System Mechanic - Clean, repair, protect, and speed up your PC!Stella J. Swenson
Stella Josephine Swenson, age 103, of Prairie Farm, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2001, at Pioneer Nursing Home in Prairie Farm where she resided since 1982.
She was born May 2, 1897, in Viroqua, the daughter of John and Sanna (Hanson) Berg. Stella grew up near Viroqua and attended country school there. She latter attended two years of Normal School and taught school in the Coon Valley/Viroqua area.
While teaching in Coon Valley, she met Nordahl Swenson and they were married on Feb. 26, 1920, in Westby. They farmed in the Westby area until 1930 when they moved to Prairie Farm. She and her husband farmed there for many years. Following her husband's death in 1965, she stayed with one of her sons for several years before moving to her own apartment in Prairie Farm.
She is a member of the United Lutheran Church in Prairie Farm. She enjoyed many activities at the Pioneer Home, including church, bingo, Bible study and movies. She enjoyed crocheting, needlepoint, reading, and crossword puzzles in her spare time.
She is survived by a son, Richard (Ardis) Swenson of Centuria; a daughter-in-law, Eleanora Swenson of Prairie Farm; two granddaughters, Shirley (Bill) Hopp and Kelley (Tim) Chrouser; five great-grandchildren, Keith Carlson, Bradley Carlson, Colin Chrouser, Clay Chrouser and Samatha Hopp; and five step-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nordahl Swenson in 1965; one son, Harlan Swenson; five brothers, Martin, Carl, Willie, Victor and Chris; and four sisters, Julia, Hilda, Dena and Emma.
Funeral services are 11 a.m. Thursday, March 1, 2001, at the United Lutheran Church in Prairie Farm with the Rev. Oz Twedt officiating. Burial will be in Akers Cemetery in Barron County.
Visitation is from 10 a.m. until time of services Thursday at the church.
Memorials may be given to the Pioneer Nursing Home in Prairie Farm.
Rausch-Rockman Funeral Service in Barron is handling arrangements.
Kenneth E. Hayden
Kenneth E. Hayden, age 71, of Elk Mound, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2001, at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire.
Ken was born Feb. 23, 1930, in the Town of Lima, Pepin County, rural Durand, the son of Robert and Lucille (Kern) Hayden. He married Marie Weissinger on Oct. 3, 1950, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church-Lima, rural Durand.
After marriage, Ken served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After service, they farmed in the Mondovi area for five years. In 1958, they moved to a farm near Elk Mound, where they farmed until he retired in 1992.
Ken was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Elk Mound. He served nine years on the Eau Claire Co-op Board, and was a member of Eau Claire Moose Lodge #1408. Ken enjoyed traveling, bowling and playing cards. He enjoyed spending time with his family, friends and neighbors.
Ken is survived by his wife, Marie; six children, Donald (Dottie) of Menomonie, Betty (friend, Al) Hayden of La Crosse, and Joyce (Greg) Price, Robert (Myra), Dale (Jackie), and Thomas (Laura), all of Elk Mound; 12 grandchildren, Mark Price, Trevor (Erika) Lindberg, and Michael, Jonathan, Stephen, Adam, Christopher, Anthony, Laura, Daniel, Terrick and Latasha Hayden; one great-granddaughter, Anna Marie Lindberg; one brother, Glenn Hayden of Hartland; three sisters, Evie Schoenoff of Hudson, Sally Whitman of Amery, and Elaine Hoff of Knapp; an aunt, Dorothy Stevens of Bloomer; and many nieces and nephews.
His parents and a brother, Vernon, preceded him in death.
Funeral services are 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 1, 2001, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Elk Mound with the Rev. Henry Hoerburger officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 4 to 8:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the Stanton-Goodrich-Rhiel Funeral Home in Menomonie and one hour prior to services Thursday at the church.
Minnie Becker Hengel
Minnie (Wilhelmina) Becker Hengel, age 84, of Menomonie, died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001, in Pharr, Texas.
She was born April 17, 1916, in Phelps, the daughter of William and Eva (Pavloff) Becker.
She lived in Menomonie since 1938 when she began state employment as secretary to four presidents/chancellors of The Stout Institute, Stout State College, Stout State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
She married Thomas Arthur Hengel in 1975 in Menomonie. After retiring in 1977, she and her husband spent their winters in Pharr and their summers in Menomonie.
She was included among 14 women in the 1991 publication, "Women at Stout - A Centennial Retrospective," and on Dec. 17, 1977, she received the WCCO Good Neighbor award.
She is survived by a sister-in-law, Nina (Donald) Becker of Belleville, Ill.; three nieces, Judith (Richard) Litschauer of Wales, Donna (Joseph) Ernst of Pontoon Beach, Ill., and Doris (Robert) Schons of Bonita Springs, Fla.; two nephews, Bill Becker of New York City and Robert Becker of Baltimore, Md.; other relatives; and many dear friends in Wisconsin and Texas.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Thomas Hengel; her parents, William and Eva Becker of Antigo; six brothers, Anton of Baltimore, Fred of Crandon, George of Detroit, Mich., Alexander of West Allis, Donald of Belleville, and John of King; and one sister, Mary (Alfred) Behling of Waukesha. Also preceded in death by three sisters-in-law, Jeanette (Anton) Becker, Louise (Fred) Becker, and Goldie (Alex) Becker; and two nephews, Bruce Becker of Milwaukee and Timothy Becker of Belleville.
Memorial services for Minnie Becker Hengel are 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, 2001, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Ninth Street and 11th Avenue, in Menomonie.
Burton D. Enersen
Burton "Burt" Dale Enersen, age 77, 2126 Ohm Ave., Eau Claire, passed away Monday, Feb. 26, 2001, at Lakeside Nursing & Rehabilitation in Chippewa Falls.
He was born May 28, 1923, in Eureka to Carl G. and Alma C. (Anderson) Enersen. After graduating from Menomonie High School, he attended The Stout Institute in Menomonie and the University of Michigan in Ipsalanti, Mich., and received his banking degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Banking in Madison.
He served as a rifleman with Company F, 417th Infantry, 76th Division of the United States Army in the European Theater during World War II. Burt was a recipient of the Bronze Star for his service during the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he served 17 months as a finance clerk for the Army in Europe.
Burt married Betty Brensdal on Jan. 29, 1949, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Menomonie.
He worked 35 years as a banker, including vice president of the Bank of Menomonie and vice president of Security Bank in Algona, Iowa. He retired in 1988 as CEO of the Peoples State Bank of Bloomer.
Burt is survived by his loving wife, Betty; one daughter, Susan Ratka of Appleton; three sons, Dale (Marla) of Maple Grove, Minn., and David (Kathy Hall) and Carl, both of Eau Claire; one brother, Gerald (Flo) Enersen of Chetek; nine grandchildren, Kristen (Jeff) Marshall of O'Fallon, Mo., Nicole Helmkamp of Eau Claire, Andrew and Aaron Ratka of Appleton, Shawn (Kristy) Wood of Frisco, Texas, Rayne (Byron) Carlson of Corrales, N.M., Sarah (Sonny) Apodaca of Las Cruces, N.M., Travis Hall of Pleasant Hill, Calif., and Jackie Hall of Eau Claire; five great-grandchildren, Jordan and Connor Marshall, Brenton and Davis Carlson, and Trevor Wood; nieces, nephews and cousins; and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Carole Marie.
Throughout his life he was active in many community service organizations. He was a member of American Legion Post #0295 of Bloomer, a lifetime member of VFW Post #1039 of Menomonie, and a longtime member of St. John's Lutheran Church. Burt enjoyed golfing, bowling, was an avid reader, and had a passion for cars.
He left us with many fond memories and a smile in our hearts. We will remember him for his quick wit and sense of humor, his strict but kind nature, his unbelievable strength and courage, and his love of family.
Funeral services are 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2001, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. Burial will be in the spring in Evergreen Cemetery in Menomonie.Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Fuller-Speckien Funeral Home, 3209 Rudolph Road, Eau Claire, and one hour prior to services Friday at the church.
Ezra Elijah Sprotte
Ezra Elijah (Bedroske) Sprotte, 11 years old, Abbotsford, died on Sept. 23, 1999, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, due to a sudden illness.
Funeral services were held Sept. 27 at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Dorchester, with Rev. Jerome Freimuth presiding. Burial was in the Dorchester Memorial Cemetery.
Ezra was born on April 27, 1988, in Marshfield. He was currently a sixth grade student at the Colby Middle School. Ezra enjoyed being involved in sports and was a member of the CUDA Pop Warner football team and wrestling team and the Milan Little League softball team. He also played the tuba in the Colby Middle School band and was an active member in the Holton 4-H Club. Ezra loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed helping his dad on the farm. Ezra was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church where he attended sunday school and the TGIF youth group.
He is survived by his parents, Steve and Colleen Sprotte of Abbotsford; one brother, Paul Sprotte, and one sister Cassandra Sprotte, both at home; grandparents: Wallace and Dorothy Sprotte of Abbotsford, Howard and Myrtle Bedroske of Dorchester and Arlene Dennis of Bloomer; great grandmother Alma Lineaweaver of Abbotsford; many aunts, uncles, cousins, and school friends.
Pallbearers were David, Russell, Loren, Kevin and Gary Bedroske and Nathan Sprotte. Honorary pallbearers were Ben Bedroske, Eric Brusky, Vincent Mohan, Christopher Shotliff, Tyler Brandl and Logan Becker.
A memorial in Ezra's name will be designated at a later date.
Maurina Funeral Home of Dorchester assisted the family with arrangements.
Adam Fitzel
Adam Fitzel, 83, Colby, died Sept. 21, 1999 at Colonial Center, Colby. Funeral services were held Sept. 25 at First United Church of Christ, Colby. Burial was in Colby Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers were Lorne Gustafson, Gene Voda, Ben Fitzel, Tyler Fitzel, Larry Duvall, and Kevin Duvall. Rev. Kenneth A. Dix presided.
Adam was born Sept. 23, 1915, in Chicago, Ill., to Paul and Eleanor (Greschner) Fitzel. He attended school at March Rapids. Adam and Ione Witte were married June 19, 1937.
Before he was married Adam worked for Roddis Company in Marshfield. After their marriage they farmed for 17 years in the Town of Hull, Marathon County. They moved to Colby in 1955 and he did construction work until 1971. He then worked on his own as a carpenter until he retired. He took up saw filing as a pastime and did small odd jobs. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and all types of woodworking, especially crafts. Adam was a member of First United Church of Christ, where he served as a past council member.
Surviving are his wife Ione of Colby; his children, Marilyn (Mannon) Gustafson of Colby and Galen (Diane) Fitzel of St. Paul, Minn.; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two sisters Rosie (Ralph) Andrew of Colby and Mary (Bill) Volland of Auburndale. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ben Fitzel.
Jacob L. Drager
Jacob L. Drager, 52, of Stetsonville died Sept. 23, 1999, at his home in the Town of Deer Creek.
Services were held Sept. 25 at Hemer Funeral Home in Medford. Kenneth M. Solberg, pastor of United Pentecostal Church in Medford, presided. After cremation, remains were buried in the Stetsonville Public Cemetery.
Mr. Drager was born Jan. 28, 1947, in Medford. He was a 1965 graduate of Medford High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and was wounded in action in Vietnam.
He and Sandra V. Block were married July 25, 1970, in Dorchester. After his discharge from the Marines in 1969 Mr. Drager worked at Weathershield Mfg. They then moved to Belvidere, Ill., and worked for Belvidere Products for eight years. In 1980 they returned to Medford and he worked for Mathews Implement. He later drove semi truck for Prochnow Farms for 13 years. For the past three years he was employed by Roehl Transport in Marshfield, until ill health forced him off the road this past June.
He enjoyed fishing, craft woodworking and making firewood. He was a lifetime member of Klossner-Dietzler VFW Post 5729 in Medford.
Surviving are his wife, Sandra Drager of Stetsonville; a daughter, Renee Drager of Stetsonville; two sons, Daniel Drager of Dorchester and Jonathon (Liz) Drager of Medford; two grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren; his father, Louis Drager of Medford; six sisters, Clarice (Ray) Pashalien of Milwaukee, Naomi (Dave) Kestler of Westboro, Loretta (Wayne) Salzgeber of Medford, Sue (Tom) Blasel of Medford, Barbara Schafer of Eau Claire and Debbie (Bill) Liddle of Green Bay, and two brothers, Larry Drager of Medford and Allen Drager of Superior.
He was preceded in death by his mother in 1971.
