Helen R. Sellner, 75, of Sleepy Eye died Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1999, in Sleepy Eye. Mass of Christian burial was at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Dec. 31, with burial in the church cemetery. Sturm Funeral Home of Sleepy Eye handled the arrangements.
She is survived by her husband, Andrew; five sons, Tom and wife Kathy of Sleepy Eye, Dominic and wife Julie of Sleepy Eye, John and wife Vicki of Sleepy Eye, Andrew Jr. of Sleepy Eye, and Jim and wife Judy of Comfrey; four daughters, Jean and husband Lyle Turbes of New Ulm, Jeanette and husband Steve Lax of Sleepy Eye, Monica and husband Rick Lax of Sleepy Eye, and JoAnn and husband Ken Schumacher of Sleepy Eye; grandchildren, Greg, Kurt, Josh, Noah, Ashley, Kristin and Jennifer Sellner, Toni, Jodi, Lori, Paul and Alex Turbes, Jeremy, Mike, Mark, Melissa, Molly and Jonathan Lax, and William and Emily Schumacher; sister, Donna and husband Sylvan Schumacher of Sleepy Eye; sisters-in-law, Leona Seidl of Sleepy Eye and Georgeen Dietz of Arizona; brother-in-law, Philip and wife Catherine Sellner of Sleepy Eye; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Clarence Dietz; sister, Betty Dietz; and grandson, Christopher Lax.
Helen was born Nov. 28, 1924, in Kenosha, Wis., the daughter of Joseph P. and Louise (Schwinghammer) Dietz. At the age of five, her family moved to Springfield. Two years later, the family then moved to Sleepy Eye. Helen attended St. Mary's School and graduated in 1942. After high school, she worked at Pietrus Egg Drying Plant for several years and for a short time at Del Monte. On Oct. 7, 1952, Helen was united in marriage to Andrew Sellner at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. The couple then moved to the farm south of Sleepy Eye. She enjoyed flowers, gardening, knitting, crossword puzzles, and crocheting-in which she crocheted an afghan for each of her 20 grandchildren. Helen also enjoyed feeding and watching birds and spending time with her family.
Casket bearers were Doug Dietz, Michael Lax, Myron Seidl, Jeremy Lax, Lenny Seidl, and Phil Sellner.
Rosemary Wendinger, 94, of Franklin, and formerly of New Ulm and the Fairfax area
died Friday evening, Dec. 31, 1999, at the Franklin Healthcare Center. Mass of Christian burial was Tuesday, Jan. 4, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Fairfax, with burial in the church cemetery. Arrangements were handled by Firle Funeral Home, New Ulm.
Survivors include sons, Edmund Wendinger and his wife Doris of Sleepy Eye, James Wendinger and his wife Phyllis of Fairfax; daughter-in-law, Maryann Wendinger of Sleepy Eye; 19 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; stepsister, Dorothy Gephart of New Ulm; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Eugene; one great-grandchild; and two sisters.
Rosemary Rubischko, the daughter of Felix and Marie (Fast) Rubischko, was born Oct. 27, 1905, in Renville County, Minnesota. She grew up on the family farm and at a young age moved with her family to New Ulm, where she attended parochial school. She married Henry Wendinger June 12, 1927, in Fairfax. Together they farmed in Renville County until retiring in the late 1960s. Her husband died in 1974. She has lived in New Ulm for many years, and was a member of St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Fairfax.
Marie R. Prokosch, 88, of New Ulm, died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2000, at the Sleepy Eye Care Center in Sleepy Eye. Service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm with burial in the Catholic Cemetery in New Ulm at a later date. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of the service Thursday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm.
She is survived by her granddaughter, Cathy Dessert and her husband Bill of Vadnais Heights; grandson, Steve Prokosch and his wife Suzann of Cielo Azul, New Mexico; two great-grandchildren, Elliot Dessert and Alexander Dessert of Vadnais Heights; three step-great-grandchildren, Ryan Trangsrud, Kyle Trangsrud and Carly Trangsrud, all of Prior Lake; sisters-in-law, Bernice Trepanier and Eldon Trepanier, both of Maplewood, Frances Earl of Fisher, and Ann Johanson of Bismarck, N.D. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Peter Prokosch in 1997; son, James Prokosch; six brothers and two sisters.
Marie was born Aug. 16, 1911 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to Frank and Laura (LaCroix) Trepanier. She married Peter Prokosch on Aug. 12, 1930 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm. After their marriage they lived in New Ulm and raised mink together. They moved to rural Hanska in 1947 and continued to raise mink until 1975 when they retired and moved to New Ulm. After Peter died in 1997, Marie moved to Sleepy Eye and lived in Countryside Apartments and later in the Sleepy Eye Care Center until her death.
Carol Speckman, 83 of Sleepy Eye, died Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Services were Monday, Feb. 7, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sleepy Eye, with burial in Home Cemetery in Sleepy Eye. Minnesota Valley Funeral Home handled arrangements.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Judith and Thomas Wilkinson of Woodbury; sons and daughters-in-law, Milen and Teresa Speckman of Sleepy Eye, Calvin and Rachelle Speckman of Pleasant Hill, Ore., Keevin and Alana Speckman of Grand Island, Neb., Haven and Kathleen Speckman of Elk River, and Mervin and Laurie Speckman of Sleepy Eye; 16 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Angaila Essig of Springfield; and a brother and sister-in-law, Lowell and Carol Todnem of St. James. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Melvin Speckman on June 28, 1992; and by two brothers, Donald Todnem and Kenneth Todnem.
Carol was born Nov. 8, 1916, near Milroy, Minn., to Iver Albert and Anna (Christianson) Todnem. At the age of eight the family moved to Seaforth for two years and then moved to Sleepy Eye. She was a 1934 graduate of Sleepy Eye Public School and attended teacher training class in 1935. After her teacher training, she taught rural school. On Sept. 7, 1937, she married Melvin Speckman at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Sleepy Eye. After marriage they made their home on the Speckman family farm in rural Sleepy Eye. While farming they also operated the Speckman Duck and Goose Hatchery and later started the Golden Gate Campground on the same ground. They retired and moved into Sleepy Eye in 1981.
She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and had been a member of the Home Cemetery Board serving as executive secretary-treasurer for 15 years, a member and past president of the Retired Educator's Association, the Sleepy Eye Historical Society, and the Sleepy Eye Hospital Auxiliary. She was also a member of the Brown County Historical Society, Sarah Circle, and the quilting group at church. She has made, pieced, and hand quilted a quilt for each of her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She had taught Sunday School at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Sleepy Eye, sang in the choir and was a member of the ladies aid at church.
Casket bearers were Milen Speckman, Calvin Speckman, Keevin Speckman, Haven Speckman, Mervin Speckman, and Thomas Wilkinson.
Verna Marie Goblirsch, 69, of Comfrey, died Feb. 4, 2000, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Services were Tuesday, Feb. 8, at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Comfrey, with interment in the church cemetery. Arrangements were handled by Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield.
She is survived by her husband, Clarence of Comfrey; daughters, Vivian and husband Jerome Kostelecky of Little Canada, Shirley and husband Reese Hoelscher of Mankato, Carolyn and husband Joel Darge of St. Peter, Judy and husband Jerry Floyd of San Antonio, Texas, Karen and husband Dean Helget of New Ulm, Sharon and husband Mark Hanson of Hendricks, and Cheryl and husband Scott Gustavson of St. Clair; sons, John and wife Vicki Goblirsch of Fayetteville, N.C., Jeffrey and wife Linda Goblirsch of Walbridge, Ohio, David and wife Michelle Goblirsch of Sleepy Eye, Robert and wife Kathy Goblirsch of Sleepy Eye, Douglas and wife Connie Goblirsch of Ramsey, and Kenneth Goblirsch of Butterfield; daughter-in-law, Pauline Goblirsch of Sanford, Fla.; 27 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one step-great-grandchild; and a sister, Emily and husband La Vern Tischer of Cambridge. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Richard Goblirsch in 1997; grandson, Christopher Goblirsch; sister, Dorothy; and brother, Melvin.
Verna was born Jan. 10, 1931, in Mapleton, the daughter of George and Helen (Hicks) Schull. She graduated from Mapleton High School in 1948, and from St. Joseph's School of Nursing in Mankato and became and LPN. She worked at St. Joseph's Hospital until marriage. On Dec. 2, 1952, she married Clarence Goblirsch in Mankato. They lived and farmed in Mulligan Township. She was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, a church circle, and was a former member of a home extension group. She enjoyed quilting, gardening, sewing, cooking and baking, caring for her family, and loved being with her grandchildren. She loved to visit, listen to the birds, and she loved angels.
Casket bearers were George Evans, Matthew Hoelscher, Richard Schroepfer, Edwin J. Windschitl, Marvin Windschitl and Ron Windschitl. Honorary casket bearers were Pauline Goblirsch, Irene Sprenger, Marilyn Windschitl, Winifred Mathiowetz, Esther Windschitl and Betty Zwaschka.
David Besemer, 58, of rural New Ulm, died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000, at the New Ulm Medical Center in New Ulm of an apparent heart attack. Services will be Wednesday, Feb. 16 at the United Church of Christ in New Ulm with burial in the New Ulm City Cemetery. Firle Funeral Home of New Ulm handled the arrangements.
David is survived by his wife, Sharon of rural New Ulm; daughters, Heidi Halvorson and her special friend Mark Stueber, Lisa Haala and her special friend Kevin Portner and Laura Reinarts and her husband Andrew, all of New Ulm; grandchildren, Jenna, Amber, Brittany, Tyler, Cole and Preston, all of New Ulm; a sister, Connie Gierke and special friend Bob Ibberson, both of New Ulm; a brother, Dayle Besemer and his special friend Jeanette Carson, both of New Ulm; aunts and uncles, Dorothy Schultz of St. Peter and Bernice Schmidt and her husband Kenneth of Alta, Iowa, and Peter Schneider of rural New Ulm; father- and mother-in-law, Norman and Helen Brust of New Ulm; and by nieces and cousins,
David was born Aug. 28, 1941 in New Ulm, to Melvin and Iola (Schultz) Besemer. He attended rural schools in Districts 50 and 9 and was a 1959 graduate of New Ulm High School. He married Sharon Brust on Jan. 24, 1962, at the Freidens Church in New Ulm. After marriage they lived in Milford Township, Brown County. He also owned a backhoe business and worked at the Brown County sanitary landfill. He manufactured and sold Sugar Shanty Maple Syrup. He had a special bond with his family and enjoyed spending time with them at Reim's Camp.
Lydia Mae Engelking, 92, of Sleepy Eye, died Friday, Feb. 11, 2000, at Sleepy Eye Municipal Hospital. Services were Monday, Feb. 14 at Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye with burial in Home Cemetery, Sleepy Eye. Sturm Funeral Home of Sleepy Eye handled the arrangements.
She is survived by her niece, Oradell Fischer of Sleepy Eye; great-nephews, Preston of Sleepy Eye, and Troy of New Ulm; great-niece, Babett of Hutchinson; and many other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clarence on Dec. 17, 1968; brothers, Walter, Ora, Lowell, Leander, Harold, Norbert; and nephew, Robert "Pork" Fischer.
Lydia was born Nov. 6, 1907, to William and Anna (Allen) Haenze, in West Newton Township, Brown County. She moved with her family to the Cobden area and attended country school. Lydia was the oldest child and helped raise her brothers when her mother died. On Nov. 25, 1926, she was united in marriage to Clarence Engelking at Faith United Methodist Church in Sleepy Eye. The couple made their home in Sleepy Eye where they continued to raise her siblings. They also took care of their niece, Oradell Engelking, from the age of six. Lydia also worked at Del Monte during the summertime and helped her husband occasionally at his business, Engelking Brothers Paint Shop. She was a resident at Ross Park Apartments for several years.
Lydia was a member of Faith United Methodist Church and was active with the United Methodist Women. Lydia enjoyed playing cards, animals, gardening, crocheting, and cooking.
Adela Klucas, 93, of Ft. Collins, Colo., died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2000, at Sunbridge Rehab Center, Ft. Collins. Services were Monday, Feb. 14 at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Springfield, with burial in the church cemetery. Sturm Funeral Home of Springfield handled the arrangements.
She is survived by her children, Arnold and wife Merlese Helget of San Mateo, Calif., Jane Neubauer of Ft. Collins, Margie and husband Gary Cole of San Mateo; daughter-in-law, Shirley Helget of San Mateo; 15 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Emelia Hammerschmidt of Springfield, Theresa Tauer of Sleepy Eye, Stella Rathman of Sleepy Eye, Jeanette Foster of Washington; and sister-in-law, Angie Sturm of Springfield. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joe Helget on Feb. 4, 1971; husband, Clark Klucas on July 28, 1990; son, Steve, on Nov. 2, 1989; son-in-law, Ervin Neubauer; sister, Elsie Hammerschmidt; and brother, Mike Sturm.
Adela was born June 7, 1906, in Mulligan Township, Brown County, the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Roiger) Sturm. She grew up and attended country school in Mulligan Township. Adela married Joe Helget on Sept. 4, 1928, in Springfield. The couple made their home in the Springfield area and Adela worked at the Springfield Hospital as a dietician, and at Woehrmann's Cafe in Springfield. Joe preceded her in death in 1971. She married Clark Klucas on Aug. 18, 1977, in Springfield. The couple made their home in Springfield until Clark preceded her in death in 1990. Adela lived part time with her daughter Margie until March of 1994, when she moved to Ft. Collins to live with her daughter Jane. Later she moved to Sunbridge Rehab Center in Ft. Collins where she had resided until her death. She was a past member of St. Raphael's Catholic Church and CCW. She was also active in the Springfield Senior Citizens Group and enjoyed gardening and mowing her own lawn.
Casket bearers were Tim Tauer, Gary Fennern, Tom Tauer, Ralph Kolp, Mark Tauer and James Rathman.
Donald H. Krebs, 80, of Sleepy Eye, died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000, at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital in Mankato. Services were Wednesday, Feb. 16 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye, with burial in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Sleepy Eye. Sturm Funeral Home of Sleepy Eye handled the arrangements.
He is survived by his wife, Verena "Dottie" Krebs of Sleepy Eye; son, Ronald W. Krebs of Minneapolis; daughters, Aleda and husband David Beranek and Colleen and husband Steve Zeig, all of New Ulm; five grandchildren, Bradley Beranek, Andy Beranek, Angie Beranek, Amanda Beranek and Kyle Krebs, sisters, Eleanora Thuer, Lucille Hansen, Oradell and husband Orville Fischer, all of Sleepy Eye; sisters-in-law, Fronie Krebs of New Ulm, Lorraine Haecherl and Elaine Helget and husband LaMonte, all of Sleepy Eye, Marion and Val Rathman and Ivona and Edwin Windschitl, all of Comfrey. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Elmer; and sister, Edna in infancy.
Donald was born April 17, 1919, to Herman and Bertha (Arndt) Krebs in Shakopee, and was a lifelong resident of Brown County. He attended school in Springfield. Donald married Verena "Dottie" Helget on Aug. 19, 1946, in Sleepy Eye. The couple farmed for 35 years in Leavenworth Township, selling the farm and moving to Sleepy Eye in 1992.
Donald was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sleepy Eye. He enjoyed gardening, woodworking, visiting with family and friends, but perhaps above all, and to his last day, he cherished his daily visit with friends at Schultz Cafe.
Daniel "Foghorn" Ludewig, 66, of New Ulm, died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2000, at the New Ulm Medical Center. Mass of Christian burial was Wednesday, Feb. 23, at the Church of the Japanese Martyrs in Leavenworth, with burial in the church cemetery. Full military rites were conducted by the New Ulm Veterans Organization. Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm handled the arrangements.
Daniel is survived by his wife, Carol Ludewig of New Ulm; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Kenneth and Marcy Gulden, Darwin and Diane Gieseke, Mrs. Cryrilla Portner, Leander and Sandy Gulden, and Milton Gulden, all of New Ulm, Matthew and Coletta Gulden of rural New Ulm, Robert and Mercedes Pelzel of Sleepy Eye and Roland and LaVon Bode of Walker; aunts and uncle, Martha Remiger, Delores Seifert, and Leo Pelzel, all of Sleepy Eye, and Alice Rothmeier of Faribault; also by many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Daniel was born Feb. 1, 1934, in New Ulm to Nicholas and Cecelia (Rothmeier) Ludewig. He attended school in Leavenworth and graduated in 1952 from St. Mary's Catholic High School in Sleepy Eye. He married Carol Gulden on Sept. 3, 1957, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm. After marriage they farmed the family farm in Leavenworth Township, Brown County, until 1967 when they moved into New Ulm. Daniel worked for Mathiowetz Construction Company for 25 years as a bulldozer operator. He was currently employed by R&G Construction in Marshall. He bowled on several leagues for many years and was nominated this year for the Bowling Hall of Fame in New Ulm.
He was a member of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm, St. Mary's Knights of Columbus Council #3134 in Sleepy Eye, Holy Family Catholic Aid Council in Leavenworth, the Seifert-Bianchi American Legion Post #132 of New Ulm, and the Albert Nagel VFW Post #1648 of New Ulm.
