Latest Obituaries (573)
The funeral service for Hazel J. Christenson will be at 10 a.m. Monday, April 18, 2011 at Bonnerup Funeral Service Chapel, Albert Lea. Visitation will be one hour before service at the chapel. Captain James Brickson and Pastor Kent Otterman will officiate.
Hazel died Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at Good Samaritan Center, Albert Lea, MN. She was 93 years old.
Hazel Julia Sward was born November 3, 1917 in Ida Grove, Iowa, one of 11 children of John and Anna Sward. As a young child, Hazel came to the Clarks Grove area and she was raised by her grandmother and her two uncles. When she was 16, she met her husband Raymond M. Christenson at the Freeborn County Fair. They were united in marriage on June 6, 1935 at the Clarks Grove Baptist Church Parish. They lived in Freeborn County their 56 years of married life.
The funeral service for David Eddie Swenson of rural New Richland, Minnesota will be held 11 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2011 at Faith United Methodist Church, Waseca, MN. Reverend Debra Collum will officiate. Interment will be in Vista Covenant Church Cemetery, rural New Richland. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Thursday at Friedrich Funeral Home, New Richland, MN and one hour before the service at the church.
David died suddenly, Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at his home. He was 74 years old.
Funeral services for Janice Muriel Morstad, age 78, of Albert Lea will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church. Rev. Dennis Frank will officiate. Interment will be at Hartland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 11th at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service. To sign the guest book, go to www.bayviewfuneral.com
Janice died Thursday, April 7, 2011 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.
Janice Muriel Morstad was born on February 25, 1933 to Ole and Alma (Johnson) Morstad in Hartland. She graduated from Freeborn High School and attended two years at Mankato Business School. Janice has worked in the secretarial capacity for 40 years for the meat packing plant in Albert Lea, formerly Wilson & Co., surviving two long strikes and a shutdown of 9 months due to bankruptcy.
Margy Dene Toft, age 82, of Spring Valley, Minn. died Tuesday morning, March 29, 2011, at the Spring Valley Care Center.
Margy was born February 12, 1929, in Steele County, Minn., the daughter of Otto and Virginia (Dezell) Sorenson. She was baptized July 19, 1942, and confirmed May 9, 1945, at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, Minn. She graduated from Freeborn High School in 1947. She married Charles “Chuck” Toft July 6, 1947, at First Lutheran Church in Hartland, Minn. The couple farmed in Steele and Freeborn Co.’s until moving to Spring Valley in 1958. While in Spring Valley she was a waitress at the Highway Cafe and Frontier Room and retired after working as a clerk at Snyder Drug.
Maudie Lee Zellweger, 86, of Mesa, Arizona and formerly of Sioux City, Iowa, died on March 22, 2011. She was born on October 14, 1924 in Sikeston, Missouri to Minius and Clara Knight where she joined eight brothers and sisters.
Lee, as her friends called her, was very active in all aspects of her life at View Point RV Resort. After years of golfing, Lee decided she would try this thing called “tennis” and found her true sports passion. To see that tiny figure in her tights, tennis skirt and shirt on the court you weren’t quite sure what would do her in first — that huge tennis racket or the wind that would surely blow her over.
She will be remembered for her kindness to one and all, her willingness to help out whenever asked to do so, and her desire to make the most of whatever came along.
Survivors include her husband Donald Zellweger; her daughter Saundra Nelson of Mesa, Arizona; her grandson Tom Jones of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and three great-grandchildren Sari, Darby and Haydn Jones.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 4, 2011 in the Garden Room at View Point RV Resort in Mesa, Arizona.
Joy Dunn, 67, went to be with her precious Savior, Jesus Christ on March 14, 2011. She was surrounded at home by her beloved family. Her funeral service, with Tim Coop officiating, will be held at Crossroads Christian Church on Thursday March 24, 2011 at 11 a.m.
Joy was born on June 1, 1943 to Robert and Florence Hanson, in Albert Lea, Minnesota. She attended nursing school in Minnesota for three years. Three months before completion of the program she decided nursing was not the direction she wanted to continue. She married her Marine, Lloyd Dunn, 47 year ago and they moved to California. At the age of 55 Joy completed her education with a Bachelor of Science Degree at Hope International University.
For the past 28 years Joy and Lloyd owned and ran a small business, Evans Leak Detection. Helping run their business didn't keep Joy from volunteer community work. She was Corona Parks and Recreational Commissioner for 18 years, a Mentor Mom for "Moms of Pre-Schoolers” and a Home Fellowship Leader. She worked with the Corona Police Community Partnership. Joy was a very active member of Crossroads Christian Church for 43 years. She was a church elder.
Joy had a special passion for her work and her friendships with the Circle City Rotary Club, where she had served as president. On Sunday, March 13, she asked that they be told how much she loved them and that "Rotary meant everything to me ... They were part of my family." She was an active member for over 20 years. Through the Hurricane Katrina Stars (Service to American Rotarians) Joy and Lloyd traveled on their Harley from California to the Gulf Coast to help in the rebuilding of little league baseball field and a Rotarian home. She was a Rotoplast Medical Team Member traveling to Cumana, Venezuela to make the lives of the people better. Joy was a part of the selfless endeavor of Rotary Mission trips to Costa Rica, bringing medical supplies, dental care and school supplies to students.
Joy was diagnosed to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in September 2008. She called upon her faith, family, and friends as she accepted the fact that this neurological disease would destroy her Central Nervous System. She credited the Lord Jesus for answering the prayers of family and friends in slowing the progression of her muscle weakness.
Her nomination for "Woman of the Year" 2011 for the State of California was a great honor. She was looking forward to going to Sacramento on March 21, 2011 for the award ceremony.
She determined to make each day special. That determination was important for her as she worked hard to maintain peace and acceptance of her disease. She and Lloyd ventured out on several major trips following her diagnosis. They traveled to Costa Rica, Chile, México, Minnesota, Washington, and even rode their Harley from Corona, California to Abilene, Texas in April of 2010. They met their goal to make each day special. Joy reminded herself of a favorite scripture in Philippians 4:3: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Joy had very close family ties with all who survive her; Husband, Lloyd Dunn, sons, Mark (Adrienne) Dunn and Brian (Jennifer) Dunn of Corona, and her Rotary "exchange kid", Claudio Valenzuela from Chili; eight grandchildren, brother Kurt Hanson of Kent, WA, Sisters, Lorna Berg of Albert Lea, MN; Linda Anderson of Rochester, MN; Anita Kess of Eagan, MN and many nieces and nephews. She had a host of close friends. The parents of Joy preceded her in death.
Memorial services for Beulah E.I. Crabtree of Ellendale, MN, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 19, 2011 at the United Methodist Church in Ellendale. Pastor Lisa Dodds will officiate. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held at a later date.
Beulah died Tuesday morning, March 15, 2011 at the Albert Lea Medical Center. She was 89 years of age.
Beulah was born June 5, 1921 on the family farm in Steele County. She was the daughter of Harold and Nelsena (Skow) Ferguson. She graduated from Ellendale High School in 1939. On June 25, 1941 she was united in marriage to Charles Henry Crabtree at the First Methodist Church in Ellendale, MN.
Beulah was a Steele County resident for most of her life and a member of the United Methodist Church in Ellendale. She was active in the Church Choir, United Methodist Women and taught Sunday school for many years.
Beulah was a member of the Sweet Adeline’s Owatonna Chapter and loved all types of music. She enjoyed crocheting, cooking, gardening and being a homemaker to her loving family.
Beulah is survived by her children; Millie and her husband Allen Paulson of Ellendale, MN, Allie Larson of Ellendale, MN, Becky and her husband Allen Larson of Ellendale, MN, Bob and his wife Leah Crabtree of Brainerd, MN, Kathy Crabtree-Shoudel of Coppell, TX. There are 13 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. Also surviving are four sisters; Anna Foster of Red Wing, MN, Alice Richards of Geneva, MN, Mildred (Gerald) Flugum of New Richland, MN, Roselyn (Eldon) Peterson of Hayfield, MN, one sister in law Marjorie Trandem of Owatonna, MN, and many nieces and nephews.
Beulah was preceded in death by her parents; Harold and Nelsena, husband Charles Henry, son in law Dennis Larson and sisters Wanda Fisher Christensen and Helen Holmes.
She will be sadly missed by her loving family and many friends.
Stafford Breck of Ellendale MN was born August 19, 1930 in Waseca, MN to Ella (Johnson) and Andrew Breck. Each day he lived life to the fullest until his passing on March 7, 2011 in San Juan P.R.
On October 21, l956 he was united in marriage to Ila Priem in Mankato MN.
He was employed by Josten's for 26 years until retirement in 1994.
He is survived by his wife Ila; daughters Faye (Kerry) Johnson and Jane (Ron) Peck; granddaughters Elise Johnson (Adam Ridenhour) and Rikki Peck; great-granddaughters Hayley Kettle and Veyda Ridenhour.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Joel (Orloue) Breck and Orren Breck.
Services will be on March 26, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 609 Lincoln Avenue South, Owatonna, MN. Reception follows the service at the Owatonna Country Club, 1991 Lemond Rd, Owatonna MN.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Ellendale Food Shelf, St. Isidore School or Trinity Lutheran Church Building Fund.
Memorial services for Deloyce Sawyer, age 87, of Albert Lea were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Ellendale Methodist Church. Interment will be at a later date. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at the church. To sign the guest book, go to www.bayviewfuneral.com.
Deloyce died February 27, 2011 at Good Samaritan Center in Albert Lea.
Deloyce Sawyer was born May 20, 1923 in New Richland, the daughter of Clarence and Meryl Molyneux. She graduated from Ellendale High School on May 29, 1940. Deloyce attended the Mankato School of Beauty Culture and graduated on January 6, 1941. She married Floyd E. Sawyer on February 3, 1943 at her home in Blooming Prairie. To this union three daughters and one son were born: Pat, Paulette, Dennis Floyd, and Lyn. After leaving the farm, Floyd and Deloyce moved to Ellendale and spent many winters in Lake Havasu, AZ, where Deloyce enjoyed swimming, bowling and socializing with friends. She was an excellent cook and homemaker. She used her sewing talents and also used her skills as a beautician, giving many haircuts and perms to family and friends. When Floyd’s health deteriorated, they moved to Bancroft Creek Estates. Deloyce continued to live there until she suffered a compression fracture and moved to the Good Samaritan Home in Albert Lea, where she died on February 27th. She was a member of the Ellendale Methodist Church and the Oak Street Club for many years.
More...
Douglas M. “Hawkeye” Spies passed away Sunday, February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, IN after a battle with cancer. He was 61 years old.
He was born March 18, 1949 in Waseca, MN to Alvin and Mildred (Kopischke) Spies. He graduated in 1967 from Waseca High School. He entered the U.S. Army and served two tours in Vietnam. Doug married Marsha Pearce. They had one child (Mark) and divorced. Later he married Rebecca Hoskins (Baumann) and had two children (Nicole and Jennifer); they divorced. He later married Marcia McCormack and lived the rest of his life with her. He enjoyed baseball and sports in general. Other hobbies included playing pool and cards, and U.S. History.
He was a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and belonged to other various veterans associations.
Marcelene M. “Mish” Mortenson, age 82, of New Richland, MN, died Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea, MN. Memorial service will be held Saturday, March 5, 2011 at 2:00 PM at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home Wells, MN, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Vern Harris will officiate. Burial will take place in Rosehill Cemetery, Wells, Faribault County, Minnesota at a later date.
Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is assisting the family with arrangements.
Gerald J. “Bud” Possin, age 78, of Waseca, was born into eternal life Sunday, February 27, 2011 at the Owatonna Hospital.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, March 3rd at 11:00 a.m. at the LeSueur River Lutheran Church in rural New Richland. Interment will be in the church Cemetery.
The Possin Family will greet friends on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Waseca, and will continue on Thursday morning for one hour prior to services, at church.