Leo Justin
Leo W. Justin, a resident of Sartell, MN, died February 28, 1998, at the Country Manor Health Care and Rehab Center in Sartell.
Funeral services were held March 3 at the St. Stephen Catholic Church in St. Stephen, MN. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Leo was born in St. Stephen, MN, to Anton and Johanna (Omann) Justin. He was a member of St. Stephen Catholic Church in St. Stephen, Sartell/ St. Stephen Knights of Columbus and St. Stephen Men’s Society. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald and Thomas.
Survivors include brothers and sisters Evelyn Durfey of St. Paul, MN, Edward of Albany, MN, Alfred of Idaho Falls, ID, Ben of Little Falls, MN, Nick of St. Stephen, Wilfred of St. Stephen and Clarence of St. Stephen.
Darlene Rutz
Darlene L. Segler, Rutz, age 68, a resident of Brainerd, MN, died February 27, 1998, at the Lutheran Home Health Care Center in Little Falls, MN.
Funeral services were held March 4 at the First Lutheran Church with Pastor Dan Clites officiating. Interment was at the Lakeview Cemetery near Hillman, MN.
Darlene was born June 1, 1929, in Sheffield, IA, to Oltetha and E.R. Kephart. She was a member of First Lutheran Church, D.A.V. Auxiliary and the Purple Heart Auxiliary. Darlene married Arthur Edward Rutz on June 6, 1992, in Brainerd.
Survivors include her husband, Arthur; one son, William Segler of Brainerd, and two daughters, Judy Whirley of Brainerd and Arletta Zilka of Randall, MN, eight grandchildren; stepmother, Maxine Kephart of Waterloo, IA; one brother, Darrell Kephart of Onamia, MN; two step-brothers, Ron Kephart and Larry Kephart, both of Waterloo.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents and first husband Arthur Segler.
Lloyd Pepin
Lloyd E. Pepin, age 94, a resident of Little Falls, MN, formerly of Swanville, MN, died February 26, 1998, at St. Otto’s Care Center in Little Falls, MN.
Funeral services were held on March 3 at Swanville Bible Church in Swanville, MN, with the Rev. Tim Sumner officiating. Interment was in Springbrook Cemetery, Swanville.
Lloyd was born on June 20, 1903, in Burnhamville Township, Todd County, MN, by Pepin Lake to the late John and Evangeline (Stith) Pepin. As a young boy, his family moved to the state of Washington where they worked in the logging industry for two years and then returned to the Swan-ville area. He attended District 79 school in Swanville Township. Upon completion of his education, he farmed with his parents on the family farm in Swanville Town-ship for a few years and then purchased his own farm across the road from his parents where he farmed together with his family. He was united in marriage to Luella Johnson on October 10, 1933, in Long Prairie, MN. The couple farmed their whole life on their farm in Swanville Township. In 1996, they moved to the Alverna Apartments in Little Falls but spent each summer out on their farm. He attended the former East Swanville Covenant Church and most recently the Swanville Bible Church in Swanville. He enjoyed traveling with his wife to California and Washington and woodworking in his shop.
Survivors include his wife, Luella of Little Falls; sons, Verde Pepin and wife Faye of Motley, MN, and Randy Pepin and wife Linda of Upsala, MN; daughter, Nancy Kjeldahl and husband Sid of Sauk Centre, MN; sister, Mildred Pepin of Little Falls; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ward Pepin and Lawrence Pepin and a sister, Cecile Pepin.
Pallbearers were Peter Pepin, Dwight Nelson, Kurt Skillings, Klint Kjeldahl, Scott Pepin, Brent Pepin, Justin Nelson and Matt Nelson.
Raymond Guck
Raymond Mathew Guck, age 71, a resident of Little Falls, MN, and formerly of Royalton, MN, died February 26, 1998, at his home in Little Falls
A Mass of Christian Burial was held March 3 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls with the Rev. Nick Landsberger officiating. Burial was in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Rice, MN.
Raymond was born September 19, 1926, in St. Cloud, Stearns County, MN, to the late August and Katherine (Donnay) Guck. He grew up in Rice on the family farm. He attended and graduated from Royalton High School in the Class of 1944. He entered the United States Army March 16, 1945, at Fort Snelling, MN. During his military stay, Raymond re-ceived the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He received an honorable discharge on July 22, 1946, at Camp McCoy, WI. Ray-mond was united in marriage to Virginia (Ginny) M. Fromelt on August 3, 1950, in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rice. Together the couple farmed in Bellevue Township until 1960 and then moved to the city of Royalton where he served as Postmaster for the Royalton Post Office from September of 1961 to August 1986 when he retired. He was a member of the Minnesota League of Postmasters, National Association of Postmasters, served as civil defense coordinator for city of Royalton, Boy Scout Leader, served on the Board of Directors of Carefree Acres, was a member of Little Falls American Legion Post #46 and St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls. He was a former member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Royalton where he served on the parish council and former member of the Royalton American Legion. He enjoyed gardening, woodworking, reading, fishing and camping.
He is survived by his wife, Ginny; sons and daughters, Joseph M. and wife Rosie of Sartell, MN; Mary Jo Bailey and husband Chuck of Mankato, MN; Jim A. and wife Denise of Holdingford, MN; Mike R. and wife Barb of Lakeville, MN; Robert J. and wife Cheryl of Warren, OH; Carrie Nelson and husband Bob of Sartell, MN, and David E. and wife Carleen of Elk River, MN; Ted C. and wife Sue of Baldwinsville, NY; sisters, Rosemary Girtz and husband Ervin of Royalton, Therese Duea and husband John and Lucille Hovland and husband Andrew, all of Rice, Doris Sullivan and husband Henry of Eden Valley, MN, and Shirley Schwalbe and husband Cyril of Avon, MN, and 16 grandchildren.
Honorary pallbearers were Amy Jo Bailey, Andrea Nelson, Sammy, Nikki, Kendra and Rachel Guck.
Casketbearers were Jeremy, Jordan, Cory, Quentin, Ryan, Aaron, Tyler and Kyle Guck, Ben Bailey and Kirk Nelson.
Robert Chock
Robert B. Chock, age 78, a resident of Little Falls, MN, formerly of Flensburg, MN, died February 28, 1998, at the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 4 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg, with the Rev. Tony Kroll officiating. Interment was in the parish cemetery with military rites provided by Flensburg American Legion Post #136.
Robert was born July 21, 1919, in Browerville, MN, to the late Charles and Laura (Kiedrowski) Chock. He grew up and attended school in Sobieski, MN. Following his schooling, he worked as a floor assembler at Scott & Atwater in Minneapolis, MN, for two years. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in Central Europe and Africa from June 1942 until his honorable discharge in October 1945. He was united in marriage to Eleanor M. Kulus on November 26, 1947, at Sacred Heart Church in Flensburg. He owned Bob’s Place in Flensburg and worked for Chock Construction from 1955-1963. Following a work-related injury in 1963, he was disabled up to the time of his death. Robert enjoyed fishing, cards and woodworking. Robert was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg and Flensburg American Legion Post #136.
Survivors include his daughter, Doris Lutzke and husband Roger of Flensburg; brothers, Joseph Chock and wife Ruth of Minneapolis, MN; Frank Chock and wife, Sylvia of Aitkin, MN; Bernard Chock and wife Chris of Little Falls and Richard Chock and wife Betty of Minneapolis; sisters, Frances Pointek of Minneapolis, Marion Pantzke and husband Wally of Cushing, MN, and Lorraine Zilka and husband Lawrence of Little Falls and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor on May 5, 1993; parents and a brother, John Chock.
Reinhold Drews
Reinhold Gustav Drews, age 92, a lifelong resident of Swanville, MN, and Culdrum Township, Morrison County, MN, died February 28, 1998, at St. Otto’s Care Center in Little Falls.
Funeral services for Reinhold Drews were held March 5 at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls.
Reinhold was born January 4, 1906, in Long Prairie, Todd County, MN, to the late Emil and Clara (Kuehl) Drews. He grew up and was a lifelong resident of Culdrum Township and attended school in District 91. He farmed in Culdrum Township and also operated a road grader for the state of Minnesota, Pike Creek Township and for Culdrum Township. He was united in marriage to Ruth McDermond in 1931. She died in 1970. In 1976 Reinhold was united in marriage to Ivy Johnson in Winterhaven, FL. Ivy died in 1982. Reinhold resided in Culdrum Township residing there until his death.
Survivors include grandchildren, Ray Drews and wife Patricia of Swanville, Donna Coniglio of Tampa, FL, and Debbie Drews of Jacksonville, FL; brothers, Nor-man and Irvin of Minneapolis, MN, Richard of Swanville, Edwin of Princeton, MN, Emil of Rockford, IL, and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth; second wife, Ivy; parents; son, Raymond; brothers, Herbert, Arnold and Bernard; sisters Regina Cromwell and Blondenia Drews.
Casketbearers were Jerry Thoma, Rodney Bleeker, Gene Block, Romain and Kenneth Determan.
Marie Randall
Marie Virnig Randall, age 94, a resident of Little Falls, MN, died February 27, 1998, at St. Otto’s Care Center in Little Falls.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 3, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Little Falls with Father Nick Landsberger officiating. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Little Falls.
Marie was born on July 19, 1903, near Lastrup, MN, to the late Peter and Eva Bares Virnig. She grew up in the Lastrup and Pierz area and attended school there. She graduated from St. Gabriel’s School of Nursing, Class of 1926. She was married to the late Walter V. Randall on February 21, 1927, at St. Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church in Little Falls. They were married for 70 years. Marie worked at St. Gabriel’s Hospital for 46 years. Much of this time she was the head nurse in the obstetrics department. She also taught Red Cross classes at Little Falls High School. She was recently honored as the oldest living graduate of St. Gabriel’s School of Nursing. Marie was an avid gardener, bridge player and generous hostess.
Survivors include sons, Charles V. and wife MaryAnn Hunt Randall of St. Paul, MN, and Dr. Phil S. and wife, Alice Hoolihan Randall of Minneapolis, MN; brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Betty Virnig of St. Cloud, MN; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, R.A. “Tony” and Luvern Randall of Little Falls; grandchildren, Colleen Randall, Michael Randall, Brigid Randall Raskin, Maura Randall, Brian Randall, Brendan Randall, Libby Randall Peter, Stephen Randall and John Randall; eight great-grandchildren and special friend, Sister Therese Furnstahl, of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls.
Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Walter; parents; brothers, John, Christian, Hubert, Andrew, Henry and Frank Virnig and sisters, Anne Gross, Clara Schoenberg and Catherine Kapsner.
Casketbearers were her grandchildren.
Edward Kurtz
Edward R. Kurtz, age 89, a longtime resident of rural Hillman, MN, died February 23, 1998, at the Country Manor Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in Sartell, MN, from complications of a stroke.
Cremation arrangements were made by the Cremation Society of MN.
Edward was born July 15, 1908, to Rochus and Constantine Kurtz. He farmed in the Hillman area with his family until retirement, and lived there for the remainder of his life.
Survivors include his sons, Arnold and Raymond of Milaca, MN, Rinehart of Coon Rapids, MN, George of St. Cloud, MN, Gordon of Pierz, MN, and ElRoy of Fridley, MN; daughters, Laura (Gerald) Johnson of Milaca, Grace (Lewis) Boser of Pierz, Bernardine (Jere) Hanenburg of Elk River, MN, Shirley (Harold) Huver of Rice, MN, DiAnn (Blaise) Boser of Becker, MN, and Del Rose (Den-nis) Stoltman of Cedar, MN; 28 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Alvin; five brothers and seven sisters.
Donald Carlson
Donald Carlson, age 78, a resident of the Little Falls, MN, area, died February 28, 1998.
Funeral services were conducted March 4 at the Brenny Funeral Home in Little Falls with Dennis Hagquist officiating. Burial was in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery.
Donald was born January 5, 1920, to Henry and Grace (DeBaun) Carlson in Litchfield, MN. He was a simple man who loved God, his wife and all his children dearly. He was a kind, patient, hardworking, gentle man who would help whoever needed assistance and never asked for help in return. He was known by many and loved by all. Donald began his life as a shy, quiet boy who went on to make a great impression on many people. He was a veteran of World War II and was wounded in action. He did many things in his life including farming, fruit harvesting, logging and janitorial. Whatever he did, he did with his whole heart. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and always, a devoted Christian.
Survivors include his wife, Darleen of Little Falls; children, Mrs. Rebekah Blegen and husband, Larry of Maple Lake, MN, Mrs. Rhoda Rotzien and husband Raymond of Farmington, MN; John Carlson and significant other, Nancy of Little Falls, James Carlson and significant other Irene of Randall, Mrs. Lois Campbell and husband John of Rice; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; baby daughter, Ruth; two brothers and one sister.
Honorary casketbearers were grandsons, Jay Fredin and Roderick Rotzien.
Casketbearers were sons, John and James Carlson, sons-in-law, Larry Blegen, Raymond Rotzien and John Campbell and grandson, Joel Erickson.
Eveline D. D’Angelo
Eveline D. D’Angelo, age 80,a resident of Brainerd, MN, died March 6, 1998, at her home.
Mass of Christian Burial was March 12 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd with Father Seamus Walsh officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens.
She was born in Little Falls on November 9, 1917, to Michael and Anna (Motzko) Vierzba. She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church. She joined the American Legion Auxiliary in 1950 and had served as Auxiliary president in 1952. She served in many chairmanships including Americanism, National Security, Poppy, Publicity, and Past Presidents Parley. She had also served as the unit’s treasurer and was a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps. She served as district secretary in 1957 and was presented a life membership in 1983. As a member of the Brainerd Garden Club, she served as president, vice president, publicity chairman and corsage chairman.
Survivors include a brother, Leonard Vierzba of Detroit Lakes, MN; four sisters, Ellen Smith, Lorraine Peterson, Donna Brown and Geraldine Winson, all of Brainerd; many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were parents, husband Vincent, brother George Vierzba and sister Bernice Boudreau.
