Online Obituaries Saturday, April 13, 2002 2002 obituaries    2001 obituaries 2000 obituaries    1999 obituaries The Journal Online   Experience New Ulm Click here for today's obituaries    Thomas Simmons, age 69, of Olivia, died unexpectedly April 10, 2002.    Burn July 6, 1932, in Franklin, to Joseph and Beatrice (McFarland) Simmons. He graduated from Morton High School in 1950, and from St. John's University in1954. He served overseas in the U.S. Army from 1954 - 1956 and graduated from William Law in 1960. Thomas served as Renville County Attorney (1963-1971, 1979-1999), Minnesota State Representative, 1971-1973, and was a member of the Minnesota Municipal Board. He was married Dec. 29, 1956, in Mountain Iron, Minn. to Rita Guillaume.    He is survived by six children, Claire and (Peter) Mitchell, Chanhassen, Matthew and (Lynn) Simmons, Rapid City, S.D., Warren and (Paula) Simmons, St. Paul, Carl and (Shawn) Simmons, Des Moines, Iowa, Neil and (Annette) Simmons, Minneapolis; and Dean Simmons, St. Paul; 10 grandchildren; mother Mrs. Beatrice Simmons, Morton; brothers and Sisters, Helen and (Gordon Johnson), La Crosse, Wis., Robert and (Geri) Simmons, Willmar, Eleanor and (Tony) Poss, Redwood Falls, Mary and (Dick) Wohnoutka, Spicer, John and (Mary) Simmons, Redwood Falls, Jim and (Connie) Simmons, Buffalo, Minn., Monica and (Randy) Wohlin, Spicer, Mike Simmons, St. Paul; sister-in-law Jacqueline Simmons, Redwood Falls; brother-in-law George and (Joanne) Guillaume of Duluth. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.    Thomas was preceded in death by his wife Rita; father Joseph; sister Ann; and brothers, Peter and Edward Simmons.    He will be remembered for his many years of elected public service. He was a dedicated supporter of the local Native-American community and the Renville County Historical Society.    According to his wishes, there will be no wake or funeral. In lieu of flowers, cards and memorials can be seat to Box D, Olivia, Minnesota, 56277.    Clayton Evenson, 83, of Route 1 Gibbon died Thursday, April 11, 2002, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.    Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Monday at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in Gibbon with burial in the Clear Lake Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery in Severance Township, Sibley County. Full Military Honors will be conducted at the cemetery by the Fairfax Honor Guard. Visitation will be 5 - 8 p.m. Sunday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in Gibbon and will continue for one hour prior to the time of service at the funeral home on Monday.    Clayton is survived by his step-daughters, Brenda Schultz and her husband Jeff of Phoenix, Ariz., Nancy Zaruba and her husband Dave of Norfolk, Neb., Lori Cowdin and her husband Dwayne of Northfield; step-sons, Lynn Nelson and his wife Lucinda of Hutchinson, Gene Nelson and his wife Kris of Sleepy Eye; seven grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; a sister, Hazel Peuser of the Country Estates in Fairfax; and a sister-in-law, Evelyn Evenson of Gibbon. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Lucretia E. Evenson on March 2, 1986; a sister, Gladys Herschman; a brother, Alfred Evenson; and two siblings in infancy.    He was born on Jan. 8, 1919, in Severance Township, Sibley County to Henry R. and Helen (Olmanson) Evenson. He attended Severance Township country school. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was honorably discharged after five years of service. He farmed all his life on the family farm in Severance Township, Sibley County and retired from farming in 1986 but continued to live on the farm. On May 27, 1978, he married Lucretia E. Peterson in New Ulm. He was a life time member of the V.F.W. in Fairfax.    Arnold Sletta, 86, of St. James, died Friday, April 12, 2002, at St. James Health Services Hospital, St. James.    Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Augustana Lutheran Church, St. James, with burial in LaSalle Lutheran Cemetery, LaSalle.    Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Sunday and 7:30-9 a.m. Monday at Sturm Funeral Home in St. James, and at the church Monday one hour prior to the service.    He is survived by his wife Ruth; a daughter, Joanell Dyrstad of Red Wing; sons, Robert and Mark, both of Park City, Utah; a brother, Lloyd of La Salle, and five grandchildren.    He was born Dec. 13, 1915, in LaSalle, to Alfred and Marie (Larson) Sletta.    Hilda Kurth, age 84, of Hutchinson passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2002, at the Hutchinson Community Hospital in Hutchinson.    Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 15, 2002, at 11 a.m., from Peace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson with interment in Peace Lutheran Cemetery in Hutchinson. Pastor Gerhard Bode and Pastor Eric Goodwin will be officiating the services.    Visitation will be from 4 - 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 2002, and from 8 - 9 a.m. on Monday, April 15, 2002, at the Dobratz-Hantge Downtown Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.    In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Peace Lutheran Church Peace Center for chairs or the donor's choice.    Hilda Frieda (Ulrich) Kurth was born on July 2, 1917, in New Ulm. She was the daughter of John and Emma (Tepe) Ulrich. She was baptized as an infant on July 15, 1917, and later was confirmed in her faith as a youth on May 29, 1931, both at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm. She received her education at St. Paul's Lutheran School and graduated from Dr. Martin Luther King High School in New Ulm.    On Jan.4, 1942, Hilda Ulrich was united in marriage to Wallace Kurth in DeRidder, La. Their marriage was blessed with three children. Hilda and Wallace made their home in Hutchinson. Hilda enjoyed taking care of her family as a homemaker. Hilda and Wallace shared 39 years of marriage before Wallace passed away in 1981.    Hilda was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. She was also a member of the Hutchinson Community Hospital Auxiliary, the Peace Lutheran Church Circle of Care, and the Peace Lutheran Church Dorcas Club. Hilda enjoyed bowling, attending Tuesday bible study, bridge groups, playing golf, and reading.    She is survived by her son James Kurth and his wife Barbara of Zumbrota; daughters, Joyce Young and her husband Les of Hutchinson, and Mary Haag and her husband Jerry of Hutchinson; grandchildren, Jennifer Elaine Kurth, Collin Dean Strain and his wife Gwen, Julia Joy Dickey and her husband, Selwyn, Karla Jean Sheda and her husband Richard, William James Kurth and his wife Christine, Rett Leslie Young and his wife Nora Ann, Christian Curtis Young and his wife Michelle Renee, Jon Jerrold Haag and his wife Faith Christine, Sara Lynne Lundbohm and her husband Andrew Allen; great grandchildren, Cassandra, Gannon, Maverick, Nathan, Celina, Jenny, Ashley, Tony, Stephen, and Vincent; sisters, Loraine Werner of Mankato, Della Braun and her husband Derold of Mankato, Ruth Wels and her husband Marvin of New Ulm, and Lorna Starke and her husband William of Saginaw, Mich.; brothers, Marvin Ulrich and his wife Vicky of Burnsville, and Jack Ulrich of New Ulm, Minnesota; sisters-in-law, Irma Ulrich of Eagan, and Florence Kurth of Bloomington, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.    Hilda was preceded in death by her parents John and Emma Ulrich; husband Wallace Kurth; sister, Lillian Ulrich; brother, Erwin Ulrich; sisters-in-law, Gladys Kurth, Gretchen Kurth, and Marlene Ulrich; and brothers-in-law, Perley Kurth, Alvin Kurth, Wendell Kurth, and Fredrick Werner.