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Gertrude K. (Erb) Helmer, 81
Gertrude Kathryn (Erb) Helmer, age 81, of Ellsworth died Wednesday April 28, 1999, at The Kinnic Long Term Care Center in River Falls from heart failure.
She was born on Dec. 17, 1917, in St. Paul to John Freeman and Emma Clark Erb of Spring Valley. She graduated from Spring Valley High School, where she also was a substitute teacher.
On Sept. 12, 1939, she married Clayton E. Helmer at Nashua, Ia. They founded Helmer Printing in 1940 and resided in Trimbelle Township, Beldenville. She was an accomplished Linotype operator and service technician. She also served as secretary/treasurer of the family business until her retirement on April 9, 1983. For the last four years, she lived with her daughter Rita and son-in-law Larry in Ellsworth.
She was an active member of Unit 204 of the American Legion Auxiliary since 1946 and also participated at the district and state levels. She organized County Youth Government Day in Pierce County and was chairman for 11 years. She was a counselor at Badger Girls State, editor of the Badger Tales for 30 years, retiring in 1989, and a member of the board of directors for 24 years. She also was secretary/treasurer of the Beldenville School District.
After retirement, they attended clown school and entertained at area nursing homes and senior centers, and were active in the clown ministry.
She is survived by: two sons, Bill (Janet) and Milt (Carol) both of Beldenville; one daughter, Rita (Larry) Butler; eight grandchildren, Mark (Sheila) Helmer of Prescott, Scott (Judi) Helmer of Ellsworth, Kevin (Lisa) Helmer of Stillwater, Minn., Jennifer (Mark) Miller of Beldenville, Laura (Jason) Decheine of North Hudson, Thomas Helmer of Eau Claire, Holly (Mike) Girdeen of Maiden Rock, Aaron Butler of Aurora, Colo.; and 17 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by: her husband, Clayton on July 3, 1990; her parents, John and Emma Erb; three sisters and five brothers.
Funeral services were Sunday, May 2, at the First Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth. Pastor Paul Martin officiated. Internment was at the Beldenville Cemetery, Beldenville. Memorials are preferred. Pallbearers were her grandchildren: Mark Helmer, Scott Helmer, Kevin Helmer, Thomas Helmer, Aaron Butler and great-grandson, Ryan Helmer.
Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley, handled arrangements.
Ted J. Dokken, 26
HAGER CITY - Ted J. Dokken, age 26, Red Wing, died Thursday, April 29, 1999, in Red Wing as the result of injuries from a motorcycle accident.
He was born May 4, 1972, in Hutchinson, Minn., to Jon and DeAnn (Ellingson) Dokken. A 1990 graduate of Red Wing Central High School, he worked at Randy's for six years while in high school. He also worked at Video Plus for a couple of years. He attended Winona (Minn.) State University and in January graduated from Brown Institute of Technology while pursuing a career in radio broadcasting. For the past four years, he was a welder at DBI/SALA. A member of First Lutheran Church, he enjoyed weightlifting, golfing and motorcycling. He also wrote screen plays and music.
He is survived by: his girlfriend, Billie Britton of Hager City; his mother, DeAnn Dokken of Red Wing; his father, Jon Dokken of Woodbury, Minn.; two brothers, Tim of Woodbury and Tom of Red Wing; one sister, Teri (Todd) Hillmann of Bemidji, Minn.; his paternal grandmother, Jonnette Dokken of Minneapolis; one niece and three nephews.
Preceding him in death were his maternal grandparents and his paternal grandfather.
Funeral was Sunday, May 2, at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Mark Halvorson officiating. Burial was in Swift Falls Cemetery in Swift Falls, Minn.
Bodelson-Mahn Family Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Irene K. Pence, 91
ELMWOOD - Irene K. Pence, age 91, of Elmwood died Tuesday, April 27, 1999, at her home in Elmwood.
She was born July 8, 1907 in Thorp, the daughter of James and Katherine (Kiefer) Golden. As a young child, she grew up in West Central Wisconsin. She graduated from Turtle Lake High School and attended River Falls Teachers College for a year-and-a-half. She worked at the Bank of Spring Valley for several years.
She married Homer Pence Nov. 27, 1932. After marriage, they lived in Wausau, Sheboygan and Appleton, before moving to Elmwood. She worked as a bookkeeper at Pence-Olson Motors in Elmwood for a few years. They later moved to Spring Valley for a short time before returning to Elmwood in 1951. He died in 1967. She then worked at Dr. Frank Springer's office for about 20 years, retiring at age 80. She remained in Elmwood the rest of her life.
She is survived by: two sons, William (Ruth) Pence of White Lake and Richard Pence of San Diego, Calif.; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ralph Golden of Onalaska and Bernard Golden of Menomonie; a sister, Lorretta Casey of White Bear Lake, Minn.
Preceding her in death were: her parents; her husband; a granddaughter, Katherine Miller; two sisters and two brothers.
Funeral services were Saturday, May 1, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Elmwood with Rev. Varkey Velickakathu officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Rhiel's Funeral Services handled arrangements.
Donnie G. Christiansen, 66
PRESCOTT - Donnie G. Christiansen, age 66, of Prescott died Tuesday, April 27, 1999, at his home.
He was born Oct. 7, 1932, in Diamond Bluff, the son of Henry and Lorraine (Anderson) Christiansen. He married JoAnne Kinneman Sept. 30, 1951, in Ellsworth. He farmed in Oak Grove Township and loved gardening.
He is survived by: his wife of 46 years; six children, David Christiansen of Prescott, Greg (Cheryl) Christiansen of Red Wing, Jamie L. (Donna) Christiansen of Prescott, Jewell-Lee (Richard) Auchampach of Prescott, Christ (Sharon) Christiansen of Prescott and Nathan (Kim) Christiansen of Prescott; 13 grandchildren; two sisters, Audrey (Roger) Eng of Ellsworth, Marion (Kenneth) Brookshaw of Ellsworth; one brother, Kenneth (Carol) Christiansen of Prescott.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Glen.
Funeral services were Friday, April 30, at the Hill-McLaughlin Funeral Home with Pastor Jim Bzoskie officiating. Interment was in Trenton Cemetery.
Hill-McLaughlin Funeral Home, Ellsworth, handled arrangements.
Harley P.W. Lund, 62
BELDENVILLE - Harley Peter Wayne Lund, age 62, of Beldenville died Tuesday, April 27, 1999, at the Ellsworth Care Center, Ellsworth.
He was born Jan. 15, 1937, the son of Anchor and Jeanette (Ofstie) Lund in Ellsworth. He attended one year of high school at Spring Valley, then attended River Falls High School, graduating with the Class of 1955. He also attended Minneapolis College for one year.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1962, where he earned a Marksman and Expert Rifleman Badge. He also spent time in France during his service.
He drove truck for many years, having worked for River Falls Creamery and with various building contractors in the Twin Cities. He also drove for Knutson Transfer of Red Wing, Dotseth Trucking of Knapp, Midwest Transport, Nelson Farm Supply and the Farmers Elevator at Baldwin.
He spent a short time at the Lutheran Home in River Falls, and had been a resident of the Ellsworth Care Center the past 10 days, suffering from cancer.
Visitation was held prior to the funeral services Friday, April 30, at Martell United Methodist Church, Martell Township. Pastor Gary Swanson officiated the service, with music provided by organist Dorothy Cummings. Burial was in the church cemetery. Bearers were: Dean Armbruster, Algot Anderson, Glenn Knutson, Kenneth Knutson and Paul Dusek.
Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley, handled arrangements.
Joyce I. Froisland, 78
Joyce I. Froisland, age 78, of Red Wing, formerly of Ellsworth, died Thursday, May 6, 1999, at Fairview Red Wing Hospital.
She was born March 10, 1921, in Ellsworth, the daughter of Fred and Josephine (Waldvogel) Stockwell. She attended both Hill and Dale and Drake grade schools. She was a 1938 graduate of Ellsworth Senior High School. She married Bill Froisland Dec. 9, 1941, in Red Wing. They farmed in Pierce County for many years and in 1962 moved to Red Wing, where they owned and operated Sunnyside Grocery until 1973. She also worked for Braschlers Bakery from 1974 until 1981.
She enjoyed crafts, playing the keyboard and flowers. She was an active, life long member of the Bible Center Church, Maiden Rock.
She is survived by: her husband of Red Wing; two daughters, Janice (Steven) Ebert and Elaine Jarmuz, both of Red Wing; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; one sister, Gladys Ingli; and two brothers, Mark and Warren "Bud" Stockwell.
Services were Monday, May 10, at the Bible Center Church in Maiden Rock with Pastor Donald Shilts officiating. Interment was in Burnside Cemetery, Red Wing.
Hill-McLaughlin Funeral Home, Ellsworth, handled arrangements.
Duane W. Sherpy, 71
PLUM CITY - Duane William Sherpy, age 71, of Plum City died Sunday afternoon, May 9, 1999, at the Chippewa Valley Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born on Feb. 10, 1928 in St. Paul, the son of William and Cora (Ingli) Sherpy. He attended school at Salem.
He was united in marriage to Lois Gilles on April 12, 1950. They farmed in the Grange Hall area in the 1950s. He worked for the Maiden Rock lumber yard and later at the Plum City lumber yard. In December of 1960 they moved to Plum City. They owned and operated the Center Bar for a few years. Following a divorce in 1970, Duane moved to Sturgeon Bay where he worked in the shipyards for 20 years. He retired in 1990 and returned to Plum City.
He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plum City. He was a charter member of the Plum City Lions Club and a past member of the Plum City Fire department. He was a member of the Boilmakers Union Local 449 of Sturgeon Bay. He delivered "meals on wheels" from 1990-1994.
He is survived by three sons, Rudolph (Carol) and Daniel, both of Milwaukee, and Ryan (Sherri) of Cottage Grove, Minn.; one daughter, Leigh (Dave) Weiss of Hudson; one sister, Yvonne (Elwyn) Manore of Bay City; seven grandchildren; and severalnieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two infant daughters.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 11 from 4-8 p.m., at the Swandby-Murphy Funeral Home, Maiden Rock and one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 12 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plum City, with Rev. Daniel Pfaffe, pastor, officiating. Irene Hoffman is organist and Lowell Hoffman is soloist. Interment will be in the Plum City Cemetery. Pallbearers are Brad Weiss, Mason Cross, Randall Manore, Donald Manore, Gary Sattergren and Gail Collett. Memorials are preferred to Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Swandby-Murphy Funeral Home, Maiden Rock assisted the family with arrangements.
Norman E. Rigelman, 60
Norman E. Rigelman, 60, Reno, Nev., died Tuesday, May 4, 1999, at Manor Care Facility in Reno.
He was born May 12, 1938, in Red Wing to John and Ellen (Peterson) Rigelman. He attended Lindgren Elementary School and was a 1955 graduate of Ellsworth Senior High School.
He married Karen Ekstrom May 16, 1959, in Red Wing. They lived in Pittsburgh, where he was a branch manager for Red Wing Shoe Company. In 1960, they returned to Red Wing and he was claims manager for the company until moving in 1962 to Reno. He then was a store manager there until retiring in April 1997. He enjoyed outdoor activities.
He is survived by: his wife; one son, Mark of Reno; one daughter, Lori Rigelman of San Francisco; one granddaughter; two sisters, Marion Haas of Bloomington, Minn., and Adeline (Lee) Miller of Bay City.
Preceding him in death were: four brothers, Leonard, Harold, Raynold and Maynard Rigelman; and one sister, Violet Van Guilder.
Funeral was to be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Christ Episcopal Church with the Rev. Philip McNairy officiating. Burial was to be in Oakwood Cemetery. Pallbearers were to be Lance Miller, Robert Poulter, Bradley, Jim and Kerby Rigelman, and Dale Van Guilder. Visitation was Monday at Mahn Family Funeral Homes, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel, and for one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church.
Clifford Peterson, 96
PLUM CITY - Clifford Peterson, age 96, Plum City, died Saturday, May 8, 1999, at Plum City Care Center, where he had been a resident since August 1995.
He was born May 24, 1902, in Maiden Rock Township to Axel and Ida Julian Peterson. He attended school in Maiden Rock and farmed with Edwin Blomquist. He married Vivian Blomquist May 30, 1970, in Lund. They farmed in Maiden Rock Township, and he also sold Moorman Feed and DeKalb Seed for many years. For 14 years, he was a supervisor in Maiden Rock Township and he enjoyed hunting, fishing and sports.
He is survived by: his wife; his stepchildren, Audrey (Frank) Enders of Des Moines, Ia., and Eugene (Bonnie) Bock of Plum City; and his step-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were three sisters, Vernice Linster, Florence Johnson and Myrtle Peterson.
Funeral was to be Tuesday, May 11, at Mission Covenant Church, Lund, with the Rev. Steve Jennisch officiating. Burial was to be in Marie Lund Cemetery. Pallbearers were to be Merlin and Ronald Anderson, Vern Bocksell, Dale Erickson, Alvin Iverson and Russell Jacobsen. Visitation was for one hour before the service Tuesday at the church.
Arrangements are by Goodrich Funeral Home, Durand.
Mabel L. Bestul, 89
PLUM CITY - Mabel L. Bestul, 89, (nee Martin) of Plum City, formerly of Milwaukee, died Thursday, May 6, 1999, at the Plum City Care Center.
She was the wife of the late Leslie E. Bestul. She was the mother of Karl (Kathleen) and John (Mary) Bestul and Barbara (Dennis) Zech. She was the grandmother of Kim (Brian) Pritchard and Khristine Bestul and Daniel and Michael Bestul. She was the sister in-law of Ruth Martin, Ellie Kohls and Arvada Bestul. She is further survived by nieces, nephew, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held on Monday, May 10, at the Harder Funeral Home, 18700 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield. The Rev. Howard Kusler officiated. Interment was conducted at Wisconsin Memorial Park Cemetery of Brookfield.
Joyce I. Froisland, 78
Joyce I. Froisland, age 78, of Red Wing, formerly of Ellsworth, died Thursday, May 6, 1999, at Fairview Red Wing Hospital.
She was born March 10, 1921, in Ellsworth, the daughter of Fred and Josephine (Waldvogel) Stockwell. She attended both Hill and Dale and Drake grade schools. She was a 1938 graduate of Ellsworth Senior High School. She married Bill Froisland Dec. 9, 1941, in Red Wing. They farmed in Pierce County for many years and in 1962 moved to Red Wing, where they owned and operated Sunnyside Grocery until 1973. She also worked for Braschlers Bakery from 1974 until 1981.
She enjoyed crafts, playing the keyboard and flowers. She was an active, life long member of the Bible Center Church, Maiden Rock.
She is survived by: her husband of Red Wing; two daughters, Janice (Steven) Ebert and Elaine Jarmuz, both of Red Wing; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; two sisters and two brothers, Bernice Finstad of Ellsworth, Robert Stockwell of Hager City, Doris Sheide of Madison and Milton "Skip" (Bev) Stockwell of Bay City.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; one sister, Gladys Ingli; and two brothers, Mark and Warren "Bud" Stockwell.
Services were Monday, May 10, at the Bible Center Church in Maiden Rock with Pastor Donald Shilts officiating. Interment was in Burnside Cemetery, Red Wing.
Hill-McLaughlin Funeral Home, Ellsworth, handled arrangements.
