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Mildred B. Johnson, 55
Mildred "Mitzi" B. Johnson, age 55, Ellsworth, died Friday, Jan. 8, 1999, at United Hospital, St. Paul.
She was born Jan. 20, 1943, in River Falls, the daughter of Edward and Margaret (Loida) Andrle. She was a graduate of River Falls High School. She married Gerald Johnson and they later divorced. She worked for the Red Wing Shoe Company for 28 years.
She is survived by: two children, Tina (Pat) Huppert of Beldenville and Terry Johnson of Ellsworth; one grandson, Jacob Johnson; siblings, Marie (Edward) Thyen of Cottage Grove, Minn., Charlotte (Bradley) Bourasa of Taylors Falls, Minn., Eugene (Donna) Andrle of River Falls, Alice (Ben) Nibbe of Red Wing, Pat (Jim) Bahneman of Hudson; and special friend, Tim Blodgett of Elmwood; nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 14, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Ellsworth with Father Thomas Donaldson officiating. Interment of cremated remains will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the Hill-McLaughlin Funeral Home, Ellsworth, on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. and for one hour prior to the services at the church on Thursday.
Hill-McLaughlin Funeral Home, Ellsworth, is handling arrangements.
Donald J. Ptacek, 84
PRESCOTT - Donald J. Ptacek, age 84, a life-long resident of Prescott, succumbed to renal failure on Friday, Jan. 8, 1999, at the St. Croix Care Center in Prescott.
He was born March 18, 1914, to John and Louise Ptacek and grew up on Elm Street. He was the third of four boys. His brothers, Ray "Tacky," John and Leo preceded him in death.
A 1932 graduate of Prescott High School, he took a variety of jobs, including working on his uncle's farms in Clifton Township, laying railroad track for the Works Progress Administration and hauling oil. He married Charlotte Farrell July 24, 1939, and resided in River Falls for a few years until returning to Prescott.
In 1944, they purchased Banner Foods at 213 Broad St. and renamed it Ptacek's Red and White. Their grocery store remained a key business on Main Street in Prescott for a generation, eventually expanding into the adjacent "Old Post Office" and becoming Ptacek's Star Market. Both retired in 1979, selling the family business to their oldest son, Mike. He could be seen until just recently around the store, which moved from its downtown location in 1990 to a new location at 1449 Orrin Rd. It is now known as Ptacek's IGA.
Like many people in Prescott, he had a cottage in the Webster area, where he spent a lot of his retirement time returning to the joys of his youth: hunting, fishing, chopping wood and spending time with his "buddies." In addition to his wife, the other love in his life were his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by: a daughter, Mary Jo (Lee) Rusch of Chippewa Falls; oldest son, Mike (Jan) of Prescott, Tom of Portland, Ore., and his youngest son, Peter (Joan) of Prescott; eight grandchildren, Katie (Nick), Raphael, Pat, Tom, Nick, Rochelle, Lauren, Jacob, all in Prescott; three sisters-in-law, Catherine E. Farrell of Sheboygan; Rochelle (Gerald) Brochtrup of Rice Lake and Josie Ptacek of Largo, Fla.
Mass of Christian Burial was Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Prescott, with Fathers Thomas Mannion, Edwin Knauf and John Beckfelt officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery. To honor his strongly held values of family, community and education, his family suggests any memorials be contributed to the Prescott Ambulance Service or St. Joseph's School.
Hill-McLaughlin Funeral Home, Prescott, handled arrangements.
Linda A. Swanson, 47
Linda A. Swanson, 47, Vasa, Minn., died Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1999, at her home. She was born Feb. 28, 1951, in Red Wing to Robert and Elizabeth (Schultz) Henn and graduated in 1969 from Red Wing Central High School. She married Donald Swanson May 3, 1970, in Minneapolis and they lived in Vasa.
She was a homemaker. A member of Vasa Lutheran Church and the VFW Auxiliary, she enjoyed cooking, gardening and artwork.
She is survived by: her husband; one son, Cale (Ashley) of Red Wing; one daughter, Charessa Swanson of Red Wing; three grandchildren; her mother, Elizabeth Kutschied of Red Wing; her maternal great-grandmother, Elizabeth Schultz of Red Wing; two sisters, Sandra (Rodger) Pirius of Hager City and Lisa (Larry) Talbert of Palmer, Alaska; two brothers, Dennis Henn of Ellsworth and Donald (Lynn) Henn of Rochester, Minn.; nieces and nephews.
Her father preceded her in death.
Funeral was Saturday at Vasa Lutheran Church with the Rev. Michael Dobbins officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were: Dennis and Donald Henn, Aza, Eric and Rodger Pirius, Cale and Charessa Swanson.
Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel, handled arrangements.
G. Bernard Lundgren, 75
HAGER CITY - G. Bernard Lundgren, age 75, of Hager City died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1999, at his home. He was born Nov. 12, 1923, in Maiden Rock, the son of Carl and Anna (Blaud) Lundgren.
He graduated from Prescott High School. He farmed in the Diamond Bluff area for several years. He worked for Red Wing Sewer Pipe Corporation for 30 years, then at Red Wing Shoe for about 15 years. He was a member of the NRA, and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, book reading and was a history buff.
He is survived by: one cousin, Frances Schaffer of Red Wing; special family members, Judy Myers of Minneapolis and David (Kathy) Christensen of Red Wing; and many friends.
Funeral services were held Jan. 9 at Diamond Bluff Methodist Church, Diamond Bluff, with Rev. Bruce Stunkard officiating. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery in Red Wing. Memorials preferred to donor's choice.
Pallbearers were: Fred Haverlandt, Mike Lindstrom, Dick Murphy, John Norquist, Brian Peterson, Roman Peterson.
Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel, handled arrangements.
Edith L. Joyner, 58
BELDENVILLE - Edith LaVonne (Paine) Joyner, age 58, Durand, died Thursday, Jan. 7, 1999, at Oakview Care Center in Durand.
She was born April 15, 1940, in Buffalo County to Andrew and Odelia (Scott) Jamison. She attended Upper Spring Creek School and then worked as hired help in the area. She married Robert Paine April 25, 1959, in Minneiska, Minn. They lived in Winona, Minn., where she worked at various factories. They divorced in 1973. She later returned to the Durand area. She married William Joyner Dec. 20, 1997, in Durand and they lived in rural Durand.
She is survived by: her husband, William; three daughters, LaVonne (Robert) Matzke of Beldenville, Donna and Susan Paine, both of Winona; two sons, Daniel Paine of Winona and Scott Paine of Durand; two stepsons, Glen (Bobby Jo) Joyner of Boyceville, and Jerry (Monica) Joyner of Roberts; three stepdaughters, Lottie (Terry) Hebben of Boyceville, Jeanette Joyner of Menomonie and Patty Jo (Brian) Hill of Morse, Fla.; six grandchildren and eight step-grandchildren; four brothers, Arthur (Charlotte) Jamison of Alma, Alfred (Marian) Jamison of Cabazon, Calif., Irvin (Helen) Jamison of Sparks, Nev., and Clifford (Loretta) Jamison of Arkansaw; and seven sisters, Katherine Falkner of Hager City, Marjorie (Lloyd) McQuiston of Alma, Louretta Pabst of Maiden Rock, Thelma (George) Scott of Hinkley, Minn., Joyce (Sherman) Shellito of Oak Park, Minn., Genevieve (Kenneth) Lange of Pine City, Minn., and Shirley (David) Kolve of Hixton.
Preceding her in death were: one son, Timothy Paine; three sisters, Winajean Shellito, Rose Bartz and Bonnie Jamison; and one brother, Andrew Jamison.
Funeral was Saturday at River Hills Community Church in Durand. Burial was in Nelson Cemetery.
Goodrich Funeral Home in Durand handled arrangements.
Florence Merta, 75
PLUM CITY - Florence Merta, age 75, of Plum City died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 1999, at the Chippewa Valley Hospital in Durand.
She was born May 14, 1923, in Goodhue County, Minn., the daughter of Porter and Nellie (Bush) Shellito.
She is survived by many sisters and brothers.
Services were held at the Hill-McLaughlin Funeral Home on Friday, Jan. 5. Interment will be in the Maiden Rock Cemetery in the spring
Mavis E. Peterson, 63
Mavis E. Peterson, age 63, died on Saturday, Jan. 16, 1999, at her home following a long illness.
She was born Sept. 1, 1935, in Grant, La., the daughter of Henry and Ola (Young) Dougharty. In the summer of 1948, she repented and was filled with the Holy Ghost and was baptized in Jesus' name soon after. After graduating from high school, she attended Bible College in Tulsa, Okla. She married Gerald Peterson in Houston, Tex., and actively assisted him in his ministerial work. They founded the United Pentecostal Church in Maquoketa, Ia., as well as pastoring churches in Ellsworth and Menomonie. She was always enthusiastic about Ladies Auxiliary work and Sunday school outreach. From 1975 to 1988, she operated the East Ellsworth branch post office and will be remembered for her friendliness and courteous service.
She was also "Mom" and "Grandma" to many surrogate children and grandchildren.
She is survived by: her husband, Gerald; a son, Blake (Diane) Peterson of Red Wing; three daughters, Annette (David) Kast of Gays Mills, Monette (Robert) Morgan of Clear Lake, Calif., and Barbara Peterson of Gainesville, Ga.; several grandchildren; four brothers, two sisters, nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents and one brother.
Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, at the Stanton-Goodrich-Rhiel Funeral Home in Menomonie with Rev. Joe Hemstock officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Menomonie in the spring. Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Stanton-Goodrich-Rhiel Funeral Home and one hour prior to services on Friday.
The family prefers memorials to the Tupelo Children's Mansion, or to Menomonie United Pentecostal Church.
Emma N. O'Brien Martell, 78
Emma Nathan O'Brien Martell, age 78, of Hammond, formerly of Ellsworth, died Friday, Jan. 15, 1999, at the American Heritage Care Center, Hammond.
She was born Jan. 9, 1921, the daughter of Nathan and Julia (Stanhope) Arnold at Abernathy, Tex. She was baptized at the Methodist Church in Abernathy and was presently a member of Peace Lutheran Church, Baldwin.
She met William "Bill" O'Brien while living in Texas. She worked at the Pan-Tex Defense Plant in Amarillo from 1941 until 1945. He eventually moved to Montana and later she also moved there. On April 29, 1946, they were married at Sydney, Mont. They were blessed with five children, Carron, Walter, Donna, Douglas and William.
After a few years in Montana, they moved to the O'Brien family farm in Maiden Rock. After selling the farm, they moved to Ellsworth and, from 1952 until 1958, owned and operated O'Brien's Cafe in East Ellsworth. They sold the restaurant and moved back to the country to farm again. They also catered a number of weddings. In 1959, she began working at Sunnyside School and worked there until retiring around early 1972. He died on Nov. 10, 1973.
On April 10, 1976, she married Ralph Martell. They did some traveling and were able to visit the Eifel Tower in France, and also visited Germany and Austria. He died on Nov. 19, 1994. She was a resident at American Heritage Care Center for the past 15 years.
She had taken classes to learn needlepoint. She loved to dance and sing and work in her garden.
Survivors include: her five children, Carron (Fred) Parmeter of Ellsworth, Walter (Renate) O'Brien of Hammond, Donna (Keith) Johnson of Stillwater, Minn., Douglas O'Brien of Oak Park Heights, Minn., and William (Carrie) O'Brien of River Falls; one sister, Eva Goldwater, Amarillo; two brothers-in-law, Roger (Orrine) O'Brien of Strum and Richard O'Brien of Centuria; four sisters-in-law, Violet Arnold of Lubbock, Tex., Muriel (Ray) Martin of Ellsworth, Lola (Eugene) O'Brien of Wolf Point, Mont., and Eleanor Heldt of Wausa, Neb. She is also survived by: two stepchildren, Clifton Martell of River Falls and Dorothy (Robert) Sebion of Spring Valley; 15 grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Jan. 19, at Peace Lutheran Church, Baldwin. Rev. John Hanson officiated the service. Music was provided by organist Julie Hanson with congregational singing. Burial was in Our Savior's Lutheran Cemetery, Beldenville.
Honorary bearers were: Jennifer O'Brien, Heidi Heffron, Heather O'Brien, Renee O'Brien, Trever O'Brien and Valerie O'Brien. Bearers were: Michelle Lubich, Brian Parmeter, Sean Parmeter, Eric Parmeter, Nicolas Johnson, Douglas Johnson, Julia O'Brien and Nathan O'Brien.
Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley, handled arrangements.
Wayne A. Helmke, 73
ELMWOOD - Wayne A. Helmke, age 73, of Elmwood died Thursday, Jan. 14, 1999, at Myrtle Werth hospital, Menomonie, where he had been taken by ambulance.
He was born Oct. 13, 1925, the son of Arthur and Matilda (Bleckwenn) Helmke at Rodman, Ia. He was baptized and confirmed at Whittemore, Ia., and has been a member of Spring Lake Lutheran Church, Spring Valley, since 1959. He grew up in Iowa and graduated from Rodman High School in 1943. He entered the U.S. Navy, serving his country during WWII. On April 13, 1947, he married Lula Schnell. They lived and farmed in Iowa near Cylinder, Graettinger and Emmetsburg before moving to their farm in Spring Lake Township in 1959. He sold the farm in September 1997. He lived in Spring Valley for a couple months and then moved to Elmwood, where he was presently living.
He was an active member of his church and served various offices, including president and vice president. He was a member of the Crain-Ottman American Legion Post 207 at Elmwood and also served offices at both the local and county level. He enjoyed watching many different sporting activities on television.
Survivors include: two children, Edwin (Cindy) Helmke of Spring Valley and Kathryn (Doug) Hinzman of Menomonie; five grandchildren, Cally Helmke, Heather Hinzman (and her fiance Corey Buttke) and Ryan Hinzman, Becky, Marty and Ryan Hines. He is also survived by: one brother, William "Bill" Helmke of Cylinder, Ia.; one sister, Maxine Lenz of Paullina, Ia.; mother-in-law, Peryl Schnell of Ruthven, Ia.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Duane Schnell of Mount Pleasant, Ia., Gelena (George) Marsh of Dexter, Ia.; and Mildred (Emery) Stofferahn of Mesa, Ariz.; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death were: his parents; his wife, Lula who died in August, 1995; one sister, Geraldine L. Helmke; and an infant son, James Robert, who died in 1950.
Funeral services were Monday, Jan. 18, at Spring Lake Lutheran Church, Spring Valley. Rev. Keith Holste officiated the service with music provided by organist Dorothy Nelson with congregational singing. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Honorary bearers were Merlin and Virginia Place. Bearers were: Ryan Hinzman, Ryan Hines, Tick Tiffany, Ralph Raymo, Jerry Goman and Gary Peterson.
Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley, handled arrangements.
Lillian C. Schumaker, 80
Lillian C. Schumaker, age 80, of Ellsworth died Friday, Jan. 15, 1999, at the Ellsworth Care Center.
She was born March 31, 1918, in Ellsworth, the daughter of John A. and Carrie (Lantz) Solveson.
She was a graduate of Ellsworth Senior High School. She married Charles Schumaker Dec. 22, 1937.
She worked for Dr. F.B. Klaas for 27 years as his receptionist, retiring in 1984. In 1994, she moved to the Village of Ellsworth, where she helped answer phones, attend to visitations and some gardening for Winberg-McLaughlin Funeral Home and later Hill-McLaughlin Funeral Home. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards and socializing with her lady friends. She was a lifelong member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Ellsworth.
Survivors include: three children, Janet "Midge" (Roger) Kopp, Maiden Rock, Carolyn (Dean) Hauschildt, Prescott, and Bill Schumaker, Hudson; 12 grandchildren; five great-granchildren; one sister, Jennette Allie, Ellsworth; two daughters-in-law, Karen Schumaker, Ellsworth, and Linda Schumaker, Webster.
She was preceded in death by her husband, a son John and a brother, John Solveson.
Services were held Monday, Jan. 18, at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Ellsworth. Rev. Keith Trembath officiated. Interment was in the church cemetery.
Hill-McLaughlin Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Albert G. Dosdall, 83
HAGER CITY - Albert George Dosdall, age 83, of Hager City died Monday, Jan. 18, 1999, at River Falls Area Hospital.
He was born Oct. 3, 1915, in Zumbro Falls, Minn., the son of George and Martha (Steichen) Dosdall.
He attended Wabasha County (Minn.) and Diamond Bluff township schools. He married Irene Langsdorf in Red Wing July 12, 1945. They farmed in Diamond Bluff Township. He was a member of the Farmers' Union and served on ASCS committee for 30 years. He was a member of Diamond Bluff Methodist Church, serving on the church board. He enjoyed birdwatching.
He is survived by: his wife, Irene; one daughter, Sharon (Douglas) Hirdler of Ely, Minn.; two sons, Roger (Amy) Dosdall of Hager City and Ronnie (Amy) Dosdall of Diamond Bluff; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Laura Larson of Red Wing; two brothers, Earnest and Earl Dosdall.
One grandchild, Katie Dosdall, and one great-grandchild, Olivia Dosdall, preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m. at Diamond Bluff Methodist Church with Rev. Bruce Stunkard officiating. Spring burial will be in the Diamond Bluff Cemetery in Diamond Bluff Township. Visitation will be at the Bodelson-Mahn Chapel on Friday from 4-7 p.m and on Saturday for one hour prior to the time of services at the church. Memorials preferred to donor's choice.
