System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Fred Mattson
ELMWOOD -- Fred "Pat" Mattson, 91, of Elmwood, died peacefully on Thursday, October 18, 2001, at the Heritage of Elmwood Nursing Home in Elmwood, following a short hospitalization.
Pat was born October 20, 1909, in Hammond but was raised in Clayton. Pat was the son of Swan and Emily (Palmquist) Mattson. Pat graduated from Clayton High School and attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where he was an outstanding athlete. Pat was co-captain of the University of River Falls basketball team. Pat also was a member of the baseball team where his .426 batting average is still the school's record. He was inducted into the UW-River Falls Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985.
Pat also served in the U.S. Navy and Merchant Marines during WWII.
Pat married Betty Bentley May 13, 1951, in LaPorte, Ind. In 1952, they moved to Elmwood. Pat was Vice-President of Baldwin Mfg. Co. for twelve years before his retirement in 1980. Pat obtained five U.S. Patents on products related to environmental protection.
Pat studied at the McPhail School of Music in St. Paul, Minn., and became an accomplished pianist. He was an organist at Spring Lake Lutheran Church for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; a son, Jeffrey of Menomonie; a daughter, Debi McMahon of Eau Galle; and two grandchildren, Adam and Cassie McMahon.
Pat is preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Myrtle Rhiel.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, October 22, 2001, at Spring Lake Lutheran Church, rural Spring Valley, with Rev. Keith Holste officiating. Burial will be in the Spring Lake Cemetery, rural Spring Valley, with Military Honors provided by the Crain-Ottman American Legion Post 207 of Elmwood.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Rhiel Funeral Home in Elmwood and one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.
Robert Stearns
Robert D. Stearns, 67, 1215 2nd Ave., Eau Claire, died Friday, October 19, 2001, at the Oakwood Villa Nursing Home in Altoona.
Robert was born April 3, 1934, in Eau Claire to Laurence and Edith (Severson) Stearns. He graduated from Regis High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956-58. He worked in the shipping department at Pope and Talbot Paper Company for 41 years, retiring in 1994. He was a member of the United Paper Workers International Local 42 and the Wisconsin Right To Life.
Robert took care of his mother, father and invalid sister his whole life.
He is survived by four sisters, Mary Lund of Altoona, Margaret (Dennis) Pichler, Betty (Gil) Nelson, both of Eau Claire and Edith Marie Stearns of Menomonie; one brother, Theodore (Barbara) Stearns of Menomonie; 19 nieces and nephews, James and Michael Lund, Linda Mason, Terri Klingbeil, Dan and Tony Pichler, Kathy Weiler, Timothy Nelson, Tamara Miller, Tanya Walters, Steven, Allen, Brian and David Risler, Colleen Smith, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John Stearns; 25 great-nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Annette Stearns and Janet Risler; one brother, Larry; one nephew, Kurt Lund.
Mass of Christian burial will be Tuesday, October 23, 2001, at 12:00 noon at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, with Rev. Janusz Kowalski officiating. Interment will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, with full military rites conducted by the VFW Post #305.
Friends may call Monday, October 22, 2001, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Golden Funeral Home, 1405 N. Clairemont Ave., where there will be a 7:00 p.m. public prayer service, and Tuesday one hour prior to the service at the church.
"O Lord, you have created us from your Self. And our hearts will remain restless until they rest in you." St. Augustine
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be directed to Saint Bede Monastery.
Golden Funeral Home is serving the family.
Ruth Basacker
Ruth N. Basacker, 84, of Eau Claire passed away at her home Wednesday, December 12, 2001.
Ruth was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on September 24, 1917, to James and Anna (Wendt) Dennis. She lived in Eau Claire all of her life and attended Eau Claire High School. Ruth worked for many years at Barstow Street Cafe, as a waitress. She loved to do crossword puzzles, sew, visit casinos and dance. She especially loved her family.
Ruth is survived by two sons, Robert (Mary) Basacker Sr. and Theodore (Margaret) Basacker Sr.; two daughters, Janice (friend, Bob) Peterson and Ruth Ann Basacker; one sister, Elizabeth (Antone) Christianson; 16 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; three brothers-in-law; special friend, Gerald Peterson; the Kapbardhi family; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marshall "Peter"; parents; five sisters; and two brothers.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, December 17, 2001, at Smith Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Jeff Schlesinger officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery.
Friends may visit Sunday, December 6, 2001, from 4 to 7 p.m. and one hour prior to services Monday at Smith Funeral Chapel.
Winnifred Bruden
CRYSTAL, Minn. -- Winnifred C. Bruden, 93, of Crystal, Minn., formerly of Eau Claire and Kenosha, Wis., died December 8, 2001.
She was a teacher in Mondovi and later Kenosha, until her retirement.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Charlotte Bruden; two sisters; and four brothers.
She will be deeply missed by her sister, Gloria Bruden Newman and many nieces and nephews, and their families.
A memorial service will be held in the spring of 2002.
The Cremation Society of Minnesota is handling arrangements.
Betty Custer
SUMNER, Wash. -- Betty Ann Custer, 80, died Thursday, November 29, 2001, at Puyallup Hospital.
Betty was born in the town of Union on November 7, 1921, to Joseph and Jennie Shermock.
Betty graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1939. She married Victor Custer on October 15, 1941, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. The family moved to Washington in 1953. She was a long time member of the Sumner Presbyterian Church and volunteered at the Sumner Senior Center. She loved sewing, crafts, gardening, fishing and her family and was a Christian of deep faith.
She is survived by her son, Richard (Mary) Custer of Marysville, Wash.; daughters, Carolyn Goad of Ellensburg, Wash., and Patricia (Jerry) Damey of Kent, Wash.; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Eau Claire survivors include her sister, Madeline Wright; oldest niece, Meredith (Donald) Brill and family; and grandchildren, Vicki (Thomas) Ruscin and family and David and Rachelle Custer. Many loving in-laws of the Custer family also live in the Chippewa and Bloomer areas.
She was preceded in death by her husband; two brothers, Leonard and Robert Shermock; a sister, Lucille Reas and their spouses.
A memorial service was held on December 6, 2001, at Sumner Presbyterian Church in Sumner, Wash.
Her friends and all the family will miss her dearly, for Betty was a radiant and loving, enthusiastic family member who will live on in our hearts forever.
Verna Lawler
Verna D. Lawler, 72, of Eau Claire died Thursday, December 13, 2001, at Sacred Heart Hospital.
She was born May 23, 1929, to Samuel and Evelyn (Thompson) Farrington in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota. Verna lived in Red Lake Falls until age 15, when she moved to Eau Claire. She married Edward W. Lawler on August 6, 1953, in Stillwater, Minn. She loved to dance, beginning with barn dances and evolving into many forms of partner dancing. She also loved to cook and spend time with her children and grandchildren.
Verna worked in the kitchen of Stafne's Sunset Inn for twelve years and later at The Clairemont for almost twenty years, until her retirement.
Survivors include her two sons and their families, Terry (Geri) of Minneapolis, Minn., and his two sons, Daniel of Eau Claire and Kevin of Spring Valley, Wis., and Tim (Lisa), and their children, Kelly and Garrett, all of Waukesha, Wis.; a brother, Laverne (Audrey) Farrington of Stacy, Minn.; a sister, Violet Bendickson of Thief River Falls, Minn.; a sister-in-law, Eva Farrington of Columbia Falls, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward in 1972; her parents; two daughters, Cheryl Gibbs-Hoople and Sharon Lynn Lawler; stepson, Laverne Lawler on December 1, 2001; three sisters, Myrtle Hatleli, Lillian Johnson and Daisy Radack; two brothers, Richard and Leo Farrington; and her special friend, Melvin Schreck.
Memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, December 17, 2001, at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery.
Friends may call from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Ben Polhamus
WOODBURY, Minn. -- Ben Polhamus, 28, of Woodbury, Minn., died much too soon December 10, 2001.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Harry Polhamus.
He is survived by his mom, Kathy; dad and step mom, Jim and Lorri; sisters, Marnie and Jill; brother, James; grandparents, Jean Quale, Cal Quale and Violet Polhamus; cat, Tinker; three special roommates; many loving friends and relatives.
A very special thanks to Ben's care providers, Jessa and Paul Nelson and the extraordinary staff at Fox Run Bay for the exceptional care Ben received.
A memorial service to honor Ben's life will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 18, 2001, at WOODBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 7465 Steepleview Road, Woodbury (651-738-0305). Immediately following the services (5 to 8 p.m.), there will be a gathering for relatives and friends of Ben and his family at his home in Woodbury, 10302 Fox Run Bay (651-436-4612).
Memorials are preferred or donations to the National Neurofibromatosis Foundation.
Ben, you touched so very many lives with that special spark and spunk that is uniquely "Ben," and showed us what true courage is all about. In our sadness, we must remember that God takes only the very best. We love you.
Wulff Family Services, 2195 Woodlane Dr., Woodbury, Minn., is handling arrangements.
