Rolland "Sonny" Pyan, 71, Sleepy Eye, died March 29, 2001, at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato. Funeral services were held Monday, April 2, at Divine Providence Community Home Chapel in Sleepy Eye, with interment in Home Cemetery, Sleepy Eye. Military rites were by the Sleepy Eye Honor Guard.
Rolland Pyan, the son of Fred and Stella (Wagner) Pyan, was born Nov. 15, 1929, in Marathon, Wis. He moved to Sleepy Eye in January of 1941 with his family. Rolland graduated from St. Mary's High School and while in school, he excelled in sports. In June of 1950, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Korea. He was honorably discharged in June of 1955. On Jan. 21, 1961, Rolland married Karen Trebesch at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. The couple made their home in Sleepy Eye. Rolland was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a member of the Sleepy Eye V.F.W. He enjoyed softball, bowling, playing cards, woodworking, gardening, hunting and fishing.
Rolland is survived by his wife, Karen Pyan of Sleepy Eye; sons, Blaine and friend Rita Bell of Evan, Bradley and wife Paulette of Nicollet, Michael of Sleepy Eye, and Boyd of Jackson; daughters, Denise and husband Don Lienig of Morgan, Colette Clay of Morgan, and Theresa Pyan and fiance' Leo Moldan of Sleepy Eye; grandchildren, Alicia, Gary, Danielle, Cassandra and Christine Lienig, Joe and Paula Clay, Cheyenne, Dakota and Savannah Pyan, and Chantel Moldan; mother, Stella Pyan of Sleepy Eye; brother, Douglas and wife Marian Pyan of St. Peter; and sister, Sally and husband Thomas Forestner of Austin. He was preceded in death by his father, Fred; numerous aunts and uncles; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Theodore and Lena Trebesch.
Stena Jensen, 84, of Redwood Falls, died March 28, 2001. Funeral services were held Monday, April 2, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls with interment in Crestlawn Memorial Garden. Redwood Valley Funeral Home of Redwood Falls handled the arrangements.
Stena Jensen was born Jan. 1, 1917, in Brookville Township to Peter and Sophia (Larsen) Jacobsen. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Brookville Township. Stena attended country school and graduated from Sleepy Eye Public School. On Nov. 19, 1938, Stena was united in marriage to Norman Jensen in South Dakota. Together, the couple farmed southwest of Redwood Falls from 1941, until the time of their retirement. In 1996, she moved into Johnson Park Place in Redwood Falls, where she resided the past five years. Stena was a charter member of the monthly Tuesday Afternoon Club. She was an avid reader, and was very hard working. She enjoyed baking and spending time with her family and friends.
Stena is survived by her daughters, Norma Schlemmer of Minneapolis, Linda and husband Stuart of St. Peter, and Diane Jensen of Minneapolis; grandchildren, Melissa Jensen, Gwen Schlemmer, Brenda Schwob, Jim Schlemmer, Paul Nesberg and Amy Esping; six great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Norman, son Larry; granddaughter Debra; and three sisters and four brothers.
Marcus J. "Marc" LaPlant, 46, of Grand Rapids, Minn., died Tuesday, March 27, 2001 at his home, after a long battle with cancer. Memorial services were held Friday, March 30, at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. Burial will be at a later date in the Harris Cemetery in Harris Township. Arrangements are by Rowe Funeral Home in Grand Rapids.
Marc was born March 11, 1955 in Grand Rapids, to James and Ola LaPlant and grew up and attended school in Grand Rapids, graduating from Grand Rapids High School in 1973. He worked for over 20 years in the restaurant management field, helping to establish new restaurants for Hardee's, Domino's and Burger King in many northland cities. In 1977, he went to work for Wild Construction in Shevlin
Marc is survived by his wife, Sheila (Moran) LaPlant; daughters, Valerie Moran, Lisa Moran and Katie Rebecca LaPlant, all at home; parents, James and Ola LaPlant of Grand Rapids; sisters, Becky Valentinelli of Ft. Collins, Colo., Janice Eggebraaten of Grand Rapids, and Sharon Engelstad of Colfax, Calif; mother-in-law, Sylvia Moran-Lehar and husband Leo Lehar of Sleepy Eye; sisters-in-law, Kathy and husband Chuck Spaeth of Sleepy Eye, Jane and husband Jeff Cook of Sleepy Eye, and Mary Beth and husband George Heim of Burnsville; brother-in-law, Bill and wife Judy Moran of Minnetonka; and many nieces and nephews.
Maurice Lynn Simonsen, 81, of Sleepy Eye, died March 26, 2001, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Services were held Friday, March 30, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye with interment in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery with military rites by the Sleepy Eye Honor Guard.
Maurice was born Dec. 13, 1919, in Eden Township, Brown County, the son of Lars Peter and Rose Mary (Matter) Simonsen. He attended country school in Eden Township and also St. Mary's School in Sleepy Eye before attending Ag School in St. Paul. Maurice served in the United States Army in the occupation forces as a tank operator with the 864th Aviation Engineers BTL during WWII in Japan from January of 1945, until he was honorable discharged in November of 1946. He also served as an M.P. in Hiroshima. When Maurice returned home, he operated the family farm. He was in the Sleepy Eye Drum and Bugle Corps from 1948-1951. Maurice married Lucille Marie Soukup on June 1, 1950, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, with Father Albert Blatz officiating. He served on the Eden Township Board for 23 years. He was a member of the St. Mary's Knights of Columbus, served on the St. Mary's Board of Education and was an adult leader of the Evan Skyrockets 4-H Club. Maurice was a member of the Brown County Holstein Association and also an avid hunter and fisherman. Maurice and his wife raised seven children.
Maurice is survived by his wife, Lucille Simonsen of Sleepy Eye, daughters, Rose and husband Don Suker of Apple Valley, Sharon and husband Tom Hirsch of Sleepy Eye, Janet Huiras of Sleepy Eye, Marie and husband Tryg Fredrickson of Sioux Falls, S.D., Diane and husband Dwight Sommer of Sleepy Eye, and Julie Simonsen of Bologna, Italy; son, Lynn Simonsen of Sleepy Eye; grandchildren, Gene and Greg Suker, Dan, Charlotte, Jacob, Gabe, Aaron and Michael Hirsch, Jessica and Andy Huiras, Jorge Fredrickson, Jamie and Shawn Sommer; brothers, Bernard and wife Ruth Simonsen of Morgan, and Clarence and wife Vange Simonsen of Marshall; and sister-in-law, Beverly Simonsen of Sleepy Eye. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Alice and Laura; brother, Donald; and sister-in-law, Mary Simonsen.
Donald "Don" McMullen, 79, of Comfrey, died March 28, 2001, at St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield. Services were held Monday, April 2, 2001, at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Comfrey, with interment in St. Paul's Catholic Cemetery.
Don McMullen, son of Patrick and Teresa (Lodes) McMullen, was born June 1, 1921, in Madelia. He grew up in the Madelia area, attended Madelia School and graduated from St. James High School in 1940. On Sept. 1, 1942, Don joined the U.S. Navy and served in WWII, aboard the USS Sampson and the USS Burdo. On July 16, 1944, he married Anna Mae McMorrow at St. James Catholic Church. Following his honorable discharge on Feb. 4, 1946, he returned to Madelia and farmed. The couple moved to Comfrey in 1957, and farmed in Selma Township. Don attended Canby Vo-Tech and in conjunction with farming, he worked with the John Deere Company in sales, and later by Ludewig Brothers - Oliver Dealership in Comfrey. In 1972 he started working for NaChurs Fertilizers as a District Sales Manager and in 1987, became a distributor. Don continued working for NaChurs until the present time and was the owner and operator of the Springfield Division of All Crop Fertilizers. He was Secretary for Cottonwood County Corn Growers, belonged to the Albin Johnson American Legion Post No. 244 in Comfrey, and the Sleepy Eye VFW. Don enjoyed his family and friends, working with crops and plants, golfing, farm shows and plot tours. He looked forward to reunions with the crew of the U.S.S. Sampson.
Donald is survived by his wife, Anna Mae McMullen of Comfrey; daughters, Donna and husband Tom Turbes of Lamberton, Barbara and husband Eugene Bertrand of Sleepy Eye, and Joann McMullen of Comfrey; sons, Joe and wife Jeanette McMullen of Plummer, Richard and wife Susan McMullen of Comfrey, and James and wife Pamela McMullen of Sleepy Eye; 22 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Patricia and husband Wilbert Zastrow of Amboy; sisters-in-law, Teresa McMullen of Lewisville and Margaret and husband Ervin Sturm of Fairmont; along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert McMullen; sister, Phyllis Starkweather; and two grandchildren, Michael Turbes and Amanda McMullen.
Military honors by: Albin-Johnson American Legion Post 244 of Comfrey and the Sleepy Eye VFW. Casket bearers were Wayne Turbes, Brian Turbes, Dan Sackett, Alan McMullen, Scott McMullen, and Steven McMullen. Honorary casket bearers were Connie Turbes, Sharon Corbett, Jennifer McMullen, Tara Roettger, Melissa McMullen and Charlotte McMullen.
Byron C. Horton, II, 54, of Glencoe, died Saturday, March 31, 2001, at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina. Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 4, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glencoe, with interment in the Glencoe Cemetery. Arrangements were handled by Johnson-McBride Funeral Chapel in Glencoe.
Byron Clinton Horton, II was born June 25, 1946, in Glencoe, the son of Byron C. and Rose E. (Voelker) Horton. He was baptized on Sept. 29, 1946 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe by Rev. E. Streufert. Byron attended Glencoe High School. In his high school years he began operating his own salvage business in Glencoe Township. On May 21, 1966, Byron was united in marriage with Doreen Bentz at the Church of Peace in Norwood. The couple had two children, Pam and Wade. The family has made their home on Byron's family farm in Glencoe Township. Along with the salvage business, Byron had also operated a gravel business. He loved to spend his time attending auctions and sales, operating heavy equipment, and reading about automobiles.
Byron is survived by his wife, Doreen Horton of Glencoe; daughter, Pam Horton and fiance' Ted Grego of Glencoe; son, Wade Horton of Glencoe; grandchildren, Ben Lohse, Angie Lohse, and Teddi Grego; mother, Rose Horton of Sleepy Eye; sister, Barbara Jean Horton Dickson and husband Charles William of Redmond, Wash.; mother-in-law, Hildegard Bentz of Norwood Young America; sister-in-law, Eleanor and husband Tom Kottke of Chanhassen; brothers-in-law, Stanley Bentz and fiance' Dinah Kunst of Waconia, Ronald Bentz of Norwood Young America and Steven and wife Wanda Bentz of Watertown; as well as many other relatives and friends.
Casket bearers were Keith Horton, Rodney Horton, Bob Kunkel, Kraig Kunkel, Wayne Schultz and Travis Stradtmann.
Marvin Iverson, 72, of Lafayette, died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000, at his home. Funeral services were Saturday, Nov. 4, at First Lutheran Church in Lafayette. Burial with full military honors conducted by the Lafayette American Legion Post #300 followed in the church cemetery. Firle Funeral Home in Lafayette handled the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Iverson, of Lafayette; daughters and their husbands, Suzanne and Marlin "Buck" Wendorff, Beverly and Steven Langhoff and Diane and Douglas Durheim, all of Lafayette; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, Edwin and Donna Mae Iverson of Buhl, Idaho, Morris and Vicki Iverson of Litchfield, Denis Iverson of New Ulm; sisters and brother-in-law, Ruth and Stan Radke of Anaheim, Calif., Gretchen Wollin of Litchfield; brothers-in-law, Claus Evers of Sleepy Eye, Theodore and wife Madeline Evers of Bingham Lake, Herman Evers of St. Paul; sisters-in-law, Arlene Ebilsisor of Sleepy Eye, Mary Ann and husband Norbert Ranweiler of Gibbon; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Pete and Hans; five sisters, Gladys, Lillian, Lulu, Clarice and Helen; and his parents.
Marvin Iverson, the son of Ingval and Dina (Kagebine) Iverson, was born July 1, 1928, in Bernadotte Township, Nicollet County, Minnesota. He grew up on the family farm and attended School District 48 and New Ulm High School. He was united in marriage to Margaret Evers on March 16, 1946, at the former Friedens Evangelical and Reform Church in New Ulm. Marvin entered into the US Navy in 1946 and, after his honorable discharge in 1948, he returned to Minnesota. The couple lived in Sleepy Eve for a number of years and moved to Lafayette in 1956 where they owned and operated the Iverson's Cafe until 1980. He was mayor of Lafayette from 1974 to 1976. He also worked for the Lafayette Good Samaritans as a maintenance supervisor for 13 years until he retired in 1993. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Lafayette and American Legion Post #300.
Sr. Lillian Koll of the School Sisters of St. Francis, with their mother house in Milwaukee, Wis., died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2000, at the Sacred Hart Care Center in Milwaukee. Her funeral was at the Sacred Heart Chapel on Nov. 2 in Milwaukee.
Sr. Lillian was born, Nov. 12, 1902, in Harlan, Iowa, one of 11 children of Peter and Augusta Koll. She entered the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1921. She taught school for 55 years in Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. She lived the last 21 years in Milwaukee and was an avid baseball fan--always keeping up with the Brewers and Twins. All of her 10 brothers and sisters preceded her in death. Nephews and nieces from this area who attended the funeral were Florence Koll of Morgan, Dolores Rothmeier of Olivia, Jerome and Marion Koll and Dean Mathiowetz of Sleepy Eye, Mary Lou Mathiowetz of Leavenworth and Leroy Koll of Austin. Sister Lillian visited this are many times during the summer.
Verlaine M, Genz, 61, of Sleepy Eye, died Nov. 1, 2000, at her home after a courageous battle with cancer. Services were Friday, Nov. 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye, with interment in Kinkead Cemetery in Alexandria. Sturm Funeral Home of Sleepy Eye handled the arrangements.
She is survived by her husband, Martine of Sleepy Eye; two daughters, Kim and husband Randy Froemming of Barrett, and Kristi and husband Tim Luehmann of Minnetrista; one son, Kurt Genz of Minnetonka; five grandchildren, Corey, Jennifer and Sara Froemming, Kyle and Ashley Luehmann; four brothers and one sister. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister.
Verlaine Malinda Bahe was born April 26, 1939, in Belgrade, the daughter of Ernest and Marie (Pommerening) Bahe. She attended Belgrade High School and after graduating in 1956, she moved to Minneapolis where she worked for Honeywell and Land O' Lakes. On April 27, 1963, she married Martine Genz in Minneapolis. In 1967, Verlaine and her family moved to Wisconsin and in 1970 they returned to Minnesota. They moved to Sleepy Eye where Verlaine and Martine opened a Sears catalog store. Verlaine was a partner in the business until the store closed in 1993. After that time, she was involved in several church activities. Verlaine was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye. Her main hobby was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Casket bearers were Dean Bahe, Steve Bahe, David Bahe, Alan Bahe, Greg Genz, Gary Genz, Kevin Genz and Travis Genz.
Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Association.
Marian H. Davis, 83, of Beaverton, Oregon, formerly of New Ulm, died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000, at the Beaverton Rehabilitation Center in Beaverton. Marian had been residing with her son at his home and was rehabilitating at the center after suffering a stroke. Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm, with burial in the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery in New Ulm. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm. There will be a parish prayer service at 6 p.m. and the St. Anne's Court of the National Catholic Society of Foresters will pray the rosary at 7 p.m., both Wednesday evening at the funeral home.
Marian is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Gerard and Marlys Davis of Beaverton; a grandson, Dalton Davis of Beaverton; and a sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Werner Brown of Paris, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Delores Schnobrich and Margaret Harmening; and by a brother, Lawrence Sprenger.
Marian was born June 2, 1917, in New Ulm to Leo A. and Magdeline (Marso) Sprenger. She was a graduate of Holy Trinity High School in New Ulm. After high school she worked at the National Biscuit Company in Denver, Colorado, for 10 years. She returned to New Ulm and worked for the New Ulm Telephone Company as a telephone operator. She also worked as a rug weaver out of her home. She moved to Beaverton in February 2000 to live with her son Gerard. Marian was a member of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm, the St. Anne's Court of the National Catholic Society of Foresters.
Julie Goldsmith, 33, of Hutchinson, died Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000, at her home after a three-year courageous battle with breast cancer. Funeral services were Friday, Nov.r 10, 2000, at the Word of Life Outreach Center in Hutchinson, with interment in Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson. Clergy officiating were Pastor Sam Grozdenov.
She is survived by her husband, Jeff Goldsmith of Hutchinson; daughter, Kathryn Goldsmith, age four, of Hutchinson; father, Reverend Ronald Freimark of Sleepy Eye; sister, Joy Henke and her husband Fred of Woodbury; mother-in-law, Bernice Goldsmith of Plymouth; sister-in-law, Jan Bloom and her husband Gary of Cokato; brother-in-law, Jay Goldsmith and his wife Diane of Maple Grove; niece, Meridith Henke of Woodbury; and many other relatives and friends. Julie was preceded in death by her mother, Lorayne Freimark; grandparents, John Freimark, Edwin and Ruth Stier; and father-in-law, E.V. (Goldy) Goldsmith.
Julie Anne (Freimark) Goldsmith was born Feb. 22, 1967, in Blue Island, Illinois. She was the daughter of Ronald and Lorayne (Stier) Freimark. She was baptized as an infant at First Lutheran Church in Blue Island and confirmed as a youth at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye. She graduated from the Sleepy Eye Public School system in 1985. She graduated from the Canby Technical Institute with a dental assisting certificate in 1986. Julie was united in marriage to Jeff Goldsmith on Sept. 14, 1991, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sleep Eye. Julie and Jeff have resided in Hutchinson since their marriage. Julie worked as a dental assistant in the Hutchinson area. She was an accomplished piano player and piano teacher, teaching over 50 students the gift of music. She also wrote four piano songs. Julie will be remembered for her warm smile and contagious laugh.
Casket bearers were Stacey Jagt, Doreen Otto, Dawn Gillman, Ann Getting, Gail Gillard, and Beverly Krueger.
