Online Obituaries
Friday, January 22, 1999
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Mildred Leske, 83 of Hector, died Tuesday, Jan. 19,1999 at Sunwood Care Center in Redwood Falls.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at Zion United Methodist Church in Buffalo Lake with burial in the Zion Evangelical Cemetery.
Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Sunday at Zion United Methodist Church in Buffalo Lake and one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are handled by Hughes Funeral Home in Hector.
She is survived by husband the Rev. Omer Leske of Hector; sons and daughters-in-law Allen and Marilyn Leske of Rochester, Larry and Lonnie Leske of Redwood Falls; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brothers and sister-in-law, Donald Wilson of Cleveland, Tenn., Edward and Thelma Wilson of Hancock; sister, Shirley Wilson; nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by two brothers in infancy, Aaron and Phillip; and sister Gertrude.
She was born Nov. 2, 1915 in Waterman Township, O'Brien County, Iowa to Charles W. and Louise (Burmeister) Wilson. She grew up on a farm near Slayton, graduated from high school, and attended the Evangelical Church where she served as pianist. She married Omer Leske Jun. 30, 1940. She attended the Evangelical Theological Seminary, Naperville, Ill., and received a Christian Workers Diploma in 1943. She served with her husband in Pequot Lakes; Denver, Colo.; Spring Valley; Madison; Wabasso-New Avon Salem; Atwater-Oak Park-Rosendale; and the Osceola Church. She taught religious education classes and filled in as pianist and organist for church services. She became a resident of Sunwood Care Center in Redwood Falls in 1989.
Harold Gehrke, 70 of Redwood Falls died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999 at Redwood Falls Hospital.
Services are 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Nelson Funeral Home in Redwood Falls with burial in the Morton City Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday 8 a.m. until the time of the services at the funeral home.
He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Larry Gehrke of Orchard, Iowa, Gene and Paula Gehrke, Steven and Deanna Gehrke all of Minneapolis, Curt Gehrke of Belview, Myron Gehrke of Franklin; daughters and sons-in-law, Veanne Gosselin of Waterbury, Conn., Brenda Gehrke of Morton, Dede and Rick Eischens of Crystal; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
He was born Aug. 8, 1928 in New Ulm to Walter and Augusta Gehrke.
Jake Steven Whitaker. Services for Jake Steven Whitaker, infant son of Steve and Sherry Whitaker, were held Tuesday at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Evan, with burial in Babyland Cemetery, Redwood Falls.
Nelson Funeral Home of Redwood Falls handled arrangements.
He is survived by parents, Steven and Sherry Whitaker of Redwood Falls; grandparents, Eugene and Rosemary Junker, Linda Whitaker and Rick O'Neil; great-grandparents, Carlyle and LaVonne Roberts, Ella Junker, Otto and Rose Bucholz; and great-great-grandparent, Arietta Roberts.
Lois Ulven, 73, of Springfield, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Home, St. Paul.
Arrangements are pending with Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield.
Emil A. Bertilson, age 89 of La Salle died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, at Jaynesville Nursing Home in Jaynesville.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at La Salle Lutheran Church with burial in the La Salle Cemetery. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today at Pease Funeral Home in St. James. There will be visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
He is survived by daughter, Merrilee Novak and husband Tom of rural Waterville; brother, Alvin Bertilson and wife Marlys of Madelia; sisters, Mabel Junkans of Ormsby, Bernice Olson and husband Emmett of St. James, Ruby Hoeper of Pleasant Grove, Utah; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1994; son, Wayne; brothers Orin, Julius, Bertil and Helmer; and sisters, Opal and Raghnild.
He was born July 16, 1909 in Odin Township, Watonwan County to John and Ronnaug (Wold) Bertilson. He attended District 33 rural school in Odin Township. He attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, studying aviation. In 1940 he moved to Los Angeles and was employed at North American Aviation. He married Bess Peterson on May 31, 1941 in Yuma, Ariz. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 until 1945 on B-17 and B-29 bombers as a crew chief. They moved to La Salle. He worked at Markeson Implement and then was self employed until retiring in 1972. After his retirement he worked as a custodian at the Developmental Achievement Center in La Salle. He monitored the La Salle city water system and helped take care of the La Salle Cemetery. He served as the mayor of La Salle. He was an active member of the La Salle Lutheran Church and the American Legion in Hanska. He became a resident of the Jaynesville Nursing Home in October 1998.
Emma Ask, 83, of St. James died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, at St. James Health Services Hospital.
Services are 11 a.m. Monday at West Sveadahl Lutheran Church in rural St. James with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Sunday at Sturm Funeral Home in St. James.
She is survived by son, Burton and wife Diane Beckman of Clear Lake, Wis., Stephen and wife Olga Beckman of Mission, Texas; daughters, Rosella and husband Art Bearg of Butterfield, Charlotte and husband Richard Linscheid of Butterfield; stepsons, Darrell and wife Leora Ask of St. James, Alton Ask of Sparta, Wis.; ten grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sisters Mayme Beckman of St. James, Mable Finstrom of Lake Crystal, Bessie Mikkelson of Lake Crystal; several nieces and nephews; and sisters-in-law Bernice and Myra Hoeft of Madelia.
She was preceded in death by her husband Arnold on Nov. 6, 1965; and husband Oscar in January 1973; sisters, Elsie Petterson, Grace Austin; and brothers Clarence, Ray and Carl Hoeft.
She was born April 27, 1915 in Madelia to Charles and Rosa (Knuth) Hoeft. She grew up in rural Madelia an graduated from Madelia High School in 1934. On Feb. 26, 1936 she married Harold Beckman at Madelia. They farmed in the West Sveadahl area until Harold's death. She then moved to St. James. She married Oscar Ask on June 20, 1970 in St. James. The couple made their home in St. James. She was a member of West Sveadahl Lutheran Church where she was a Sunday School teacher and superintendent, sang in the choir and held offices in the LCW organization. She worked for 14 years at Pleasant View Good Samaritan Center as a nurses aide and medical aide.
Patricia Poehler, 58, of Rt. 1 Courtland, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, at her home.
Arrangements are pending with Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, New Ulm.
Holland Thompson, 65, of Lamberton, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 1999, at his home. Arrangements are pending with Sturm Funeral Home, Lamberton.