A Collection of Obituaries From the

Mitchell County (Iowa)

Vicinity


File #10


INDEX

 

Laurence W. Borchardt

Surnames: Borchardt, Arzberger, Kirchgatter, Graverson, Hall, Koehler

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; APR 7, 1977 )

Funeral services for Laurence W. Borchardt, 75, who died of a heart attack while enroute to the Mitchell County Memorial hospital March 26, were held March 30 at the Emmanuel Lutheran church in Grafton with the Rev. Victor Baderschneider officiating.

Laurence W. Borchardt was born January 19, 1902 in Union township, Worth county, the son of William and Margaret (Arzberger) Borchardt. He was baptized and confirmed in the Emmanuel Lutheran church and attended rural school in Worth county.

He married Rose Kirchgatter in Austin, Minn. July 2, 1927. After their marriage they returned to his wife’s family farm where they lived all their married life.

Mr. Borchardt loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing and hunting. He helped to establish and build the Carpenter Sportsmen’s club near Carpenter.

He is survived by his wife, Rose; a daughter, Mr. Olger (Gaylis) Tenold of Northwood; a son, Laurence Jr. (Bud) of Forest City; seven grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Soren (Laura) Graverson of Plymouth and Mrs. Rennie (Rosa) Hall of Osage; two brothers, Alvin and Loyd, both of Osage.

Mr. Borchardt was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Mrs. Rhinold Koehler and Elizabeth at home; also five brothers, Charlie, Louie, Ferd, George and Frank.

Burial was in the Grafton cemetery with Rev. Baderschneider in charge of the committal service.

INDEX

 

Fred Carl Vedder

Surnames: Vedder, Winter, Belz, Kirchgatter

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; 20 JAN 1977)

Funeral Services for Fred C. Vedder, 96, who died January 10 at the Good Samaritan Center here, were held January 12 at the Immanuel Lutheran church with the Rev. Norman Betke officiating.

Fredrick Carl Vedder was born January 18, 1880 at Hankinson, N.D., the son of William and Amelia (nee Winter). He was baptized into the Christian faith January 26, 1880 at St. John’s Lutheran church, Hankinson, by Rev. Krueger. His sponsors were Fredrick Weiss, Carl Bladow and Mrs. Johanne Weiss. He confirmed his baptismal vows April 11, 1895 at St. John’s, having been instructed by Rev. Hinck.

He received his schooling in Hankinson and as a young man came to the St. Ansgar, Grafton area where he met and married Emma Belz at Grafton on March 19, 1911.

The Vedders farmed for 11 years in the Dakotas and then made their home in St. Ansgar. They became members of Immanuel Lutheran in 1924.

Mr. Vedder was employed as a carpenter working with Herman Dieterich and later with Art Hollatz.

He became a resident of the Good Samaritan Center here in 1970 and lived there until his death.

He is preced in death by his wife, Emma; his parents, three infant children, four brothers and four sisters. He is survived by a son, Wilmer of Austin, Minn.; grandchildren, Wayne of Austin; Mrs. K. M. Whiting of St. Charles, Minn.; Arlyn of Minneapolis; Ellen of Austin; one sister, Mrs. Harley (Minnie) Kirchgatter, Grafton, nieces and nephews.

Burial was in the Immanuel Lutheran cemetery with the Rev. Betke in charge of the committal services.

INDEX

 

Roy H. Gerlach

Surnames: Gerlach, Priem, Colby, Nickerson, Groth

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; Jan. 20, 1977 )

Funeral services for Roy H. Gerlach, 80, who died at his home in Morristown, Minn. January 5, were held January 8 at the Peach United Methodist church in Morristown with the Rev. Bruce Christie officiating.

Roy H. Gerlach was born January 7, 1896 in St. Ansgar, the son of Frank and Emma (Priem) Gerlach. He was graduated from St. Ansgar high school. He married Margaret Colby in Northfield, Minn. November 4, 1923.

Mr. Gerlach owned and managed a service garage in St. Cloud, Minn. For 53 years. He and his wife moved to Morristown in November 1976. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church in St. Cloud, the North Star Lodge 23 Af & AM of which he was a past commander, Nazarene Commandary 24 of which he was Post Commander; Past Watchman of the Shepherd; United Travels of which he was a Post Counselor, all of St. Cloud.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, four brothers, Earl, Arthur, Wilmer and Gene, all of St. Ansgar; three sisters, Mrs. Irma Ball of Decatur, Ill.; Mrs. Harold (Rose) Nickerson of Osage and Mrs. Irling (Lucille) Groth, Des Moines.

Burial was in the Meadow Ridge Memorial cemetery in Faribault, Minn. With Rev. Christie in charge of committal services.

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George Peter Weber

Surnames: Weber, Wold, Diederich, Kleckner, Stover, Burch, Colwell

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; JAN 20, 1977)

Funeral services for George Peter Weber, 91, who died at the Good Samaritan Center here January 10, were held at the St. Ansgar Catholic church with the Rev. John Breitback officiating. Interment was in Immaculate Conception cemetery, Elma.

George Peter Weber was born April 23, 1884, the son of Jacob and Maria Diederich Weber. He was baptized and confirmed at New Haven. He received his education in a rural school by New Haven.

October 29, 1907 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Neeb in Elma. To this union two children were born. Mildred Weber Wold of St. Ansgar and Kermit Weber of Oceano, Calif.

He farmed for many years in Mitchell and Howard county, until 1971 when he moved to St. Ansgar after a tornado destroyed his farm at Elma. He and his wife moved to the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar in May of 1976.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and three sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; his children; five grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; one brother, Jake of Madison, Wis.; four sisters, Rose Kleckner, Osage; Suzie Burch of Riceville; Lil Stover of Fond du Lac, Wis.; and Jennie Cross of Colwell.

INDEX

 

Iola May Betow Fischer

Surnames: Fischer, Westrum, Betow

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; Mar. 24, 1977)

Funeral services for Mrs. Iola M. Fischer, 58, who died in Osage March 12, were held March 15 at the Immanuel Lutheran church here with the Rev. Norman Betke officiating.

Iola May Betow Fischer was born November 16, 1918 near Myrtle, Minn., the daughter of Frank and Ida (Westrum) Betow. She was baptized December 1, 1918 at Myrtle, Minn. By the Rev. Staehling. Her sponsors were Mrs. Walter Brown, Lulu Westrum and Henry Betow. She confirmed her baptismal vows April 9, 1933 at Immanuel Lutheran church, having been instructed by the Rev. Paul Brammer.

Mrs. Fischer attended school in St. Ansgar. April 16, 1946 she married Lawrence Fischer in Austin, Minn. And they resided on a farm near Lyle, Minn. For a short time and then made their home in St. Ansgar.

Following the death of her husband in 1968, she suffered a stroke and after this resided at the Osage Nursing Home. She was preceded in death by her husband and her father in 1968.

She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Frank Betow of St. Ansgar; three brothers, Franklin Betow of St. Ansgar, the Rev. Burton Betow of Watertown, Wis. And Leighton Betow of Osage; three nieces, Mrs. Joe (Luella) Funk and Mrs. David (Alberta) Cresswell, both of Mason City, and Miss Frances Betow of Long Beach, Calif.

Burial was in the St. Ansgar cemetery with Rev. Betke in charge of the committal services.

INDEX

 

Alfred Benjamin Haugen

Surnames: Haugen, Trom, Sandvig, Fossey, Olson

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; MAR 24, 1977)

Funeral services for a Mona farmer, Alfred B. Haugen, 83, who died at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center March 8, were held March 11 at Mona Lutheran church with the Rev. Gaylord Grant officiating. Interment was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Alfred Benjamin Haugen, the eldest son of Knut and Elisa (Trom) Haugen, was born in Dodge county, Rock Dell, Minn. March 23, 1893.

He was baptized at West St. Olaf Lutheran church at Rock Dell. At the age of 14 he moved with his parents to Mitchell county in Otranto township one half miles east of Mona where he resided for 69 years.

On August 20, 1932 he was united in marriage with Clara Sandvig of Lyle by the Rev. O. M. Langehough, and three children were born to them.

He was a member of Mona Lutheran church and served as an officer of the congregation and the Trinity Lutheran parish. He served as a director on the Mona school board and the Lyle rural fire association.

Mr. Haugen kept busy and did all tasks well until his health failed.

Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Dale (Mary) Sievert of Coon Rapids, Minn.; Mrs. Thomas (Ann) Knudsen of rural Lyle; one son, John of Mona; seven grandchildren, Douglas, Elizabeth, Christine, and Paul Sievert and Anders, James and Ruth Knudsen; four sisters, Mrs. Otto (Esther) Fossey; Hilma Haugen, both of St. Ansgar; Mrs. Allert (Rikka) Olson of Osage; Josephine Haugen of Spokane, Wash.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Clara; four sisters, Helen, Helga, and Effie Haugen and Mrs. Eddie (Ella) Fossey of Lyle.

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Sophie Marie Thompson

Surnames: Thompson, Amundson

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; Jan. 20, 1977)

Funeral services for Miss Sophie M. Thompson, 93, who died January 8 at the Good Shepherd Geriatric Health Center In Mason City, were held January 12 at the Schroeder & Dunn Funeral Home here with the Rev. Stephen Engelstad officiating.

Sophie Marie Thompson was born September 28, 1883 near Toeterville, the daughter of Mitchell and Andrine (Amundson) Thompson. She was baptized and confirmed in the First Lutheran church in St. Ansgar by the Rev. Johan Olsen. She received her elementary education in rural schools in St. Ansgar and Union townships in Mitchell county.

Miss Thompson moved with her parents to a home in St. Ansgar in the early 1900's. She did house work for various people, but spent most of her life helping and caring for her parents. She was a lover of flowers, and a mission-minded person who gave freely of her means to the work of missions. After the death of her parents she continued to live in the home until 1964. Since then she had lived in the Edith Andrews Custodial Home in Northwood and later in Mason City for 12 years. She entered the Good Shepherd Geriatric Health Center in Mason City November 1, 1976.

Miss Thompson was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters and two brothers. She is survived by several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews.

Burial was in First Lutheran cemetery here with Rev. Engelstad in charge of committal services.

INDEX

 

Thelma Smesrud Tesch

Surnames: Tesch, Smesrud

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; Jan. 13, 1977 )

Funeral services for Mrs. Thelma Tesch, 62, who died at the Good Shepherd Health center in Mason City January 7, were held January 11 at the Trinity Lutheran church in Mason City with the Rev. LaVern R. Hanson officiating.

Helen Thelma Tesch was born November 15, 1914 in Joice, the daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Herman Smesrud. She was baptized December 20, 1914 in Joice. Her family moved to St. Ansgar when she was two years old, and she was confirmed at First Lutheran church here May 26, 1929.

She married Julius Tesch October 24, 1940. Her husband taught school in St. Ansgar, Brownsdale, Minn., Titonka, Clear Lake and for 22 years at Mason City high school. She was very active in church work and was a leader of her Bible study for a number of years. After her husband’s death in 1974 she moved to Springdale, Ark. Where her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. And Mrs. Vernon Smesrud live. In her Springdale home she was very active in the Welcome Wagon Calling committee.

Returning for a visit at Thanksgiving in 1976, Mrs.. Tesch became ill while visiting friends in Clear Lake. She was hospitalized in Mason City for a few weeks and then transferred to the Good Shepherd Health Center.

Mrs. Tesch is survived by one brother, Vernon Smesrud of Springdale, Ark.; one sister, Mrs. Robert Nyman of Key Largo, Fla.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Burial was in First Lutheran cemetery in St. Ansgar with Rev. Hanson in charge of the committal services.

INDEX

 

Laura A. Kroneman Wilde

Surnames: Wilde, Neuman, Kroneman, Miller, Tabbert, Ones

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; JAN 26, 1978)

Funeral services for Mrs. Clarence Wilde, 68, of St. Ansgar, who died January 19 at the Mitchell County Memorial hospital, Osage, were held January 21 at St. John’s Lutheran church, Rock township, with the Rev. Richard Zellmer officiating.

Laura A. Kroneman was born August 19, 1909 in Rock township, Mitchell county, the oldest child of Emil and Marie (Neuman) Kroneman. She was baptized in St. John’s Lutheran church, Rock township, September 26, 1909 by the Rev. G.A. Bishop, and confirmed in the same church April 5, 1925 by the Rev. John Gemaehlich.

September 27, 1931 she married Clarence Wilde, with the Rev. Carl Landdeck officiating. Three children were born to them. Mr. And Mrs. Wilde farmed on the same farm in Rock township for 43 years. They moved to their home in St. Ansgar in 1974.

Mrs. Wilde was active in the Ladies Aid and ALCW of her church, sang in the church choir, and before her marriage played the organ for church services for several years.

She is survived by her husband, Clarence; two sons, Eugene Wilde and Robert Wilde, both of Osage; one daughter, Mrs. Marvin (Sharon) Hanson of St. Ansgar; 12 grandchildren; five brothers, Alvin Kroneman of St. Ansgar; Lloyd Kroneman of Plymouth; George Kroneman of St. Ansgar; Rueben Kroneman of Osage; Glen Kroneman of Britt; also three sisters, Mrs. Harold (Grace) Tabbert and Mrs. Leroy (Myrtle) Miller of St. Ansgar and Mrs. Justin (Clara) Ones of Osage.

Mrs. Wilde was preceded in death by her parents and one grandson.

Burial was in St. John’s Lutheran cemetery with Rev. Zellmer in charge of the committal services.

INDEX

 

Anna Louise Bethke Hartwig

Surnames: Hartwig, Bethke, Sawyer

(St. Ansgar Enterprise, St. Ansgar, Iowa; Feb 2, 1978)

Funeral services for Mrs. Leo Hartwig, 76, who died at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center January 24, were held January 28 at St. John’s Lutheran church, Rock township, with the Rev. Richard Zellmer officiating.

The funeral was originally scheduled for January 27, but was postponed because of the stormy weather.

Anna Louise Bethke was born January 18, 1902 in Grafton, the daughter of Ernest and Ernestine (Braun) Bethke. She was baptized February 9, 1902 by the Rev. John Landdeck and confirmed by Rev. Landdeck April 1, 1917.

She married Leo Hartwig September 4, 1921 at the Emmanuel Lutheran church in Grafton with the Rev. Carl Landdeck officiating. They lived their entire life in rural Newburg township.

Mrs. Hartwig is survived by her husband, Leo; three daughters, Mrs. William (Jeannette) Neuman of St. Ansgar; Mrs. William (Lucille) Scharper of Osage; and Mrs. Lee (Lois) Dutcher of Manly; also one sister, Mrs. Lydia Sawyer of Buffalo, Mo. and eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and two sisters.

Burial was in St. John’s Lutheran cemetery with Rev. Zellmer in charge of the commital services.

 


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