Online Obituaries
Thursday, June 24, 1999
June obits by date June obits by name
May obits by date May obits by name
Click here for today's obituaries
Cornelius 'Zim' Huiras, 85, of Sleepy Eye died Wednesday, June 23, 1999 at Divine Providence Community Home in Sleepy Eye.
Mass of Christian burial is 10 a.m. Saturday at Divine Providence Community Home Chapel in Sleepy Eye, with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery.
Arrangements are being handled by Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye.
A complete obituary will be published in Friday's edition.
Raymond Eigen, 81, of Comfrey died June 22, 1999 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina.
Mass of Christian burial is 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Paul's Catholic church in Comfrey, with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. tonight and from 7:30 - 10 a.m. Friday at Sturm Funeral Home in Comfrey. There will be a Catholic Aid rosary at 4:30 p.m. and a parish prayer service at 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.
He is survived by his wife Phyllis "Babe" of Comfrey; children, Jo Ann and her husband Tom Augustin of Detroit Lakes, Garland and his wife Patsy of Hutchinson, Judy and her husband Ray Pelesko of Sommerset,N.J., Greg and his wife Debra of Alexandria; 10 grandchildren; sister, Delores Hummel of Rochelle, Ill.; nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Herman, John, Francis, Martin, Ed and Ike; sister, Sister Sophia; and his parents.
He was born Feb. 13, 1918, near Comfrey to Frank and Rose (Rathman) Eigen. He grew up in Comfrey and attended St. Paul's Catholic School. He married Phyllis Downing on Oct. 17, 1941 in Verndale. They lived in Comfrey where he owned and operated the Eigen Brothers Liquor Store and the meat and locker plant. He also was employed at People's State Bank in Comfrey until he retired in 1971. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II in the 28th Fighter Squadron in the South American theater. He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and St. Paul's Catholic Aid Society in Comfrey. He also was a member of Comfrey Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and he was a member of the Comfrey American Legion.
Richard 'Dick' H. Beech, 75 of Sleepy Eye died June 22, 1999 in Sleepy Eye.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Friday at Union Congregational Church, UCC with burial with military rites in Home Cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Thursday and 7:30-11:30 a.m. Friday at Sturm Funeral Home and continues one hour prior to the service at the church.
He is survived by his wife Eleanor; sons, Jerry and his special friend Marcy Johnson of Northfield, Brian and his wife Mary of Bloomington and Tim of Cottage Grove; three grandchildren; one stepgrandchild; one great-grandchild; brothers, Robert and his wife Vicki of East Bethel and Rex and his wife Judy of Sleepy Eye; sister, Donna and husband Dennis Schoephoerster of Kansas City, Mo.; brother-in-law, Mel Steinke and sister-in-law Fidelis Steinke, both of Springfield; and along many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Linda.
He was born March 13, 1924 in St. Paul to Alfred and Elsie (McNall) Beech. He moved to Springfield at an early age and then to Sleepy Eye in 1926. He graduated from Sleepy Eye Public High School in 1942. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from October of 1942 until November of 1945. On April 3, 1944 he married Eleanor Steinke on Whidbey Island, Wash. They lived in Sleepy Eye. He worked as a master electrician at Beech Electric in Sleepy Eye, and later for 3M in New Ulm as the plant master electrician. In 1985 he became field rep for 3M and traveled all over the United States. He retired in 1996. He was a member of Union Congregational United Church of Christ where he sang in and directed the choir as well as serving as a trustee. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He volunteered for the Sleepy Eye Fire Department and served as chief. He belonged to the Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Sleepy Eye Drum and Bugle Corps from 1945-1956, the Community Band, a barber shop quartet from Hanska and Sleepy Eye Community Men's chorus. As a member of the All-American Judges Association, he traveled throughout the state judging drum and bugle corps. He served on Sleepy Eye P.U.C. and belonged to the Sleepy Eye VFW and American Legion. He served as Cub Scout leader for four years, Cub Scout Master for 14 years and received the Silver Beaver award.
Robert Thompson, 69, died Wednesday, June 23, 1999 at Eventide Home, Mountain Lake.
Services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church, Odin, with burial in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Bergin.
Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at Sturm Funeral Home, St. James, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
He is survived by his children, Sharon Gunder of Windom, Bobby and wife Kate of Chandler, Ariz., Peggy Strenge and special friend Brad Westman of St. James. Lori and husband Rick Larson of Owatonna, Kim of St. Paul, Lisa of Jeffers, Sherri of Faribault and Mike of Windom; 26 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brothers, Richard and wife Betty of Minnetonka and Roger of Chandler, Ariz.; sisters, Grace and husband Lawrence Strenge of Odin and Ardell and husband Jim Wolf of Pipestone; mother, Margaret of Pipestone; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father; brother Walter; sisters, Shirley Thompson and Ardyth Carrison; and great-granddaughter Amanda Rummens.
He was born Nov. 14, 1929, in Christianna Township, Jackson County, to Walter and Margaret (Dingman) Thompson. He was raised in rural Bergin where he graduated from school. He then farmed with his father. He married Dorothy Miller in 1952. They were later divorced. He continued to farm until 1973. He then drove a truck for Madelia Farmers Grain Elevator and operated a mink farm near Bergin. He also worked a short time for Culligan in Windom. He had been an employee of Tony Downs Food in St. James until illness forced his retirement. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Odin.
Robert Swanson, 73, died Monday, June 21, 1999, at Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church, Winthrop, with burial in the city cemetery.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Friday and 7:30-8 a.m. Saturday at Dalin-Hantge Funeral Chapel, Winthrop, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
He was survived by his wife, Helen; daughters, Deborah Jean of Vadnais Heights, Kristi Ames and husband Fred of White Bear Lake, Wendi Kay of Vadnais Heights, and Rachell Holm and husband Richard of Fort Dodge, Iowa; grandchildren, Alexis Ames of White Bear Lake and Ursula, Evan and Hannah Swanson of Fort Dodge; brothers, Fred Chounard of Duluth, Chester of Lino Lakes and Raymond Ahlstrom and wife Jean of Geneva; sister, Barbara Zimmerman and husband Gene of San Jacinto, Calif.; and several nieces, nephews and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, Bradley; parents; and sisters-in-law, Myrtle Chounard and Catherine Swanson.
He was born April 17, 1926 in Hibbing to Steve and Neta (Anderholm) Chounard. He moved to Winthrop on October 17, 1937, where he grew up with his adoptive parents Clifford and Myrtle Swanson. He graduated from Winthrop High School in 1946. He attended the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, for one year. He married Helen Martin on Sept. 8, 1951 in Winthrop. They farmed and resided on the Swanson family farm in Cornish Township, Sibley County. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Winthrop, where he was serving on the church council. He was also on the Winthrop Cemetery board and was a member of the Winthrop Kiwanis Club. In the past, he was a member of the Cornish Township board and he also served on the Midland board and belonged to Sibley County Pork Producers.
Art Kieper, 95 of Morgan and formerly of Sleepy Eye and Springfield, died Tuesday, June 22, 1999, at Gil-Mor Manor Nursing Home in Morgan.
Services are tentatively planned for 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Springfield, with burial in the Home Cemetery at Sleepy Eye.
Arrangements are handled by Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield.
A complete obituary will follow in a future edition.