Randy Moe
Randy Moe, age 53, a resident of rural Cushing, MN, died April 14, 1998, in a vehicle/semi-trailer accident one mile west of Motley, MN. Services were held April 19 at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Randall, MN, with Reverend Terry Stumbo officiating. A burial service was held April 20 in the Oakwood Cemetery in Mora, MN, with Reverend Dennis Buckley officiating.
Randy Phillip Moe was born on November 1, 1944, in Minneapolis, MN, to the late Fred and Marge (Sveum) Moe. Until his retirement to the Cushing area two years ago, he was a partner in the Tull Bearing Co. in Minneapolis. Randy served in the Marine Corps. He was a 32 degree Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite and a member of the Shrine. Randy will always be in the hearts of the people who knew him.
Survivors include a sister, Pennie Joyce of Mesa, AZ; a brother, Leland Moe of Savage, MN, and sisters-in-law, Gerrie Moe of Savage and Judy Moe of Minnetonka, MN.
He was preceded in death by his father, his mother and a brother, Marshall.
Casketbearers were Lloyd Larson, Rick Holton, Tom Fischer, Mike Motzko, Rick Troedson and Gary Daniels.
Robert Schmitt
Robert Schmitt, age 72, a resident of St. Otto’s Care Center in Little Falls, MN, died April 18, 1998, at St. Otto’s Care Center.
Funeral services were held April 22 at the Brenny Funeral Home with Fr. Harold Kost officiating. Burial was at the Minnesota Veterans Cemetery. Military rites were conducted by VFW Post 1112 of Little Falls.
Robert was born June 5, 1925, in St. Cloud, MN, to Lucille Schmitt. He was raised and attended school in the St. Cloud area. He entered the U.S. Army and served during WW II where he received many medals for bravery, including the Purple Heart. He later enlisted in the Marine Air Reserve. After his discharge, he worked as a corrections officer for the St. Cloud Reformatory until his retirement.
Survivors include sisters, Mrs. Jerry (Judith) Trettel of Brainerd, MN, Mrs. Gene (Carol) Schuett of Little Falls and Mrs. Robert (Rosemarie) Gaddis of Cambrdige, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Pallbearers were friends of the family.
Raymond Rakow
Raymond Rakow, age 79, a resident of Milaca, MN, and formerly of Freedhem, MN,died April 18, 1998, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, MN.
Funeral services were held April 22 at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls with the Rev. Paul Kling of the Evangelical Free Church in Watertown, MN, officiating. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls.
Raymond Rakow was born April 1, 1919, in Wheatland, ND, to the late Wilhelm (William/Bill) F. Rakow and Mary Louise (Gaboury) Boisjolie. He grew up in North Dakota and in Minnesota. He entered the United States Army on August 27, 1942, and received an honorable discharge on January 7, 1946. During his military stay he received the Bronze Arrowhead, Victory Medal, American Theater Service Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Service Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with a Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Lang on October 27, 1951, in Minneapolis, MN. The couple farmed for many years near Freedhem, MN, then retired from farming and moved to North Dakota for nine years. In 1994 Raymond and Dorothy returned to Minnesota and resided in Milaca until his death. Ray enjoyed farming, the outdoors, draft horses, gardening, dancing, auctions, sale barns, and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ray was a member of Little Falls American Legion Post 46 and a life member of Little Falls V.F.W. Post #1112.
Survivors include his wife Dorothy; daughters, Marlene Hines and husband Michael of Randall, MN, Donna Kelash and husband Hubert of Foley, MN, Karen Fetters and husband Joe of Milaca, MN, and a son, Eugene Rakow and wife Carmen of St. Bonifacius, MN; 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; brothers, Phillip Rakow and wife Rose, Dale Rakow and wife Sharon of Little Falls, Wayne Rakow and wife Marie of Fort Ripley, MN; sisters, Elaine DeChaine of Brainerd, MN; Stella Hanson and Bonnie Sladek and husband Gerald all of the Twin Cities area and sister-in-law Lucille Rakow Hlad of Little Falls, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William, Carl and Leonard Rakow; sister, LaVerne Osvold and a grandchild, Dustin Fetters.
Casketbearers were Willard (Will) Fetters, Chadwick (Chad) Hines, Martin (Marty) Hines, Raymond (Ray) Kelash, Waide Mathison and Billy Tomala.
Gertrude ‘Trudy’ Evangeline Eckman
Gertrude “Trudy” Evangeline Eckman, age 83, a resident of Bemidji, MN, died April 18, 1998, at the North Country Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Bemidji.
Funeral services were April 22, at St. Phillips Catholic Church in Bemidji with Father Mike Patnode officiating. Interment was at Holy Cross Cemetery in Bemidji.
She was born April 14, 1914, in Flensburg, MN, the daughter of Andrew and Mary Jendro of Little Falls where she grew up, graduated and married Leon “Leo” D. Eckman of Little Falls on April 8, 1934. They moved to Bemidji in 1943. She was a nurse at the Bemidji Lutheran Hospital for nine years. She was a cashier at Johnsons Corner Drug (now Iversons Drug) from 1968 until she retired in 1979.
Survivors include three sons, Edwin L. (Carolyn) Eckman of Austin, TX, Leon (Maryls) Eckman, Jr. of Bemidji and Larry (Carol) Eckman of Bemidji; three daughters, Emma (Raymond) Cronemiller of Bemidji, Leona (Joseph) Berge of St. Cloud and Shirley Maltais of Bemidji; two sisters, Bernice Sawyer of Los Osos, CA and Mae (Art) Ballaseux of Washougal, WA; 17 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant sons, one sister and seven brothers.
Casketbearers were Daniel Berge, Thomas Berge, David Cronemiller, Bruce Eckman, Gregory Eckman and James Maltais.
Arthur Fromelt
Arthur Fromelt, age 63, a resident of Little Falls, MN, died April 19, 1998, at St. Otto’s Care Center in Little Falls.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held April 23 at St. Otto’s Care Center Chapel. Interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Little Falls.
Arthur was born January 3, 1935, in Foley, MN, to the late Arthur and Antoinette “Nettie” (Daiker) Fromelt. He lived in Foley with his parents from 1935 to 1943. During this time, his father died and he continued living with his mother. In 1943, he moved with his mother to Perham, MN, and then to Little Falls in 1959. He entered St. Otto’s Care Center in 1993 where he resided until his death. Arthur enjoyed people and will always be remembered as having a smile on his face.
Survivors include his sister, Mary Katherine Williams and husband Reuben of Sun City, AZ; nephew, Bill Willams and nieces, Julie DelliVereni, Jan Williams-Watkins and Jeri Micki.
He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur in 1941; mother, Antoinette “Nettie” in 1995 and step-father, Edward S. Latterell in 1991.
James M. Zak
James M. Zak, age 56, formerly of Little Falls, MN, died on April 14, 1998, at the University Hospital, Minneapolis, during a liver transplant.
Funeral services were held April 18 at the Queen ofPeace Catholic Church in Cloquet, MN.
James was born on May 3, 1941,in Little Falls to S. Barney and Genevieve (Trutwin) Zak. He graduated from Little Falls High School and the University of Minnesota. He was a math teacher and coach in Cloquet for 29 years.
Survivors include his wife Margaret; children, Paul and Lois Zak of Andover, MN, Steve and Jane Amundson, Northfield, MN and Greg and Sandy Lerud, Milaca, MN; six grandchildren; and sisters, Bernadine Kargul, Detroit, MI and Shirley O’Leary, Savannah, GA.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Fred and Richard.
Philip C. Solem and Diane C. Dickson, both of Randall, MN.
Thomas J. Wagner of Little Falls, MN and Amy M. Melby of Royalton, MN.
James J. Waltman of Swanville, MN and Marcella M. Kliber of Little Falls.
Chad M. Winter and Dana L. Paul, both of Bowlus.
Bernard L. Lashinski and Lyann R. Carlson, both of Little Falls.
Mathilda A. Fiedler
Mathilda A. Fiedler, age 86, a resident of Rice, MN, died April 24, 1998, as the result of a car accident.Funeral services were held April 28 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rice. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Mathilda A. Fiedler was born August 24, 1911, in Rice to Thad and Amelia (Schneider) Sauer. She married Fred Fiedler on October 24, 1939, in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rice. She lived in Rice all her life and was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rice.
Survivors include her husband, Fred Sr. ofRice; was mother and mother-in-law to, Fred Fiedler, Jr.,of Olympia, WA, Bob and Yvonne Fiedler of Shoreview, MN, Barb and Tom Weller of Oakdale, MN,Tim and Karen Fiedler of Waukesha, WI, Eileen and Conrad Fisher of Austin, MN, and Ellen and Clarence Manke of Maplewood, MN. She is also survived by brothers and sisters, Barbara Sauer and Margaret Sauer, both of St. Cloud, MN, Rose Dullinger of Rockville, MN,Claude Sauer of Rapid City, SD, Lawerence Sauer of Staples,MN, Joseph Sauer of Little Falls, MN, and Phillip Sauer of Rice; and 10 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Angela Janski; and brother, William Sauer.
Casketbearers were Stephen, Aaron, Anna, and Dayna Fiedler, Cory, Matthew, and Thad Fisher, David and Amy Weller, and Isaac Manke.
Hazel Shelstad Westlund
Hazel Shelstad Westlund, age 93, of Clarissa, MN, died April 22, 1998, at the Long Prairie Hospital.
Funeral services were conducted on April 25 at the Shepherd of the Valley Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clarissa.
The daughter of Ole P. and Annette Shelstad, Hazel was born June 1, 1905, at Zumbrota, MN. At the age of one year her family moved to a farm 7 miles north of Clarissa where they lived for seven years. In 1913, they moved to Clarissa. Their farm was at the southwest corner of the present city park and the creek area was the pasture. Hazel attended the Clarissa Public School graduating in 1924. She was an active member of the girls basketball team until her senior year when they were not allowed to play by boys’ rules anymore, so the entire team quit. She attended Moorhead State Teachers College and taught for two years in a country school in southern Minnesota while living with her grandparents.
Hazel married Victor Wedlund June 27, 1927. They bought the home Hazel had lived in since she was 16 years old, for a total of 76 years. There they raised a family of four children: Phyllis, Joan, Charles and Karen. Victor preceded her in death in 1971 as did nine brothers and sisters. She had 10 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. In her lifetime, she witnessed the development of radio, telephone, automobiles, airplanes, and space exploration. She embraced them all to the point of purchasing her red sports car on her 80th birthday. She stayed current with daily news and politics—each of which was becoming, a concern to her. She was a very creative lady with needle and thread, having sewn most of her clothing while young; then most of her children’s clothing and finally numerous quilts for all family members.
She loved being with people, entertaining them in her home with dinners, coffee parties and playing games. Her family and friends were well-pleased when she was their card partner. She made small things special; many local people attended her night-blooming cereus parties, eating homemade ice cream and cake while the bloom unfolded. She didn’t enjoy teaching as a procession, yet she was an excellent teacher, exhibited readily when she was a Cub Scout den mother. Several young men have returned to say they recalled numerous projects they did, such as turning the kitchen into a darkroom to develop photographs. She taught her daughters to sew or do needlework. Once she was observed rowing grandsons in a boat through the reeds looking for pirates and sunfish. Hazel dearly loved Clarissa. It provided her a full life and honored her making her a Grand Marshall in two parades. At the Centennial, she had such a exciting time and enjoyed seeing all those who returned to visit.
The church was a special part of her life where she taught Sunday School and Release Time classes, sang in vocal groups, was a member of the Ladies Aid and a part of the sewing group. She was an active member of the Hoe and Hope Garden Club, helping plant flowers in the community as well as in her own yard. Her green thumb was evident as numerous house plants flourished. As a member of Clarissa Homettes, she promoted homemaking as a special commitment, taking pride in the activities and joys it provided. She kept an historical account of their activities. She was a role model for many and leaves behind a great lesson on how to live a good life.
Theresa Klisch
Theresa Klisch died April 23, 1998, at her home.
Funeral services were held April 27 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Bowlus.Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Theresa was born October 2, 1912, in North Prairie, MN, to Valentine and Anna (Stodolka) Jendro. She married Edward Klisch on November 9, 1932, in North Prairie. She was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Bowlus, the Rosary Sodality of Bowlus and Elmdale and was past president of the funeral fund and Rosary Sodality. She was in charge of the candles at St. Stanislaus Church. She worked in food service at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls for 25 years. She enjoyed gardening, quilting, sewing, cooking, baking and visiting with friends at the coffee shop.
Survivors include her husband of Bowlus; children, Marcie Boros of Little Falls, MN, Jim and wife Katherine of St. Paul, MN, Patricia Jossart and husband Merle of Buffalo, MN, Kathy Atkinson and husband Don of Hamel, MN, Lois Lampert and husband Clarence of Bowlus, Alice Boser and husband Earl of Zimmerman, MN, Bob and wife LaVerne of St. Paul, Jane Okronglis and husband Leonard of Ham Lake, MN, Jean Mrozinski of Mounds View, MN, Karen Struzyk and husband Stanley of Holdingford, MN, Anne Bierma and husband Pieter of Cottage Grove, MN, and Mary Lou Czerniak and husband Bill of Shoreview, MN; 37 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and brother, Clarence of Bowlus.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Rose Ann and three brothers, Peter, Leo and Otto.
Frank Huver
Frank Huver, age 56, a resident of Hastings, MN, formerly of Pierz, MN, died at the Vets Home in Hastings April 23, 1998.
Funeral services were held at the Ellis Funeral Home in Hastings. Burial was in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery on April 28.
Frank was born to Joe and Catherine (Prigelmeir) Huver July 6, 1941, and attended Pierz schools. He enlisted in the Army in 1960 and served two years ATO in Germany. After his return he married Barbra Raihle of Brainerd, MN, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Buckman, MN. They settled near Buckman. Frank worked for Don’s Welding for several years and he had a milk route. He also worked for Brandl Motor Service. Later he moved with his family to Las Vegas, NV, where he worked for his brother, Joe. When his health failed he came back to Pierz and later entered the Vets Home in Hastings.
Survivors include his wife, Barbra; sons, Dennis and Bob of Burnsville, MN, and Steven of Las Vegas; brothers, John and wife Roslyn of St. Stephen, MN, Richard and wife Bernell of Spring Lake Park, MN, and Joe and wife Sharon of Las Vegas and sister, Florence Britz of Las Vegas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Catherine and sisters, Ann Block, Evelyn Block and Lorraine Britz.
