Herbert E. Drews
Herbert E. Drews, age 68, a resident of Savage, MN, died October 20, 1997, in Dripping Springs, TX.
Funeral services were October 24, at the Burnsville, MN Funeral Home, followed by burial with military honors at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
Herbert was born February 28, 1929, to Emil and Clara (Kuhl) Drews near Swanville, MN. He served in the U.S. Army from August 1952 to July 1954 and was stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict. Following his discharge he did construction work in Jamestown and Valley City, ND. He married Grace Erhart on July 5, 1956, in Watertown, SD. In 1974 he went to work for Hoffman Engineering in Anoka, MN, where he was employed until retiring in 1992. He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, MN, a lifetime member of the American Legion and Post 132 in New Ulm. He loved fishing and playing cards.
Survivors include his daughters, Linda and Richard Pontsler of Ocean Shores, WA, Jo Lanier of Minneapolis, MN, Pamela and Mark Firle of Dripping Springs, Janet Drews of Burnsville, and Gloria and Erick Vallecillo of Chicago, IL; son, Herbert Drews, Jr., of Minneapolis; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brothers, Reinhold Drews and Richard and Hilda Drews, all of Swanville, Emil Drews of Rockford, IL, Edwin Drews of Princeton, MN, Ervin Drews of Sauk Rapids, MN, and Norman and Ann Drews of Blaine, MN; many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and -nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace, in May 1996, his parents, three brothers, two sisters and three sisters-in-law.
Ben Klapel
Ben Harry Klapel, age 92, a resident of Tahlequah, OK, died September 27, 1997, at Go Ye Village in Tahlequah.
Funeral services were held October 2, 1997, at Go Ye Village Chapel with Rev. Paul Tavener officiating. Burial followed in Tahlequah City Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home.
Ben was born January 20, 1905, in Buffalo Lake, MN, the son of William and Amelia (Schaumon) Klapel. In 1952 he married Nime Selvina Johnson in the state of Iowa. Ben was in the Army for a short while and farmed in Fort Ripley, MN, for many years. The Klapels moved to Little Falls, MN, where he was a carpenter and Nime taught school. They later lived in Bella Vista, AR, where they were members of the Assembly of God Church. They were very helpful and supportive of the Assembly of God ministry and missionaries. On July 29, 1992, they moved to Go Ye Village.
Survivors include one brother, William E, Klapel of Stacy, MN; five sisters, Millie E. Klapel of Anoka, MN, Minnie Allen and Emma L. Killian, both of Little Falls, Elda McDonnell of St. Cloud, MN, and Hattie Jensen of Port Orchard, WA; a sister-in-law, Violet Klapel of Nampa, ID; a host of nieces and nephews and many friends and loved ones. He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Nime; three brothers and four sisters.
Lucille Dearborn
Lucille Dearborn, age 80, a resident of Venice, CA, died October 24, 1997 at Vexcor Hospital, Los Angeles, CA after a long illness. Memorial services were held October 30 at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica, CA where she was an active member.
Lucille was born November 20, 1917 in Parker Township to Joseph and Anna Longley. She attended school in the former District 30 school and later graduated from the Little Falls High School. She worked in Minneapolis and later moved to Los Angeles. She was united in marriage to Orville Dearborn October 2, 1947.
Survivors include three sisters, Cora Eckstrom, Little Falls, MN, Mardelle Oothoudt, Randall, MN and Ione Asleson, Los Angeles; a brother, Robert Longley of Minneapolis and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
Leonard Rocheleau
Leonard Rocheleau, age 87, a resident of St. Mary’s Villa in Pierz, MN, died October 25, 1997 at the Villa.
Funeral services were October 28 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie, MN with Father Harold J. Kost officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Leonard was born in Little Falls, MN on June 14, 1910 to the late John and Eva (Doucette) Rocheleau. He grew up and attended school in Belle Prairie. Leonard was united in marriage with Estelle Plante on October 27, 1931 in Belle Prairie. They farmed in Belle Prairie Township until Leonard retired in the early 70’s. He had been a resident at St. Mary’s Villa the past nine years. His favorite pastimes were going for a drive in the country, fishing, baseball, watching television and playing cards.
Survivors include a daughter, Shirley Waytashek of Little Falls; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Irene Crosbie of Berkley, CA.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Estelle; parents; a sister, Lorena; and a brother, Marcel.
Casketbearers were Merle, Sheree, Michael, and Bradley Waytashek, Michelle Warnberg and Terese Schroeder.
Leo Trutwin
Leo Trutwin, age 92, a resident of North Prairie, MN died October 20, 1997, at his home.
Funeral services were held October 23 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in North Prairie with Father Silverius Schmitt officiating and Father Elmer Sobiech con-celebrating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Leo was born November 1, 1904, in North Prairie to Frank and Victoria (Stodolka) Trutwin. He married Monica Scepurek on June 27, 1933, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Bowlus, MN. They farmed all their life in North Prairie. He was a member of Holy Cross Parish and St. Joseph Society of North Prairie. Leo enjoyed working the land as a farmer, and, until his death, loved to garden. He also enjoyed fixing things, a real handyman. Another hobby he had since childhood was making maple syrup, which he did yet this spring. He also loved to watch TV, read papers, books and magazines, especially the National Geographics. He also loved to go out on his 4-wheeler, touring the farm, looking for blackberries, wild grapes, observing the squirrels, muskrats and other wonders of nature.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Monica; two sons, David and wife Naomi “Amy” of North Prairie, James and wife Mary of Sunrise Beach, MO, and two daughters, Rose Ann Pflueger and husband Donald of Avon, MN, and Delores Stang and husband John of St. Joseph, MN; eight grandchildren and sisters and brothers: Ann Sobiech of St. Otto’s Care Center, Little Falls, Regina Kalis, Little Falls, Sister M. Jeremia, OFS, Flensburg, MN, and Peter of Americare Nursing Home in Waite Park, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers: Michael and Roman.
Pallbearers were Joshua, Heidi, and Daniel Trutwin, Jacob and Sarah Stang, Laura and Joel Wensmann, and Jennifer and Joyce Pflueger.
Kenneth Reinhart Konen
Kenneth Reinhart Konen, age 59, a resident of Pierz, MN, died October 29, 1997, at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, MN.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held November 1 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz with the Rev. Kenneth Brenny officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Kenneth R. Konen was born October 14, 1938 in Buh Township, Morrison County, MN to Alphonse Konen and the late Katherine “Boser” Konen. He grew up in Buh Township and attended a country school as well as school in Pierz. Kenneth received the sacrament of confirmation on May 29, 1951 in the church of St. Joseph in Pierz. Following his schooling he worked for his father on the family farm. He entered the United States Army in 1957 and received an honorable discharge on February 27, 1959. Following his service years he moved to Seattle, WA, for 10 years and worked pipeline construction. He was united in marriage to Joan Patton on August 22, 1970 in Kirkland, WA. In 1972, when his dad retired, Kenneth and Joan returned to the family farm in Buh Township, where Kenneth farmed until his death. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz and a life member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.
Survivors include his wife Joan; son, Keith and wife Renee and grandson Christopher R. Konen of Hawaii; sister, Winnie Lucking of Pierz, and father Alphonse Konen of Pierz and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Katherine Boser.
Casketbearers were Mike, Colleen, Lacy, Kurt and Joelle Lucking, and Randy and Mary Sullivan.
Edwin Smith
Edwin L. Smith (Ted), age 78, died October 28, 1997, at his Little Falls home.
Funeral services and interment were at the Minnesota Veterans Cemetery by Camp Ripley.
Ted was born in Morrison County on March 2, 1919, the son of Nickolas and Anna Smith. He was a lifelong resident of Little Falls and served as a pilot in the Eighth Air Force during World War II, as well as being a lifetime member of the VFW. Smith was an employee of Minnesota Power until 1980 when he retired after 36 years.
Survivors include his wife Ida, four children, Bruce, Byron, Joyce and Kay and two grandchildren, Aleta and Colton.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother and two sisters.
Lorraine Hegseth
Lorraine Mary Hegseth, age 78, a resident of rural Browerville, MN died October 24, 1997 at her home.
Funeral services were held October 27 at Christ the King Church in Browerville with Fr. Kenneth Thielman officiating. Burial was in the Christ the King Cemetery.
Lorraine was born December 3, 1918 in Wild Rose, ND to Theodore and Vera (Philips) LeMire. She married Herman A. Hegseth on October 4, 1940. They then lived in Wild Rose, until the fall of 1961. After that they lived on a farm nine miles east of Browerville. They moved to their retirement home on Thunder Lake in 1980. Lorraine was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church.
Survivors include her husband, Herman; children, Faye Becker of Wild Rose, Curtis Hegseth of Clarissa, MN, Clinton Hegseth of Browerville, MN and Connie Pohlkamp of Little Falls; one sister, Marie (LeMire) Anderson; 16 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Theodore and son-in-law, Frank Becker.
Casketbearers were Ted Hegseth, Jason Hudalla, Michael Pohlkamp, Mike Nuehring, Dennis Parteka and Joe Bryniarski. Cross bearer was Anna Hegseth; giftbearers were Anna, Scott, Cody and Hope Hegseth.
Gladys Gray
Gladys Gray, age 92, a resident of Little Falls, MN, died November 2, 1997, at St. Otto’s Care Center in Little Falls.
Funeral services were November 4, at St. Otto’s Chapel with Father Tony Kroll officiating. Burial was at the St. Francis Convent Cemetery.
Gladys was born in Pine County, MN on May 13, 1905, to Guy and Muriel Collette. She was united in marriage with Harold Gray and moved to Little Falls in the early 1970s. Gladys was an early resident of Alverna Apartments in Little Falls. Her favorite pastime was reading. She was a member of the Secular Franciscan Sisters.
Survivors include two brothers, Floyd and wife Ruth of Redwood Falls, MN, Cally and wife Vi of Austin, MN; nieces and nephews; and also survived by the Franciscan Sisters. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold; and two sisters.
Gertrude Gastecki
Gertrude Gastecki, age 66, a resident of Little Falls, MN, died October 31, 1997, at St. Otto’s Care Center in Little Falls.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held November 3, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls with Father Leroy Kremer officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Gertrude was born in Blue Earth, MN on August 3, 1931, to the late Severt and Carmen (Engerset) Newgard. She grew up in the Blue Earth area and moved to Little Falls during her high school years. She was united in marriage with John Gastecki on November 22, 1950, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Her importance in life was being a homemaker and being with her family. Gertrude was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary of Little Falls and the Christian Mothers. She volunteered her time with the Boy Scouts, her church, and was very active in the community.
Survivors include sons, Greg and wife Lori of Grand Marais, MN, Bob and wife Bonnie of Wadena, MN, Tim and wife Brenda of Corey, PA, Ken and companion Ken of Onamia, MN, Rich and wife Karen of Roseville, MN, Dave and wife Connie of Sobieski, MN; daughters, Jean Whitford and husband Ed of Little Falls, Jan Erwin and husband Tom of Little Falls, Carol Doucette and husband Kevin of Fort Ripley, MN; a sister, Elaine Janssens of South Bend, IN; 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; and a brother, Ed; and two sisters, Bernice and Mary Ann.
Casketbearers were Lisa Whitford, Trish Doucette, Sara Erwin, Jenny and Jackie Gastecki, and Jessie Doucette.
