Online Obituaries
Thursday, December 2, 1999
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The Journal Online Experience New Ulm!
Ruth Beecher, 89, of Edina, formerly of New Ulm, died Nov. 29, 1999.
A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at United Church of Christ in New Ulm. The family requests memorials to the United Church of Christ. The Cremation Society of Minnesota, Edina Chapel, handled the arrangements.
She is survived by her sons: Lee H. Beecher, M.D. and wife Mary Jane Heinen of Maple Grove; John T Beecher, M.D. and wife Lori of Edina; seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
She was born Aug. 28, 1910, in Madison to Hans Lokken and Eleanor Hewitt Borgendale, where she attended school. She graduated from Carleton College in Northfield in 1933. She taught in the Canby Consolidated High School until 1936. She married James Morrison Beecher on June 10, 1936. They lived in Minneapolis until 1947 when they moved to New Ulm. After her husband's death in 1990, she lived in New Ulm until 1996 when she moved to Edina to be closer to her sons.
Elaine M. Berhow, 75, of Springfield, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999, at Springfield Medical Center.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Olson Funeral Home in Truman, with burial in Fairview Memorial Park, Fairmont.
Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Friday and 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday at Olson Funeral Home. Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield handled arrangements.
She is survived by her husband, Donald Berhow of Springfield; daughters, Janet and husband Dale Johnson of Springfield; Sharin and husband Robert Salstrom of Evansville, Ind., Gwendolyn and husband Bernard Armstrong of Windom; son, Danny and wife Jackie Berhow of Moundsview; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brothers, Donald and wife Dagne Bunkofske of Venice, Fla.; Daryl and wife Lois Bunkofske of Swea City, Iowa, Alvin and wife Dottie Bunkofske of Aurora, Ill., Darwin and wife Vanetta Bunkofske of Armstrong, Iowa; sisters, Vivian and husband Oliver Aasby of Estherville, Iowa, Floy and husband Glen Hendricksen of LeRoy, Dorothea and husband Donald Guge of Estherville, and Ethel and husband Kenneth Dalen of Estherville.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Cecil.
She was born Oct. 21, 1924, in Burt, Iowa, to William and Myrtle (Harsh) Bunkofske. She was raised and attended school in Swea City, Iowa, where she married Donald Berhow on Aug. 17, 1941. They lived in southern Minnesota. She worked d at the Gambles Department Store in Fairmont for 13 years, until 1968, when they opened the E&L Cafe in Truman. She retired in 1983. They moved to Springfield in 1997.
Floyd Raitz , 84, of rural Fairfax, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999, at Buffalo Lake Healthcare Center.
Services are 10 a.m. Saturday at Swedlanda Lutheran Church in Palmyra Township, Renville County, with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Hughes Funeral Home in Hector, and at the church Saturday one hour before the service.
He is survived by a son, Karl Bennet and wife Carol Raitz of Lexington, Ky.; daughter, Eileen Diana Raitz of Buffalo Lake; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Lionel and Myrul Raitz of Texas; sister, Alice Mae Sateren of Fergus Falls, and sisters-in-law, Florence Rosenquist of Texas and Mary Lou Raitz of New Ulm.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret; his parents; a brother, Harold; and brothers-in-law, Wilton Rosenquist and Albin Thronson.
He was born April 10, 1915, in Hector Township, Renville County, to Levi and Alice (Schwartz) Raitz. He grew up in the Hector area, attending various country schools. He later drove a school bus for Bird Island-Lake Lillian, and was a truck driver for Don Rueber. He also worked in a bowling alley. He married Margaret Kulberg on June 14, 1946, and they farmed south of Swedlanda Church until his health caused him to retire in 1980 following cancer surgery. In September 1998 he moved to the Bird Island Manor Healthcare Center. He was a member of Swedlanda Lutheran Church
Ardell Kramer, 77, of 1240 2nd North Street New Ulm, died Wednesday, Dec., 1, 1999 at New Ulm Medical Center.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Friday at Firle Funeral Home in New Ulm, and one hour prior to services at the church.
Lucille Helget , 81, of Springfield, died Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, at Mercy American River Hospital in Carmichael, Calif.
Mass of Christian is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Springfield with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Friday, and 7:30 - 10 a.m. Saturday at Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield. St. Anne's CCW rosary will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the church and a parish prayer service will be held 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
She is survived by sons, Thomas and wife Phylis Helget of Eagan, Charles Helget and friend Merecy Parker of Carmichael, Calif.; daughter, Connie and husband John Erickson of Broomfield, Colo.; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; brothers: Leo, Melvin and Ervin Pelzel, all of Sleepy Eye, Bernard and wife Maryo Pelzel of Vermont; sisters, Leona Lowinske of Sleepy Eye, Irene Meyer of New Mexico, Marian and husband Frank Mueller of Missouri, Lorraine and husband Mel Tauer of Morgan.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Martin in 1997; brothers, Arthur, Ed and Roman.
She was born Feb. 16, 1918, in rural Sleepy Eye to Clement and Augusta (Engel) Pelzel, where she grew up on the family farm. She married Martin Helget on April 23, 1941 and the couple moved to Springfield. She was a nurse's assistant at Springfield hospital and later for Dr. Frank Boyle for more than 20 years. She was a member of St. Raphael's Catholic Church and was active in various church activities and the CCW. She was a member of the Springfield garden club and the birthday club.
Florence Cornell, 74, of Redwood Falls, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999, at Wood Dale Nursing Home in Redwood Falls.
Funeral services are 10 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Redwood Falls with burial in the Benson City Cemetery.
Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Thursday at Nelson Funeral Home in Redwood Falls and will continue on Friday one hour prior to the service at the church.
She is survived by children, Lawrence and wife Kathy of Sunburg, Kenneth and wife Barb of Redwood Falls and Linda Schultz and husband Gene of Redwood Falls; five grandchildren, Melanie, Sarah, Scott, Brian and Amanda; brothers; Duane Banister of St. Cloud and Ronald Banister and wife Devon of Starbuck.
She was preceded in death by her husband William and a son David in 1952.
She was born on Aug. 11, 1925, in rural Morris to Harry and Julia (Gunderson) Banister. She graduated from Benson High School. On Oct. 12, 1945, she married William Cornell at the Congregational Church in Benson. They made their home in Swift County, moved to Olivia, moved back to the farm in the Benson area and in 1961 returned to Redwood Falls. She worked for Control Data for a number of years and at Activeaid. Most recently she worked with the Green Thumb program at the City Library and the Reede Gray Library until 1998. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church.
Harry Bluestone, 71, of Lower Sioux Indian Community died on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999 at his home.
Services are Friday at 1:30 p.m. at St. Comelia's Episcopal Church with burial in the church cemetery.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. tosday with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. at the Community Hall and continues on Friday from 9 a.m. until time of service at the Community Hall. Nelson Funeral Home handling arrangements. (Note: These times are changes from previously published information.)
Roman L. Huiras, Sr., 83, of Fairfax, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999, at Oak Hills Living Center in New Ulm.
Mass of Christian burial is 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Fairfax, with burial in St. Andrew's Catholic Church Cemetery in Cairo Township, Renville County.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today at Hauser-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Fairfax; and continues one hour before the services Friday at the church. There will be a Knights of Columbus and Catholic Aid rosary at 6 p.m. and a parish prayer service at 7 p.m. today at the funeral chapel.
He is survived by his wife, Gertrude M. Huiras of Fairfax; sons, Marvin Huiras and wife Judy of Minneapolis, Dennis Huiras and wife Yvonne of Del Mar, Calif., Roman Huiras Jr. and wife Mary Lou of Fairfax, Donald Huiras and wife Shirl of Fairfax, Gary Huiras of Fairfax; daughter Diane Liebl and her husband Gerald of New Ulm; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sister, Bernetta Hauser and husband Clarence of New UIm; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers; two infant brothers; two sisters and one granddaughter.
He was born on Jan. 25, 1916, in Leavenworth Township, to Michael and Annie (Gunderman) Huiras. He attended school in Leavenworth. He graduated from St. Mary's High School in Sleepy Eye. He married Gertrude Windschitl on Sept. 17,1936, at Church of Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth. The couple farmed near Leavenworth and Evan. In 1949, they moved to rural Fairfax. In 1985, they retired and moved to Fairfax. He had been a resident in nursing homes since 1996. He served on the Renville County Extension Committee. He served as an officer for Fairfax Public School PTA, Fairfax Shipping Association, Fairfax Elevator Association, St, Mary's Society, St, Joseph's Society, Catholic Aid Association, Knights of Columbus and St. Andrew's Parish. During the 1930s, he played amateur baseball for Leavenworth. He was an adult 4-H leader for Cairo Sharpshooters and served as an adviser/leader. He was a member of Fairfax Senior Citizens Group. He served on Renville County Council on Aging and Fairfax Nutrition Committee. He served as president of the Seniors Group. He was named outstanding senior citizen of Renville County in 1993.
Ella Pfarr, 90, of Lamberton died Dec. 1, 1999, at Springfield Medical Center.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lamberton with burial in the Lamberton City Cemetery.
Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Sunday an 7:30-8:30 a.m. Monday at Sturm Funeral Home in Lamberton and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
She is survived by her brother, David Pfarr of Lamberton; sister, Lena Ayres of Storden; brothers-in-law, Edwin Miller of Lamberton and Frank Matter of Springfield; sister-in-law, Adele Pfarr of Lamberton, many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, eight sisters and six brothers.
She was born Oct. 26, 1909, in Lamberton to Oscar J. and Helena (Gladde) Pfarr. She attended school in Lamberton. She lived and worked with her parents on the family farm. She also worked part time at the cafe in Revere. She was a long-time member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church.
Thomas J. "T.J." Klein, 72, of Duluth, formerly of Sleepy Eye, died Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999, at the Franciscan Health Center in Duluth.
Mass of Christian burial is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, with burial in the church cemetery. Full military honors will be provided by the Sleepy Eye Honor Guard.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Friday and 7:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday at Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye.