson of Dover; and two sisters, Geneva Bergan of St. Charles and Leone (Charles) Deedrick of Winona. She was preceded in death by two daughters, a great-grandson and a sister.
The funeral was Saturday at Chatfield United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dennis Cox-Townsend officiating. Burial was in Chatfield Cemetery.
Riley Funeral Home, Chatfield, was in charge of arrangements.
Earl E. Zalky, 67, Wykoff native
Earl Edward Zalky, 67, died March 17, 2001, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis after a lengthy illness.
Born Sept. 18, 1933, he grew up in Wykoff, graduated from Wykoff High School and served in the U. S. Marine Corps from 1953 to 1957. He was a member of Spring Valley VFW Post #4114.
He married Ethel (Higgins) Johnson on Dec. 28, 1968, at the First Lutheran Church in Spring Valley.
Survivors include his wife of Ostrander; one brother, Dale (Ruthel) Zalky; one sister, Donna (Gil) Albrecht, all of Wykoff; four children from a previous marriage, Robin Zalky, Oklahoma City, Okla.; Scott Zalky, St. Charles, Minn., Steven Zalky, and Randy Zalky, both of Rochester, Minn.; five stepchildren, Debborah Cummings, Worthington, Minn, Brian (Sandy) Johnson, Lime Springs, Iowa, Pamela (Dave) Stevens, LeRoy, Minn., Steven (Abby Johnson, Alexandria, Minn., Lisa (Gary) McGinty, Greenbrier, Ark.; several grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother.
A private memorial service will be held with military rites at the Wykoff Cemetery at a later date.
Caroline Ziemer, mother of GM man
Caroline Mae Ziemer, 88, of Hayfield, Minn., a former Waltham-area farm homemaker, died Thursday, April 19, 2001, at the Grand Meadow Health Care Center.
Caroline Mae Hillier was born Nov. 22, 1912, in Austin, attended District 55 School in rural Austin, and after graduating from Austin High School, worked at Hormel Foods Corp. for several years. On June 12, 1938, she married Kenneth Ziemer in Austin, and they farmed north of Waltham for 63 years. She had been a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Waltham Project since 1938. She enjoyed helping raise purebred Guernsey calves, vegetable and flower gardening and canning and freezing fruits and vegetables.
Survivors include her husband; a son, Edward of Grand Meadow; a daughter, Martha Ziehwein of Burnsville, Minn.; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a brother, Oliver (Grace) Hillier of Austin. She was preceded in death by a sister and a brother.
A memorial service was held Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Hayfield, with the Rev. Charlie Talcott officiating. A private family graveside service was held in Fairview Cemetery in Hayfield.
Czaplewski Family Funeral Home in Hayfield was in charge of arrangements.
Faye L. Zimmerman, mother of Mabel woman
Faye L. Zimmerman, 59, of Kasson, died Thursday, April 12, 2001, in rural Dodge County.
She was born Dec. 9, 1941, in Mantorville and lived in Dodge County and Kasson since 1989.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Gene of Oronoco and Todd of Kasson; a daughter, Debbie of Mabel; three grandchildren; a great-grandchild and one brother.
The funeral was Tuesday at St. John's Lutheran Church, Kasson. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery.
