Marie Miller
Marie (Stegora) Miller, age 79, resident of Harding, MN, formerly of Brainerd, MN, died August 24, 1998,at the Mercy Medical Center in Coon Rapids, MN.
Funeral services were held August 28 at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Harding with Fr. Roger Thoennes officiating. Burial was in the Holy Cross Cemetery.
Charles R. Theis
Charles R. Theis, age 66, a resident of North St. Cloud, MN, died at home on September 29, 1998.
Funeral services were held October 2 at St. John Cantius Catholic Church in St. Cloud. Burial was in the Minnesota Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls, MN.
Charles was born April 14, 1932 in Buckman, MN, to John and Mamie (Anderson) Theis. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of WWII. He was employed as a yard man for the Milwaukee Railroad in St. Paul for many years. He has been a resident of St. Cloud since 1990 where he was a member of St. John Cantius Catholic Church and the Waite Park American Legion Post 428.
Survivors include his brothers and sisters, Joseph, Brooklyn Park, MN, Ted, Minneapolis, Frank, Upsala, MN, James and Curtis, Buckman, MN, Christine Kirkeby, Binford, ND, Regina Heid, Waite Park, Ruth Bollig, Sartell, Frances Sahr, Little Falls, Alice Przybilla, Little Falls, and Anne Lubich, Prescott, WI.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Bill, and Peter and one sister, Mary Alvord.
Emil Zwak
Emil Zwak, a resident of Bedford, TX, formerly of North Prairie, MN, died September 23, 1998 at his home in Bedford.
Funeral services were held September 29 at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in North Prairie.Emil Zwak was born in North Prairie. He married Mathilda Marsolek October 25, 1937, in North Prairie. She died June 29, 1962. He married Theresa Compagni August 3, 1963, in California. He was a retired tool and die supervisor.
Survivors include his wife of Bedford; one son, Paul Salazar of Greensville, NC; two daughters, Florence Earnest of Fort Worth, TX, and Tina Moody of McCamey, TX; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death byhis first wife, and two brothers, Joseph Zwak and Stanley Wochnik.
Bernice B. Hartman
Bernice B. Hartman, age 71, a resident of Fort Ripley, MN, died September 28, 1998, at St. Mary’s Villa in Pierz, MN.
Funeral services were held September 30 at First Lutheran Church in Brainerd, MN, with Pastor Mark Anderson officiating. Burial was in the Fort Ripley Cemetery.
Bernice was born in Brainerd on October 26, 1926, to Edward and Anna C. (Borg) Sullivan. She had been a lifetime Fort Ripley area resident. She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Brainerd.
Survivors include her husband, Albert; three sons, Keith Hartman of Hudson, WA, Duane Hartman of Fort Ripley, and Robert Hartman of Crosslake, MN; two daughters, Donna Jorgensen of Buffalo, MN and Cindy Sayre of Newport, WA; 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one brother, Earl Sullivan, of Brainerd.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Cheryl; granddaughter, Angela and brother, Gerald Sullivan.
Margaret M. Lewis
Margaret M. Lewis, age 77, a resident of Harrison, MN, died September 24, 1998, at her home following a battle with cancer.
Funeral services were held September 29 in the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples, MN., with Reverend Doug Ostlund officiating. Burial followed in the Evergreen Hill Cemetery.
Margaret Mae Lewis was born on August 2, 1921, in Staples, to the late Stella Serena (Kay) and Ralph “Doc” Henderson Williams. Margaret graduated from Staples High School in 1939, and later that year married William Bon Romines of Detroit, MI. She was later divorced and then married Elmer E. Lewis (formerly of Pennsylvania) in Detroit, on September 5, 1947. They were married until November 2, 1984, when Elmer died of cancer. Margaret enjoyed fishing with Elmer, and crocheting and plastic canvas as hobbies. She lived in Harrison, next door to her brother, Gene, at the time of her death.
Survivors include four brothers, Charles “Chuck” (Anna) Williams of Staples, MN, Robert “Bob” (Delphi) Williams of Denver, CO, Ralph “Gene” Williams of Harrison, MI, and James “Jim” (Juanita) Williams of Staples; four sisters, Roberta “Berta” Busker of Browerville, MN, Ethel (Law-rence) Bartylla of Lauderdale, MN, Ramona “Mona” (Harold) Meech of St. Paul, MN, and Mary Alice Johnson of Coon Rapids, MN.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brothers-in-law, Herman and Chuck, and sister-in-law, Bonnie.
Casketbearers were Larry Bartylla, Mark Williams, Craig Williams, David Meech, William Busker, Rodney Pierce (all nephews).
Honorary casketbearers were Charles L. Williams, Robert J. Williams, Ralph E. Williams, James E. Williams, Lawrence A. Bartylla, Harold Meech, and Randy Bartylla.
Earl Pixley
Earl Pixley, age 61, a resident of Little Falls, MN, died September 19, 1998, at the VA Hospital in St. Cloud, MN.
Memorial services were privately held.
Earl was born February 18, 1937, in Waterbury, VT, to Earl Sr. and Ami (Teich) Pixley. He worked at Gresen Manufacturing in Minneapolis, MN, for 20years. He then took on an adventure of a clothing store and restaurant. Earl then moved to Little Falls and worked at several different places in town, one of which being the Lutheran Care Center. He enjoyed working with wood which led him to his job at Designer Woods. He also enjoyed visiting with people, watching birds and watching his dogs.
Survivors include his wife, Laverne Pixley of Foley, MN; sons, Joe Pixley of Little Falls and Mike Pixleyand wife Margo of Little Falls; daughters, Michelle Pixley of Sauk Rapids, MN, Cindy Severson and husband Dan of Deer River, MN, and Dawn Kroll and husband Kim of Little Falls; brothers, Vincent Pixley of Pine City, MN, and Chuck Pixley of Texas; sister, Alice Court of Pine City, MN, and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Danielle Dawn Kroll and a good friend, Dorothy Hoffman.
Joseph Rudnitski
Joseph J. Rudnitski, age 84, a resident of Gilman, MN, died September 24, 1998, at Princeton Fairview Hospital, Princeton, MN.
Funeral services were held September 26 at SS. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, Gilman. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Joseph Rudnitski was born July 21, 1914, in Alberta Township, Benton County, to John P. and Pelagia “Polly” (Rosemark) Rudnitski. He married Rose Pekarek July 25, 1939, at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, Brennyville. He had worked as a logger and a milk and cheese hauler for many years. He also farmed in Alberta Township, for 36 years until his retirement in 1975 when he moved to Gilman. Joseph was also a past member of the District 51 and 118 school board, past supervisor of Alberta Township, and a past member of the Gilman City Council. He was a member of SS. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, Gilman.
Survivors include his wife Rose of Gilman; sons and daughters, June Moshier, St. Cloud, Rodney Rudnitski of Gilman, Janice and Dutch Shisler, Seattle, WA, Jean and Sylvester Helmin, Foley, Loree of St. Cloud, MN, Ione and Bill Winter of Wayzata, MN, Gordon and Judy of Foley, Wayne of Hamilton, MT, Neil and Jill of St. Cloud, Faith and Leon Johnson of Barrett, MN, Jo of New York Mills, MN and Russell and Nancy of Gilman; sisters, Bridget Rudnitski, Gilman, Delphine Zawacki of Gilman; 26 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Benjamine, S. Herman; sisters, Elizabeth, Clara and Genevieve and one grandson, Ryan.
Pallbearers were Joe Helmin, Terri Chmielewski, Leon Rudnitski, Kamille Rudnitski, Torey Winter, and Jennine Rudnitski.
Verna Christensen
Verna Mae Christensen, age 93, died September 23, 1998, at the Issaquah Care Center in Issaquah, WA.
A funeral service for her will be held at the Shelley - Gibson Funeral Home in Swanville, MN, on October 3. Burial will follow at the Springbrook Cemetery.
Verna was born on August 5, 1905, in Akeley, MN, to Frank and Annie Close. The family moved to Garden City, MN, in 1907 and later they moved to a farm near Swanville in 1917. She graduated from Swanville High School in 1925. She married Herbert M. Johnson in 1936 who preceded her in death in 1958. She worked at the Swanville Newspaper and also worked as a dark room technician for Silker Studio in Little Falls. She moved to Bellingham, WA, in 1960 where he married Norman Christiensen. He passed away in 1965. In 1979 she moved to Renton. She attended the Renton Bible Church and in her leisure time she enjoyed reading and crocheting.
Survivors include her son, Douglas of Renton; a brother, Elsworth Close of Greenleaf, ID; and three sisters, Ruth Johnson of Little Falls, Fern Anderson of Minneapolis, MN and Lois Sauter of Bethany, OK.
The family suggests remembrances to the Renton Bible Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 2580, Renton, Washington, 98056.
Brian Raustadt
Brian A. Raustadt, age 37, a resident of Little Falls, MN, died September 24,1998, at his home.
A funeral service was held on September 28 in the Lincoln Evangelical Free Church with Reverend Brian Burton officiating. Burial followed in the Scandia Valley Cemetery.
Brian Allen Raustadt was born on August 18, 1961, in Robbinsdale, MN, son of Dale and Jessie (Cheney) Raustadt. He grew up in Blaine, MN and at the age of 12, he moved with his family to Lincoln. Brian graduated from Motley High School. Following high school, he joined the National Guard, serving his basictraining at Fort Jackson, SC. Brian served with the National Guard in the motor pool and was an ammunition handler for fifteen years. He graduated from Anoka Technical School as a certified automotive mechanic. He worked as a mechanic in Bloomington, MN,for seven years and had recently been employed by Best Buy Auto in Little Falls. Brian was united in marriage to Sally Dvorak on September 2, 1997, in Little Falls. During his spare time, Brian enjoyed riding motorcycles, snowmobiles and listening to music. He attended Lincoln Evangelical Free Church. His special sense of humor will be missed by all.
Survivors include his wife Sally; his parents, Dale and Jessie Raustadt of rural Staples, MN; two brothers, David (Jodi) Raustadt of Lakeville, MN, and Charles “Chuck” Raustadt of rural Staples; two nephews, Jay and Daniel Raustadt; paternal grandmother, Mildred Raustadt and maternal grandmother, Mary Cheney; four uncles, Dean and Lyle Raustadt, Robert and Thomas Cheney; two aunts, Julie Bauer and Jacqueline Johnson; many cousins; mother-in-law, Marjorie Dvorak and several brothers- and sisters-in-law. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Stanley Raustadt and his maternal grandfather, Robert Cheney; hisfather-in-law, Arnold Dvorak.
Joseph Ringwelski
Joseph Ringwelski, age 72, a resident of Flensburg, MN, died August 29, 1998, at the St. Cloud Hospital, in St. Cloud, MN.
Mass of Christian Burial was held September 2, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg with Father Tony Kroll officiating. Burial was at Sacred Heart Parish Cemetery.
Joseph was born April 30, 1926, in Little Falls, MN, to the late Frank and Veronica (Lashinski) Ringwelski. He served in the United States Army during WWII, based in the Philippines. Joseph was united in marriage to Leona (Hlad) on June 28, 1949, in Flensburg. After marriage, they moved to Brainerd, MN, then moved to Little Falls where Joseph worked at Hennepin Paper and also for Crestliner Boats. He was a member of the Flensburg American Legion and the Little Falls V.F.W.
Survivors include his wife, Leona Ringwelski of Flensburg; sons, Dave Ringwelski and wife Diane, and Alan Ringwelski, all of Little Falls; brothers, George Ringwelski and wife Adeline of South St. Paul, Edward Ringwelski and wife Lucille of South St. Paul, and Al Ringwelski of Little Falls; and sisters, Barbara Ringwelski of Little Falls and Margaret Wyatt of Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers Henry, John, and Raymond Ringwelski; and three sisters, Helen Ringwelski, Martha Ringwelski and Gerti Pestka.
Casketbearers were Stanley Zilka, Jerry Blaine, Jay Backowski, Chuck Ringwelski, Bill Block and George Posterick.
