Online Obituaries
Saturday, December 18, 1999
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Leo Landsteiner, 92, of St. James, died Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999 in St. James.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. James Catholic Church, with burial in Calvary Cemetery, St. James.
Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Monday at Sturm Funeral Home, St. James, with a parish prayer service at 7:30 p.m.
He is survived by his nephew Lawrence and wife Jean Landsteiner of St. James; and nieces Frances and husband Glenn Strauser of Arroyo Grande, Calif. and Joyce and husband Lawrence Schultz of Fairmont.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Frank, John and Joe; and sister Rose.
He was born Oct. 13, 1907 in Fairmont, to Carol and Margaret (Hull) Landsteiner. While growing up he attended school in the South Branch area. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942-1945. He served most of his military career in Africa. He worked as a carpenter all his life until he retired in the late 70s. He was a member of the American Legion in St. James.
Luella Christianson, 86 of Mountain Lake died Friday, Dec. 17, 1999 at the Good Samaritan Center in Mountain Lake.
Services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mountain Lake with burial in the Mountain Lake Cemetery.
Visitation will be 3-5 p.m. Sunday and 7:30-11:30 a.m. Monday at the Bjerm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake, and one hour prior to the service at the church.
She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Lydia and Louis Lindmeyer of New Ulm, Lois and Jerry Mathews of Topeka, Kan.; son and daughters-in-law Donald and MaryLou Willard, Ray and Ede Willard, all of Mountain Lake, Dennis and Linda Willard of Sumter, S.C.,Keith and Bonnie Willard of Mountain Lake; son-in-law Elwin "Pete" Sanders of Mankato; 18 grandchildren; 24 grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; sisters Dorothy O'Neil and her husband Donald of Murry, Iowa, and Alma Stein of Iowa City, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by two husbands, daughter Linda Sanders; a grandson in infantcy; sisters: Margie Ann Long; Helen O'Neil; brothers: Alva, Dale and Willie Buck.
She was born April 2, 1913 in Plover, Iowa to Richard and Maggie (Miller) Buck. She married Raymond H. Willard April 14, 1931 in Gilmore City, Iowa. They made their home in Rodman, Iowa, Sanborn, Jeffers and Mountain Lake. He died in 1959. She married Louis Christianson March 7, 1964 in Springfield. They made their home in Mountain Lake. Louis in 1980. She continued to live in Mountain Lake. She worked as a Nurse's Aide at the Mountain Lake hospital and cooked for Bonnie's Cafe. She entered the Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake on Nov. 30.
Vincent T. Schaffer, 83 of St. James died Wednesday, Dec. 15.
Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at St. James Catholic Church in St. James with burial in the Calvary Cemetery in St. James.
Visitation will be 5-9 p.m. Saturday at the Sturm Funeral Home in St. James and one hour prior to the service at the church. There will be a Christian Mother's Rosary at 5 and a Parish Prayer service at 8:30 p.m. both at the funeral home. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers to the Diabetes Foundation and the St. James Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife Pauline of St. James; son Leon and his wife Judy of Fairmont; daughter Diane and her husband Elmer Carlson of St. James; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sisters: Josephine Heppner of St. James, Evelyn Schoenberger and Delores Pigman of Windom; Geraldine Magnussen of Dundee, Mabel and her husband Louis Anderson of Starbuck; brothers: Bennett and his wife Marilyn Schaffer of Hutchinson, Cornelius and his wife Mag Schaffer of White Bear Lake; several nieces and nephews.
He was born March 1, 1916 in Heron Lake Township, Cottonwood County, to Julius and Stephania (Hager) Schaffer. He attended county school. He married Pauline Pelzel Feb. 1, 1941 at Sacred Heart Church in Heron Lake. He worked near Hanley Falls as a farm hand for one year prior to entering active duty in the U.S. Army in 1942. Following his honorable discharge in 1945 he worked on the Ole Revne farm near St. James. In 1947 they moved to the Butterfield area where they farmed for 32 years until his retirement in 1979. Four years later, they moved into St. James. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, Catholic Order of Forresters, and was an active volunteer in the early years of the Butterfield Threshing Bee.
Richard "Dick" Kieper, 61 of Lamberton died Friday, Dec. 17, 1999 at his home.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Zion Lutheran Church in Sanborn with burial in the Springfield city cemetery, Veteran's section.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Strum Funeral Home in Lamberton, and one hour prior to the service at the church.
He is survived by wife Shari of Lamberton; daughter and son-in-law Kathy and Alan Wacker of Lamberton; two grandchildren; mother Loretta Kieper of Sanborn; brothers and sisters-in-law Gerald and Barbara Kieper of Sanborn, Gene and Sharon Kieper of Stillwater, Michael and Linda Kieper of Nibgham Lake; sister Shirley Fennern of Bayport.
He was preceded in death by his father; a daughter Michelle Kay in infancy.
He was born May 29, 1938 in Springfield to Rudolph and Loretta (Haak) Kieper. He Grew up in the Sanborn area and graduated from Sanborn High School in 1956. He served in the U.S. Arm y 1961-1963, following which he worked for Lamerton Plumbing and Heating full time 1963-1985 and part-time 1985-1998. Along with his wife, he was also caretaker for Douglas Apartments 198-1998. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Sanborn, and was a member of Andrew Peterson American Legion Post 417 in Lamberton.
Laverne Laffen, 74 of Hector died Thursday, Dec. 16 at the cosmos Healthcare Center.
Services will be 1 p.m Monday at St. Paul's Lutheran Chuch in Hector with burial in the Hector City Cemetery.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Sunday at the Hughes Funeral Home in Hector, and one hour prior to the service at the church.
She is survived by children: Diane Evers and husband Larry of Sleepy Eye, Verlinda Burks and husband Gary of Fergus Falls, Dennis Laffen of Hector and Nancy Laffen of Hector; three grandchildren; one grandson-in-law; one great-granddaughter; several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
She was born May 27, 1925 in Hutchinson to Herman and Lydia (Tessmer) Pahlman. She grew up in the Biscay area and attended school in Hutchinson. She married Wesley Laffen on May 20, 1949 in Peace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. She was a homemaker and also a factory worker in several communities. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hector and active in the WELCA.
Marian Rieke Bemmels, 69 of Fairfax died on Thursday, Dec. 16, 1999 at the home of her daughter Virginia Erickson in Seattle, Wash.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Fairfax.
Visitation will be held at the church at 1 p.m.
She is survived by daughters: Virginia and husband Larry Erickson of Seattle, Wash., Lenore Bennels of Lynnwood, Wash., Kathy Bemmels and friend Patty Straiton of Minneapolis; sons: Burton and wife vickie of Owatonna, Brian and wife Marcia of Vancouver, B.C., Ralph and wife Laurie of Fairfax, and Donald of Lakeville; 12 grandchildren; sister Florence Rieke of Fairfax; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gordon in 1978, son Thomas in 1992, brothers Eldred and Winfield, and two brothers in infancy.
She was born Feb. 10, 1930 to Edward and Ida (Grodklags) Rieke in Fairfax. She attended school in Cairo township and graduated from Fairfax High School in 1947. She married Gordon Bemmels Sept. 12, 19147 and they farmed in Cairo Township until Gordon's death. She moved to Seattle in 1983 where she studied and got her LPN degree in 1984. She owned and operated Adult Foster Home in Widby Island until her retirement in 1994. She moved to Lynnwood, Wash., where she did home health care until her own health declined. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, first in Fairfax and later in Seattle.
Allen Opitz, 60 of rural Winthrop died Friday, Dec. 17, 1999 at his home.
Services will be 11 a.m. Monday ata Zion Lutheran Church in Winthrop with burial in the Winthrop Cemetery.
Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Sunday at Zion Lutheran Church in Winthrop and one hour prior to the service. Dalin-Hantge Funeral Chapel of Winthrop is handling the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife JoAnn of Winthrop; sons and daughter-in-law Kary Opitz, Kenneth and Wanda Opitz, all of Winthrop, daughters: Cindy Gassow and husband Jerry of Gaylord, and Kay Opitz of Winthrop; seven grandchildren; mother, Irene Sifferath of Buffalo Lake; brother Stanley and wife Pat Optiz of New Brighton; mother-in-law Helen Freuendienst of Glencoe; several nephews, nieces, other relatives, friends.
He was preceded in death by his father Martin Opitz; step-father William Siifferath; father-in-law John Frauendienst.
He was born Oct. 17, 1939 in Fish Lake, Scott County to Martin and Irene (Krueger)Opitz. He attended country schools and high school. After school he entered the National Guard. He married JoAnn Frauendienst Aug. 21, 1964 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Auburn. The couple farmed in Penn Township. He started a recycling business on his farm site in 1985. He was a former member of St. Matthew's Lutheran Churc in Penn Township where he served as a trustee. He was currently a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Winthrop. He was a member of the N.F.O. and also sold seed corn.