Online Obituaries
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
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Violet Ann Barsness , 78, of Mankato, formerly of Sleepy Eye, passed away peacefully in her sleep Easter morning, Sunday, April 11, 2004, at Hillcrest Health Care Center in Mankato.
Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, April 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. The Clergy will be Fr. Brian Oestreich. Interment will be in Home Cemetery, Sleepy Eye.
Friends may call on the family from 10-11 a.m., Saturday at the church.
Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye.
E-mail condolences may be sent to the family via www.sturmfh.com.
Survivors include daughter, Ann and husband Steven Starrett of Mankato; stepson, Raymond and wife Shirley Barsness of Winona; stepdaughter, Viola Anderson of Detroit Lakes; two grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; sisters, Luella and Michael Kuelbs of Sleepy Eye and Dolores Vickers of Gordonville, Texas; brothers, Art and Arleen Seifert of Sleepy Eye, Stanley and Patricia Seifert of Sleepy Eye; sisters-in-law, Irene Seifert of Sleepy Eye, Bernetta Seifert of Chino Hills, Calif., and Dorothy Seifert of West Cavina, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank; brothers, Sylvester, Ervin and Harvey; and brother-in-law Orville "Vic."
Violet was born March 21, 1926, the daughter of Henry and Emma (Hillesheim) Seifert in Sleepy Eye. She grew up and lived in Sleepy Eye most of her life. Violet attended St. Mary's School and was a member of St. Mary's Church in Sleepy Eye. She worked on the family farm and at Haas Press until 1968. She married Frank Allan Barsness on April 19, 1969, at St. Mary's in Sleepy Eye. Violet moved to live with her daughter Ann and family after Frank's death in 1992. She resided there until she moved to Hillcrest HealthCare Center on September 5, 2002. Violet was a member of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato, the Sleepy Eye VFW Auxiliary and the Christian Mothers Society. Violet enjoyed sending cards and letters to family and friends. She was a loyal Twins and Vikings fan. She had a special personality that touched many hearts. She was very helpful to her family and valued the time she spent with her grandchildren, Cody and Chelsey. Violet developed a special relationship with the family dog, Dakota.
Rosella Borth , 90, of Mankato, died Tuesday, April 13, 2004, at Immanuel-St. Joseph's Hospital.
Funeral service 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 16, at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, with Rev. Keith Siverly officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park, Mankato.
Visitation is 5-7 p.m., Thursday, at Mankato Mortuary and continues one hour before services at church on Friday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the American Heart Association.
Rosella was born on Jan. 29, 1914, in Moltke Township, rural Gibbon, to Henry and Clara (Drews) Wittenberg. On October 7, 1936, she married Otto F. Borth, a union that lasted over 67 years. After their marriage, the couple farmed near Fairfax and then moved to Mankato. Most recently, she had been living at the Mankato Lutheran Home. Rosella died with her loving husband, Otto, and their children at her side. Rosella worked for many years at Fingerhut and Johnson Reel. Since her retirement, she enjoyed being a member of St. Mark's Ladies Aid, gardening, cooking, and visits with her friends and family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.
Rosella is survived by her husband, Otto; three daughters, Marlene Brown, Diane Krediet (Norm), VerJean "Jeanie" Nordby (Ken) all of Mankato; three sons, Verdell Borth of Chanhassen, Jerry Borth (Diane), DeMar Borth (Melody) all of Mankato; 18 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lucille Schiffman (Roland) of Bloomington, Lorraine Engebretson of Mankato; brother, Erlin Wittenberg (Darlene) of Alexandria; sister-in-law, Betty Wittenberg of Gibbon; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by an infant son, Dennis; a brother; a sister; and two sons-in-law.
Iris Hopp , 83, of Franklin, died Monday, April 12, 2004, in rural Redwood Falls.
Services are 2 p.m., Thursday, April 15, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Franklin, with burial in the Franklin Cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m., Wednesday, at Nelson-Martin Funeral Service in Morgan and continues one hour before the service Thursday at the church.
She is survived by children, William Hopp of Helena, Mont., Sharon Shelrud of Atwater; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
She was born on Nov. 8, 1921, in Franklin, to Ben and Anna (Mude) Gusey.
Orlin Kjelshus , 60, of Hanska, died Monday, April 12, 2004, at his home.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 16, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hanska with Rev. Marcia Hegna officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Schmucker Funeral Service in New Ulm, and one hour prior to service at the church.
Orlin Michael Kjelshus, the son of Oliver and Myrtle (Pearse) Kjelshus, was born Dec. 19, 1943, in New Ulm. He grew up on the family farm and attended Madelia schools, graduating from Madelia High School in 1962. Soon after, he began working for Kraft Foods in New Ulm and also farmed for many years. Orlin married Leah Ahlness on Sept. 12, 1964, at Lake Hanska Lutheran Church. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and an accomplished painter. After his wife's death in December 2002, Orlin continued to make his home in Hanska where he was a member of Zion Lutheran Church for many years. He was a devoted father and grandfather who will be missed by his many friends as well.
Survivors include his daughter, Dawn Kuck and her husband Dan of New Ulm; sons, Brent Kjelshus and his wife Jennifer of Hanska, Ryan Kjelshus and his wife Mandi of Perham; grandchildren, Makayla, Kalley and Kasey Kuck, Mackenzie and Sawyer Kjelshus, Hunter and Hayden Kjelshus; sister, Janet Johnson and her husband Darwin of Prior Lake; mother-in-law, Vernelle Botten of Hanska; best friend, Harlyn Hanson of Hanska; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to his wife, Orlin was preceded in death by his parents.
Edna Kolander , 91, of New Ulm, died Dec. 24, 2003, at the Oak Hills Living Center in New Ulm.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, April 17, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Ulm with Reverend Grant Bode officiating. Burial and graveside service will be 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 17, at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Lakefield.
Schmucker Funeral Service of New Ulm is handling the arrangements.
Memorials are preferred to CAST or the donor's choice.
Tad Anthony Pirmantgen , 70, of Austin, died April 11, 2004, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 16, 2004 at Worlein Funeral Home Chapel.
Friends may greet the family one hour before the service. There will be no visitation or reviewal. The family prefers memorials to Mower County Humane Society.
He was born June 3, 1933, the only child of Anton and Katherine (Koehler) Pirmantgen in New Ulm, Minnesota. He graduated from New Ulm High School in 1951. Tad and classmate Carl Brust left to sail on Ore Freighters in the Merchant Marines. In 1953 Tad went to Brown Institute to study broadcasting. He volunteered for the Army in 1954 and spent the entire two years at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri. Tad came to Austin in 1956/57 and joined the staff members of KAUS radio station. When Channel 6 began broadcasting live, Tad also joined that staff. It was during this time that he met Nylva Elkins who became his wife on August 31, 1958. Tad spent forty or so years at various radio stations, retiring in 1993. In 1994, he had a severe stroke, which restricted him to a wheelchair. Even then Tad was a source of inspiration to everyone who knew him. Tad and Nylva had many spare children, and were always happy to feed or shelter anyone in need. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was loved and will be missed by many and all.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nylva of Austin; sons, Bradley of Watertown, New York; Brian and Kelly of Austin; daughters-in-law, Sherie, Dorothy and Sonja; daughter, Toni Smith of Aberdeen, North Carolina; son-in-law, Barry Smith; nine grandchildren ranging from 23 to two weeks of age.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Ralph John Thul , 62, of Sleepy Eye, died on Monday, April 12, 2004, at Sleepy Eye Municipal Hospital in Sleepy Eye.
Service will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Friday, April 16, 2004 at 11 a.m. The clergy will be Fr. Brian Oestreich Interment St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
Visitation will be at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye on Thursday, April 15, from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Friday April 16, from 7:30 to 10 a.m.
E-mail condolences may be sent to the family via www.sturmfh.com.
Ralph John Thul was born on July 25, 1941, in Richmond, MN, the son of Al and Lorraine (Thoms) Thul. Ralph grew up on a farm by Eden Valley and Richmond and moved to Sleepy Eye where he attended St. Mary's School. On October 14, 1968, he married Geraldine Tiedeken in Comfrey. Ralph had several jobs in the area including working at Moorman Feeds, Woodrich Construction, Sanitary Dairy, Orchid Inn and Del Monte. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and Alcoholic Anonymous for 11 years. He enjoyed gardening, riding his bike, walking Tippy and Max, watching the Twins and Vikings, spending time at the L&L and Schultz's cafes and keeping in close contact with friends and relatives.
He is survived by his daughter, Sheila M. Thul of New Ulm; son, Scott and wife, Lisa Thul of Morton; six grandchildren; mother, Lorraine Thul of Sleepy Eye; mother-in-law, Lillian Windschitl of Comfrey; sister-in-law, Jo Ellen Thul of Huntsville; sisters, Joan and husband, Jerome Schimschock of Sleepy Eye, Phyllis and husband, Gary Heinrich of Woodbury, Judy and husband, Curtis Olson of Ham Lake, Diane and husband, Chuck Case of Sleepy Eye; brother-in-law, Casper and wife, Linda Tiedeken of New Ulm; sister-in-law,Cheryl and husband, John Kachelmeier of Silver Lake; several nephews and nieces; and great-nephews and great-nieces.
He was preceded in death by his father, Al Thul; daughter, Sandra; brother, Donald; and niece, Terr (Thul) Hill.