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Russell G. Stockwell, 82
Russell G. Stockwell, 82, of Ellsworth, died on Saturday, June 6, 1998 at his home.
He was born on Dec. 2, 1915, in Pierce County, the son of Leland and Ellen (Crain) Stockwell.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Asiatic/Pacific Theater. He married Virgie Bolin in January of 1946, she died in 1949. He later married Lila Bowen in July of 1950. She died in 1967.
He later married Ethel Myerson on Nov. 26, 1969.
He farmed most of his life in the towns of Hartland and Salem. Russell also worked for the Pierce County Highway Department for many years.
He loved attending auctions, flea markets and traveling. He and Ethel spent 14 winters in Texas.
He was a member of the Bible Center Church and Kinne-Engelhart American Legion Post #204 in Ellsworth.
He was preceded in death by his first two wives, Virgie (Bolin) Stockwell and Lila (Bowen) Stockwell.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel Stockwell of Ellsworth; two daughters: Pat and Tom Dietzler of Ellsworth, and JoAnn and Mike Farrell of Bay City; three sons: Larry and Sherry Stockwell of Richfield, Minn., Sam and Lana Stockwell of Ellsworth and Dan and Natalie Stockwell of Ellsworth; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral was to be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 10, at the Bible Center Church in Maiden Rock, with the Rev. Donald Shilts officiating.
Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Ellsworth.
Wilmer L. Younggren, 87
Wilmer "Bill" L. Younggren, 87, a lifelong resident of River Falls, died Friday, June 5, 1998. He had been living at The Lutheran Home: River Falls for the past 2 years.
He was born March 22, 1911, on his Mann Valley Farm. He was the son of Mildred and Fred Younggren. He attended the old Mann Valley Stone School House for 8 years, then graduated from River Falls High School in 1930. He attended college at the River Falls Normal School for 1 year.
He started out farming with his father and his Uncle Art, but soon joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1934. After his release from the CCC he purchased a dump truck and hauled lime sand and gravel for about 6 years. In 1940 he returned to the family farm, building and expanding it into a modernized dairy operation until selling the farm in 1956.
On May 17, 1941, he married Delores Devenport at "The Little Church in the Vale" in Nashua, Iowa.
In 1961, he purchased the Sinclair bulk oil/gas truck business from Glen Kotts. He operated this business for about 10 years. During this same time he bought the old locker plant and converted it to apartments and a take-out restaurant "B.Y.'s Chicken Shack," where the current River's Edge bar and restaurant is located.
He was also involved in a small local corporation buying, remodeling and renting houses in the city. In 1971, he sold the oil business but continued with the remodeling and renting business until 1981.
In 1978, Bill and his family built their own log home from logs milled at the Harnisch lumber mill in Connersville.
Bill loved his fishing trips, visiting with friends _ young and old _ attending and watching sports and playing with his three grandsons.
He was a member of the River Falls Masonic Lodge, an honorary lifetime member of the Moose Lodge and a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Delores; twin sisters: Lois Neperud of Litchfield, Minn., and Lorraine Marcinek of New Preston, Conn.; sons, William, of River Falls, and Mike and Mary Shannon Early and their three boys, Luke, Michael and Jack of Wausau.
A memorial service was to be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 10, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ with the Rev. Delbert Permann officiating. The organist is Harriet Christianson and the vocalist is Jan Hansen.
Pallbearers are: Joe Boles, Tom Carroll, Pauly Cudd, Dan Filkins, Tom Rasmussen and William Younggren.
Interment was to be in Greenwood Cemetery.
Cashman Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Bertha M. Firner, 95
Bertha M. Firner, 95, of River Falls, formerly of Ellsworth and Milltown, died Feb. 26, 1998, at The Lutheran Home: River Falls.
The daughter of Bernhardt F. and Bertha J. (Lehmann) Fischer, she was born Sept. 5, 1902, in the town of Salem in Pierce County. She married Louis Firner on June 15, 1927.
She taught for many years in Pierce and Burnett counties. Later she learned the barbering trade, enabling her to work next to her husband in shops located in Webster, Danbury and finally their own in Milltown.
Mrs. Firner had been living at the WelLHaven senior apartments and most recently at The Lutheran Home. She was a member of Milltown Lutheran Church, the Retired Teachers, Order of the Eastern Star and the Milltown Senior Citizens. She enjoyed gardening and entertaining.
She was preceded in death by her husband Louis; and brother Reinhart.
She is survived by two brothers and a sister-in-law: the Rev. Walter and Arlene Fischer of Arlington, Minn., and Arthur Fischer of Ellsworth; four sisters: Erna Fischer of St. Paul, Louise Kind of Hager City, Martha Wile of West Bend, and Florence Wirth of Ellsworth; and one sister-in-law Marie Fischer of Ellsworth.
The funeral was Feb. 28 at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Ellsworth, with the Rev. J. Keith Trembath officiating.
Burial of cremated remains will be in St. Paul's Cemetery at a later date.
Adelard (A.E.) Purfeerst, 86
Adelard (A.E.) Purfeerst, 86, of River Falls, died Thursday, March 5, 1998, at the River Falls Area Hospital.
He was born Nov. 26, 1911, in the town of Cherma, the son of Charles and Margaret (Dauser) Purfeerst. He married Bernice M. Schulte on June 7, 1939. He lived in the River Falls area, working as a farmer and carpenter.
He was an active member of St. Bridget Catholic Church. He served the faith community for many years as an usher, always with a smile and willing to offer a helping hand.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Bernice; and four children; his parents, Charles and Margaret; four brothers and six sisters.
He is survived by his son, James and Mary Anne of River Falls; a daughter, Donna and Howard Swanson of Lakeland, Minn.; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one sister, Margaret Schommer of Prescott; many relatives and friends.
Funeral was Saturday, March 7, 1998, at St. Bridget Catholic Church in River Falls, with Father Gerald Harris officiating.
Burial was in St. Bridget Cemetery.
Pallbearers were his grandsons: Matthew and Andrew Purfeerst, his nephews: Eugene Schommer and Phillip (Butch) Dusek; his great-nephew, Paul Kliszcz, and a close friend, Jack Solum.
Cashman Mortuary provided arrangements.
Boyd H. Nelson, 81
Boyd H. Nelson, 81, of the town of Trimbelle, Pierce County, died March 4, 1998 at United Hospital in St. Paul.
The son of Karl F. and Erma C. (Keller) Nelson, he was born Sept. 8, 1916 in the town of Trimbelle.
He married Martha S. Huppert on Aug. 15, 1941 in Rochester, Minn. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in North Africa and the European Theater.
After returning home, he took over the family farm and worked for the Armour Meat Company. He retired from the company in 1977.
Mr. Nelson enjoyed gardening. He was active in the National Farmers Organization and the Democratic Party. He served on the Trimbelle Town Board and was a member of the Prescott Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He is survived by his wife Martha of Ellsworth; six children and their spouses: Judith and Dale Lindstrom of Woodbury, Minn., Alouise Thom of River Falls, Charles and Gayle Nelson of Ellsworth, Sally and John Nugent of Ellsworth, Boyd Jr. and Karen Nelson of Prescott and Richard and Diane Nelson of Ellsworth; 17 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two sisters: Joyce Leonardson of Bloomington, Minn., and Gloria McHardy of Bay City; and two sons and daughters-in-law: Sam and Gladys Nelson of Seattle, Wash., and Robert and Ione Nelson of Minneapolis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Keith, who died in 1961; a daughter, Cynthia, who died in 1963; a daughter-in-law, Minna Jo Nelson; a son-in-law, Gordy Thom; three brothers: Pearly, Claire and Roy; and two sisters: Rosina and LaRome.
Mass of Christian Burial was held March 7 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Big River with Fr. John Rockfelt officiating.
Burial will be at the Trimbelle Cemetery.
Margaret D. LaDuke, 60
Margaret D. LaDuke, 60, of River Falls, died Thursday, March 5, 1998 in River Falls.
She will be greatly missed and always loved by her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Phillip and Josephine LaDuke; her daughter, Donna Jo; two brothers and one sister.
She is survived by her children: Gregory and Kim Thomas, Deborah and Donald Ellefson, Pamela and Patrick Murphy, Daniel Thomas, Allen and Cheryl Thomas, Michelle and Carl Branshaw, and Stacie and Randy Thomas; 14 grandchildren: Joleen, Angela, Donna, Aaron, Joshua, Natasha, Amber, Andrea, Alyssa, Micah, Cassandra, Levi, Luke and Chelsea; five sisters: Gladys Merzenich, Merilla Paulson, Frances Johnson, Phyllis and James Skala and Joan Peterson; a brother, Harold and Wanita LaDuke; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews; many other relatives and friends.
Visitation was to be from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, at Nelson Funeral home, River Falls, and one hour prior to the funeral service.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 12, at Nelson Funeral Home.
Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, River Falls.
Edna F. Wasson, 82
Edna Florence Wasson, 82, of Spring Valley, died Tuesday, March 3, 1998 at the Heritage of Elmwood Nursing Home in Elmwood.
She was born May 12, 1915, in the town of Oak Grove, Pierce County, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Arnold) Simon. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and was a long-time member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spring Valley.
She grew up west of River Falls, where she attended the Mann Valley Stone School. On Nov. 20, 1934, she married Clarence Wasson at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Hudson.
The couple farmed in the Mann Valley area, east of River Falls, near Ellsworth and Spring Valley. After retiring from the farm, they moved into Spring Valley, where Edna lived until becoming a resident of the Heritage of Elmwood Nursing Home on March 1, 1990.
Edna worked at Stokley's Cannery in Lakeland, Minn., and at the overall factory in River Falls. She was also a cook at Crystal Cave and at the Spring Valley Health Care Center. She was active in the Olivet Homemaker's Club and 4-H. She was also an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Sarah; her husband, Clarence; her son, Steven; her brothers, Leon and Raymond Simon; and her son-in-law, Robert Borneman.
Survivors include 11 children: Jean Borneman of White River, S.D., Floyd and Vivian Wasson of Westfield, Patricia and Luther Johnson of Hudson, Alice and Charles Parker of North Port, Ala., Mary and Harold Thompson of Spring Valley, Rita and Curt Abbott of Dent, Minn., Charlene and Henry Hoevel of Montello, Linda and Daniel Ness of Osseo, Karen and Michael Williams of Portage, Kathy and Conrad James Rognholt, and Dennis Wasson of New Richmond; 25 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; her sisters: Helen Cernohous of River Falls and Grace Herring of Montrose, Iowa; sisters-in-law Jeanette Simon of River Falls and Florence Simon of Hudson; many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held Friday at Keehr Funeral Home in Spring Valley. Funeral was Saturday, March 7, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spring Valley. Father Ambrose Blenker officiated, assisted by Sister Karen Freund. Music was provided by organist Ellen Rominski and the church choir.
Honorary bearers were: Chris Borneman, Charles Parker, Jeff Thompson, Frank Thompson and Pvt. Steven Rognholt. Pallbearers were: Mike Borneman, Brian Wasson, Floyd Johnson, Carl Abbott, Matthew Ness, James Rognholt and Tim Hoevel.
