Tuesday, November 2, 1999      Richard J. Mathiowetz, 64 of Leavenworth died suddenly on Sunday, Oct. 31, 1999 in Sleepy Eye.    Funeral Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at the Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth. Visitation will be from 3-9 p.m. Wednesday and from 7:30 a.m.-noon Thursday at Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. There will be a Knights of Columbus rosary at 5 p.m. and a parish prayer service at 8 p.m., Thursday at the funeral home.    He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; children and spouses: Brian and Ronda; Glen and Lana; Dean and Judy; Julie and Paul Anderson, all of Sleepy Eye; Suzann and Troy Hendricks of Bemidji; 15 grandchildren; his mother, Louisa Mathiowetz of Sleepy Eye; brothers and sisters and their spouses: Roman Mathiowetz of St. Paul; Rosemary and James Rathman of Comfrey; Rita and Patrick Morgan of Elmore; Reinhold and Connie Mathiowetz of Marshall and Alma Mathiowetz of New Ulm; several uncles, aunts, nephews and nieces.    He was preceded in death by his father, Martin; son, Leon in 1979; brother, Rudy; several in-laws, nieces and nephews.    He was born Oct. 23, 1935, in Sleepy Eye to Martin and Louisa (Moldan) Mathiowetz . He attended District 12 School in Leavenworth Township. He graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1953. He married Mary Lou Koll on Oct. 30, 1956, at St. Michael's Church in Morgan. They lived in Leavenworth. He began his career road construction at age 18 at the Martin Mathiowetz Construction Company. He played baseball for the Leavenworth Baseball team in his youth, and served as a board member for the team as an adult. He belonged to Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Paynesville Sportsman's Club and Koronis Lake Association. He restored more than 100 acres of his own land to natural habitat. He was a member of Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth and a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. As a philanthropist, he supported projects such as building the Sleepy Eye hockey arena, Divine Providence building improvements, Schoenstatt on the Lake facilities, the athletic field lighting at Sleepy Eye Public School, Leavenworth Baseball and Softball fields, Stark Ball Field, all-weather track at Sleepy Eye Public School and St. Mary's football field. His benefactors include Church of the Japanese Martyrs, St. Mary's Catholic Church and schools, Crosier Seminary, St. John Vianney Seminary, San Lucas Toliman in Guatemala, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, Brown County Historical Society and many other missions and charities. He served on the board of directors of Minnesota Transportation Alliance, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, Highway Construction Industry Council and the Agri-Growth Council. He was also affiliated with the Minnesota Asphalt Pavers Association and Concrete Pavers Association.    The family prefers memorials to the Richard and Mary Lou Mathiowetz Foundation.    Gertrude Fischer, 95, of New Ulm died Friday, Oct, 29, 1999 at Albert Lea Medical Center.    Funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm with burial in the church cemetery.    Visitation is one hour prior to services at the church. Firle Funeral Home of New Ulm is handling arrangements.    She is survived by son, E.H. "Bud" Fischer and his wife Jeanne of San City West, Ariz.; son-in-law, Ron Engel and his wife Beverly of Sioux Falls, S.D.; grandchildren, Jane Chandler of Montreal, Canada, John Fischer and his wife (Daun) of LaCrosse, Wis., Julie Christian and her husband Jerry of Sun City West, Ariz., Janet Head and her husband Jeff of Littleton, Color., Paul Engel of San Diego, Calif., Bill Engel of New York,, NY., and Katie Ubl and her husband Joe of Albert Lea; seven great-great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; brother, Lester Gieseke of Minneapolis. She was preceded In death by her husband Otto and a daughter, Arlene Engel.    She was born March 31, 1904, in Lafayette Township, Nicollet County to Theodore and Clara (Precht) Gieseke, was born March 31, 1904. She attended country school. She married Otto Fischer on Nov. 4, 1921, at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm. They lived in New Ulm. Her husband died in 1994. She continued to make her home in New Ulm and lived in the assisted-living apartments of Oak Hills Living Center. Most recently, she lived at Knudson Place in Albert Lea. She was a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm.    Hertha Nielson, 91, of Springfield, died Saturday, Oct. 30, 1999, at St. John Lutheran Home, Springfield.    Services are 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. John Lutheran Home Chapel, with burial in St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery.    Visitation is 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. John Lutheran Home Chapel.    Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield, is in charge of arrangements.    She is survived by sisters-in-law, Dorothy Bittler and Lucille Sandbo of Springfield; brother-in-law, Hans Sondergaard of Westbrook; and several nieces and nephews.    She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; brothers, Edward and Harry; sisters, Lillian and Norma; and nephews James Sondergaard and Richard Bittler.    She was born July 30, 1908, in Springfield, to Herman and Louise (Arndt) Bittler. She attended school in Springfield. Following graduation, she attended cosmetology school and moved to California. She married John Nielson on June 16, 1947, in Paradise, Calif. She returned to Springfield in May 1989. She entered St. John Lutheran Home in March 1993. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Springfield, and the senior citizens.    Mary Leibold Krieg, 95, formerly of New Ulm, died Friday. Oct. 22, 1999, at Riverview Manor, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.     A Memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, at St. Mary's Church, East Dubuque, Ill. Burial will follow in the East Dubuque Cemetery.    She is survived by sons, David and Allan Krieg, of Wisconsin, daughters, Jeanne Van Ert of Wisconsin, Carol Breen of Illinois, and Sharon Malecki of Mankato, Minn.; 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.    She was preceded in death by her husband and one daughter.    In New Ulm, she was a member of St. Mary's parish, St. Mary's Guild Catholic Daughters and Senior Citizens.