Shirley Perry
Shirley Ann Perry, age 58, a resident of Staples, MN, died January 22, 1998, at her home.
A memorial service was held January 31 at the Lincoln Evangelical Free Church with the Reverends Brian Burton and Terry Stumbo officiating. A graveside service will be held in the spring at Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples. The family prefers memorials to the American Diabetes Association, the Arthritic Foundation or the Lincoln Evangelical Free Church’s Women's Ministries.
Shirley was born July 4, 1939, in Moran Township, MN, to Elmer and Pearl (Motel) Judd. She grew up in the Staples area and graduated from Staples High School in 1957. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in physical education and English from St. Cloud State Teachers College in 1962. She married Edwin Perry at the United Methodist Church in Staples on August 11, 1962. She taught school in Bertha for two years and then began to raise her family. She continued to substitute teach as well as help her husband with their family business, the Ben Franklin Store in Staples. She was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Staples for a number of years, participating in Circles, and as a youth group leader and a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher. For the past 10 years she was an active member of the Lincoln Evangelical Free Church where she participated in Women’s Ministries, the music and worship committee and “The Gospel According to Scrooge” production. She was an accomplished seamstress and cook. She enjoyed reading and spending time at their lake cabin on Fish Trap Lake in Lincoln. Her positive, cheerful spirit, courage and faith were an encouragement and blessing to all who knew her.
Survivors include her husband, Ed; her daughter, Diana Perry-Albers and husband Ray of Stevens Point, WI; her son, Paul Perry and wife Pamela of Wadena, MN; her mother, Pearl Sellnow and husband Robert of the Greater Staples Care Center; two sisters, Angeline Hill of Elk River, MN, and Carol Cameron of Staples; three brothers, Raymond Judd and wife Delores of North Branch, MN, Gerald Judd and wife Darlene of Coon Rapids, MN, and Arnold Judd and wife Diane of Tacoma, WA, and five grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father, Elmer Judd.
Herbert Bencker
Herbert W. Bencker, age 70, a resident of Scandia Valley, MN, died January 23, 1998, at his home.
Funeral services were held January 28 in the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Randall, MN, with Rev. Tim Berdahl officiating. Burial was in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley. Military honors were provided by Randall VFW Post 9073.
Herbert was born February 25, 1927, in Minneapolis, MN, son of the late Earl and Ruth (Giesa) Bencker. He grew up and attended school in Robbinsdale, MN. Herbert served in the United States Navy from March 1944 until December 1947. During that time he served aboard the USS LCI-1096, the USS Collett and the USS Piedmont. Herbert was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned to Robbinsdale. He was united in marriage to Sonja Stubstad on December 17, 1949, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pelican Rapids, MN. Following their marriage they lived in Minneapolis, then Maple Grove, MN, moving to their current residence in Cushing, MN, in 1990.
Survivors include his wife, Sonja; a son, Allen Bencker and wife Kathy of Robbinsdale; two daughters, Diane Hogle and husband Daniel of Maple Grove and Laurie Bencker of Staples, MN; five grandchildren and a sister, Beryl Barnes of Red Wing, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.
Casketbearers were Ron Williams, Shane Strack, Dave Sherer, Larry Sorenson, Dick Rowe and Doug Kirks. Honorary casketbearer was Dan Keniston.
Jeanette Peckels
Jeanette C. (Miller) Peckels, age 78, a resident of Minneapolis, MN, died January 22, 1998, after a courageous fight against cancer.
Mass of Christian Burial was held January 26 in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale, MN. Interment was in St. Vincent’s Cemetery, Osseo, MN.
Survivors include children, Eddieand wife Sharon, Kennyand wife Jill, Jan “Tootie” Gephart and husband Gary, Kathy Dubois and husband Mark, Jimmy and special friend Janice Anderson, Mike and special friend Cheryl Zigan, Billy and wife Barb, Chris Goodin and husband Rich, Sue Ahles and husband Don, Barbi Dahlheimer and husband Dick and Jerry “Chico” and wife Trish; 32 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Bob Miller and wife Eleanore, Gertrude Sherwood and husband Les, Freddie Miller and wife Eva, Dick Miller and wife Sue and Margaret Miller; sisters-in-law, Mary Miller and Zetta Miller; many nieces and nephews, a good number of whom live in the Little Falls area and special friends, Jewell Keith and Gene Merrill.
She was preceded in death by husband, Arganius; infant grandson, Alex; brothers, Clarence, Edmond, Raymond, Jerome and LeRoy and sister, Marie.
Leona Spilman
Leona May Spilman, age 62, a resident of Motley, MN, died January 25, 1998, at the St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN.
Funeral services were held January 29 at Swan Valley Lutheran Church with Reverend Robert Twiton officiating. Burial followed in the Poplar Cemetery.
Leona was born October 14, 1935, in Carbon, IA, to Arthur and Mary (Dixon) Gebbie. She grew up and attended school in Carbon and Corning, IA. On August 13, 1956, she married Ernest Spilman in Sisseton, SD. Together they lived in California for a few years before returning to farm in central Minnesota. In the mid 60s they moved to Motley where she spent some time working at Morey’s. Leona was a member of the VFW Auxiliary, American Legion and the DAV.
Survivors include her husband, Ernest; two daughters, Susan Carlson of Willow, AK, and Margaret Dille of Mesa, AZ; a son, Ben Spilman of Motley; her mother, Mary Gebbie of Weatherford, TX; two brothers, Art Gebbie, Jr., of Weatherford, TX, and John Gebbie of Lacy, WA; four sisters, Lois Zackmeyer of Weatherford, Linda Sargent of Matthis, TX, Helen Gebbie of Clearwater, MN, and Arlene Bjerga of Las Vegas, NV, and 11 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her father and a daughter-in-law, Linda.
Helen Sporlein
Helen Sporlein, age 78, a resident of Harding, MN, died January 20, 1998, at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd, MN.
Funeral services were held January 23 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Buckman, MN, with Father Ron Dockendorf officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Helen was born March 3, 1919, in Platte Township to John and Annie (Swaser) Dombovy. She married Henry Sporlein on June 7, 1938, at St. Michael’s Church in Buckman. They farmed in the Buckman area until 1945 when they moved to Chicago, IL, where Helen was a homemaker for 50 years. She so enjoyed coming back to Minnesota each year to visit all her friends. In 1995, she moved with her two daughters to the Harding area where she resided until 1996 when she moved to St. Mary’s Villa in Pierz, MN. She loved sewing, quilting and baking cookies. Red roses were her favorite flowers.
Survivors include daughters, Sharon Uko and husband Stephen, Marlys Bucholtz and husband Bill of Chicago; son, Robert and wife Nancy of Chicago; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Frances Bacon Hoffman of Mount Prospect, IL, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Henry; daughter, Phyllis; two brothers and three sisters.
Casketbearers were grandchildren.
Lori Caye
Lori (O’Hotto) Caye, age 37, a former resident of the Sullivan Lake, MN area, died January 21, 1998, at her home in Eagan, MN.
Mass of Christian Burial was held January 26 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Harding, MN, with Father Roger Thoennes officiating. Burial was in St. Mary’s Polish National Cemetery.
Lori was born June 23, 1960, in Minneapolis, MN, to Eugene and Mary Ellen (Hillman) O’Hotto. She attended Brooklyn Park Elementary School prior to moving to Sullivan Lake, in 1969. She graduated from Pierz High School in 1978 and then moved to Minneapolis where she was employed with the Bureau of Engraving. She was united in marriage with Mike Caye on August 15, 1986. They have a beautiful son, “Mikey.” Lori has been a devoted and loving mother to her son through his health problems and battle with a brain tumor. She loved to read, do crafts with her son, go bargain hunting, loved her horses, Thunder and Lightning. She enjoyed the outdoors and being with her friends and family.
Survivors include her husband, Mike; son, Mikey at home; father, Gene O’Hotto of Crosslake, MN; grandmother, Lucille Hillman of Brainerd, MN; brothers, Rod O’Hotto and wife Deanna of Sullivan Lake and Greg O’Hotto of rural Brainerd and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Ellen O’Hotto on November 27, 1992.
Casketbearers were brothers-in-law, Terry, David and Kevin Caye and cousins John Hillman, Jeff and Brian Mustonen.
Katherine Lochner
Katherine Lochner, age 80, formerly of Buckman, MN, died January 25, 1998, at St. Otto’s Health Care Center in Little Falls, MN.
Mass of Christian Burial was held January 29 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Buckman, with Father Ron Dockendorf and Father Ken Brenny con-celebrating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Katherine was born August 16, 1917, on the family farm east of Buckman to Peter and Barbara (Druschba) Denzen. She attended St. Michael’s parochial school, then later she went to work as a housekeeper as many young ladies did at the time. During the war she worked in the defense plants. Then she helped take care of her aging parents until their death eight years apart. She was united in marriage to Wilfred Lochner on May 21, 1960, in Buckman. Following their marriage, she and Wilfred resided in St. Louis Park, MN, where she became a nurse’s aide in several nursing homes. When they retired, they lived in the village of Buckman near the church. In April, 1994, Katherine became a resident of St. Otto’s Care Center due to illness. Up until that time she enjoyed fishing, flowers, gardening and children.
Survivors include her husband, Wilfred; one brother, William Denzen of Little Falls; four sisters, Helen Boltz of Hopkins, MN, Sister Virgil (Marie) of St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Mrs. Lawrence (Ceil) Otremba of Little Falls and Mrs. Doyle (Emma) Wilson of San Clemente, CA.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Casketbearers were Ron Laska, Larry Otremba, Bill Denzen, Jr., Steve Lochner, Brian Lochner and Mark Kelzenberg. Honorary casketbearers were Florence Mueller, Bertie Solinger, Mary Tholen, Armella Otremba, Anna Hanne-ken and Lucy Kelzenberg.
Sister Mary Venard (Alice) Niehaus
Sister Mary Venard (Alice) Niehaus, age 85, died January 26, 1998, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, MN.
Funeral and burial services were held at St. Francis Convent on January 28.
Sister Mary Venard was born June 6, 1912, near Melrose, MN. She was the fifth of 13 children born to the late Joseph and Agnes (Wessel) Niehaus. Alice graduated from the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, in 1933. She taught history, Latin and physical education at St. Francis High School, Little Falls, until she was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, on August 10, 1934, and given the name, Sister Mary Venard. She made first profession of vows on August 12, 1936, and final vows on August 12, 1939. She celebrated 60 years as a Franciscan Sister in 1994. Sister Venard received a master’s degree in history from Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. She taught history, Latin, English, religion and was the librarian at St. Francis High School for 35 years. She also served as the director of candidates to her Franciscan Community. She organized and cataloged St. Francis Convent Library, while also teaching Latin, history, geography and theology at St. Clare College in Little Falls. She was the librarian and director of St. Clare Resource Center. She went to Lexington, Tennessee, in 1984 where she served as a day care aide, as a library assistant in Everett Horn Public Library and a volunteer teacher. Throughout the years, she was an active member of the Minnesota Historical Society. She retired to Franciscan Residence, St. Cloud, Minnesota, in 1992.
Survivors include brothers and sisters: Alquin of San Francisco, CA; Anthony, Edward, Albert and Mary Agnes Wiechman,of Melrose, MN, and Hildegard Joyer of Sacramento, CA; numerous nieces and nephews and her Sisters in religious life.
Two of her sisters, Sister Mary Inez and Sister Mary Helen, also Franciscan Sisters, preceded her in death.
Edward Schroeml
Edward Schroeml, age 83, a resident of Brainerd, MN, formerly of the Harding, MN area, died January 22, 1998 at the St. Cloud, MN Hospital.
Graveside services were held at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd on January 28, with Father Seamus Walsh officiating.
Edward was born August 9, 1914 in Little Falls, MN, the son of the late Andrew and Julia (Brisk) Schroeml. Edward married Caro-line Janeck on August 5, 1978 in Brainerd. He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and the Moose Lodge #1246 in Brainerd. Edward enjoyed fishing, hunting and building things.
Survivors include his wife, Caroline; a son Ronald Schroeml of Brainerd; 2 stepsons Clarence Brown, Jr. of St. Paul, and Paul Brown of Brainerd; 2 daughters, Beverly Mudford and Diane Gildart both of Brainerd; 2 stepdaughters, Laura Bisted and Cynthia Gerard, both of Brainerd; a sister Louise Schubert of Brainerd, 5 grandchildren, 2 great grand children and 3 step grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife Veronica who died February 6, 1977 in Brainerd; both parents; 2 daughters, Barbara and Joyce; 2 brothers, Leonard and Alfred.
Gordon Salisbury
Gordon Salisbury, age 80, a resident of Pierz, MN, and formerly of the Minnewaukan and Maddock areas, died January 12, 1998 at St. Mary’s Villa in Pierz.
Funeral services were held January 16, at the Nelson Funeral Home Chapel in Maddock with Pastor Jerry Boerner officiating. Burial was in the Minnewaukan Cemetery, Minnewaukan, ND.
Gordon was born November 20, 1917 at Minnewaukan to Claude and Polly (Rau) Salisbury. He was raised and educated in Minnewaukan. In 1941, he joined the Army, serving in the 6th Infantry Division Battery, 80th Field Artillery. Gordon served in the South Pacific during WWII for 112 days of continuous combat. The 6th Division was later cited by General Krueger of the 8th Army for its performance. Gordon was honorably discharged November 14, 1945 at Fort Lewis, WA. He then worked in Maddock for the North Dakota State Highway Department. Gordon then moved to Fargo and later to St. Cloud, MN. Since 1972, he has resided at St. Mary’s Villa in Pierz, MN.
Survivors include a brother, Roger (Betty) Salisbury of Jetmore, KS; and three sisters: Mavis (Mrs. Albert) Deines of Seattle, WA, Cecil (Mrs. Floyd) Iverson of Fargo, ND and Joy (Mrs. Elmer) Beckman of Wick-enbury, AZ. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Richard Salisbury; a sister, Rachel Johnson and an infant brother, Josey Salisbury.
The Theodore A. Togstad American Legion Post #123 of Maddock accorded the Military Rites and served as casketbearers.
