Beverly T. Sagdalen, 63, once of Mabel
Beverly T. Sagdalen, 63, of Rochester, died of cancer Friday morning, May 4, 2001, at her home, following a lengthy illness.
Beverly T. Skauge was born April 26, 1938, in Spring Grove and grew up in rural Mabel. On Sept. 30, 1955, she married Virgil D. Sagdalen in Canton. The couple moved to Rochester in 1960 and owned Virgil's Siding Company. She was a member of the Moose Lodge and Resurrection Catholic Church. She enjoyed traveling.
Survivors include two daughters, Sara (Gordon) Kallis of Mabel, and Liza (Bruce) Kingsley of Cresco; three sons, Donald (Samantha), Jeffrey (Kathleen) and Steve (Susan), all of Rochester; 11 grandchildren; two sisters, Barbara (Frank) Miller of Soldotna, Alaska, and Mary (Wayne) Blomgren of Rochester; and a brother, Richard Skauge of Spring Grove. Her husband and a brother preceded her in death.
A funeral mass was held Monday at Resurrection Catholic Church in Rochester with the Rev. Donald P. Schmitz officiating. Burial was in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester.
Macken Funeral Home in Rochester was in charge of arrangements.
Esther Leona Sample, 96, Spring Valley
Esther Leona Sample, 96, of Spring Valley, died Friday, April 6, 2001, at the Ostrander Nursing Home where she had lived about two and half years.
Esther Miller was born May 5, 1904, in Frankford Township, Mower County. She attended country schools and graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1921. She moved to Spring Valley with her father in 1942 and married Lee R. Sample on May 31, 1950, in Spring Valley. He died in July 1982. For 31 years, she worked in local grocery stores and the locker. She retired in 1972. She was a member of the former Congregational Church, transferring to the Faith United Methodist Church at the time of the church merger. She was a charter member of the Women's Society and the American Legion Auxiliary and was a past president.
Survivors include a stepdaughter, Ardis Kittleson of Finlayson, Minn.; three stepgrandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, two sisters and a stepgrandson.
The funeral was Monday at the Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley. Burial in the Spring Valley Cemetery.
Hindt-Hutchins Funeral Home in Spring Valley was in charge of arrangements.
Ruth Sample, 91, Spring Valley
Ruth Sample, 91, a homemaker and lifelong resident of Spring Valley and Preston, died Saturday, March 17, 2001, at the Spring Valley Care Center where she had been a resident since Dec., 2000.
Ruth Utley was born March 25, 1909 at Preston, Minn. She graduated from Preston High School in 1927 where she was a member of the girls basketball team that played in the state tournament. She was active in 4-H, in home economics, and livestock projects. She enjoyed showing the purebred shorthorn cattle produced on the family farm, The Pines Farm. She attended the University of Minnesota College of Agriculture and was a Fillmore County 4-H agent. She was a founding member of the G.O.B. Sorority at the University. In 1929 she showed the champion beef at the Ag-Royal Livestock Show. She married J. Ivan Sample on March 5, 1932, in Minneapolis. They resided on Boulder Front Farm at Spring Valley where they raised registered Angus cattle. He died in 1980. She was active in the First Congregational Church where she was president of the Women's Fellowship. After the church mergers she remained active in Faith United Methodist Church of Spring Valley. She was a 4-H leader for many years and was active in Homemakers activities.
Survivors include one daughter, Evadene (Don) Hagberg of Sun City, Ariz.; three sons, James Ivan Jr. (Ranah) of Vermillion, S.D., Richard (Ann) of Salem, Ore., and Gregg (Karen) of Spring Valley; 12 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ester Pickett of Preston. She was presided in death by two brothers, Douglas and Wilbur, one sister, June, and a great-grandson, Mathew.
The funeral was Tuesday, March 20, at Faith United Methodist Church with the Rev. James W. Ross officiating. Burial in Spring Valley Cemetery.
Sidney Sanness, 57, of Spring Grove
Sidney Hubert Sanness, 57, of Spring Grove, a construction worker and retired farmer, died Saturday, March 10, 2001, at Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wis., of injuries suffered in an auto accident.
He was born Sept. 3, 1943, in rural Spring Grove, attended Spring Grove High School, and lived in the area all his life. On July 24, 1965, he married Marilyn Earp and they were later divorced. He was a member of Wilmington Lutheran Church.
Survivors include a son, Jared, of LaCrosse; four daughters, Kimberly Sanness of LaCrosse, Kris Reynolds and Kerry Sanness, both of Rochester, and Elizabeth Sanness of Spring Grove; four grandchildren and a brother, David of Denver, Colo. His parents and a sister preceded him in death.
The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. today (Thursday) at Wilmington Lutheran Church in rural Spring Grove with the Rev. Elizabeth Stempinski officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Roble Funeral Home, Spring Grove, was in charge of arrangements.
Esther M. Sather, 89, once of Amherst area
Esther M. Sather, 89, of Rochester, a homemaker and registered nurse, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at Saint Marys Hospital.
Esther M. Hughes was born June 25, 1911, in Amherst Township, Fillmore County and graduated from Kahler School of Nursing. On May 15, 1940, she married Lawrence M. Sather in Rochester. Her husband was a homebuilder and worked at a dental laboratory. He died Dec. 8, 1983. She was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church and the Elks Club and enjoyed golf, bridge and cooking.
There are no immediate survivors. She was preceded in death by an adopted son, two sisters and two brothers.
There was no visitation or reviewal.
Vine Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
J. Schaefer, brother of Preston woman
John "Jack" F. Schaefer, 81, of Fairfax, Minn., formerly of Preston, died Saturday, April 21, 2001, at the Wabasso Care Center, after a lengthy illness.
He was born May 10, 1919, at Cresco, Iowa, to Jacob and Edith (Young) Schaefer. He attended country schools in Fillmore County and later worked on area farms. He and his brother, Jacob Schaefer farmed until John joined the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in the 88th Infantry Division for four years. Upon discharge, he farmed with his brother, Dell Schaefer. He married Ruby Sander of Fairfax, Minn., in 1949 and farmed in the Preston area. They moved to Fairfax in 1956 where they farmed.
They were later divorced. His greatest joys were his children and grandchildren, and his love for the freedom of the outdoors.
He is survived by three sons, John, Jr., of Fairfax, James of Medford, and Mark of New Ulm; six daughters, Mary Franson of Utah, Margret Twinstra of Jasper, Minn., Jeanette Barber and Debbie Peterson of Cottonwood, Minn., Margie Medina and Bonita Durbin of Fairfax; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mona Holets of Chatfield Care Center and Pearl (Wyman) Yaste of Preston.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters, and one granddaughter.
A private family memorial service was held Tuesday in Fairfax. He was cremated and burial will be at a later date.
Frances Scheevel, 82, of Chester
Frances Scheevel, 82, died at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester on Jan. 14, 2001.
She was born Sept. 7, 1918, in York Township, Fillmore County, the daughter of Frank and Anna (Nagel) Scheevel. She attended rural school through the eighth grade. Her father died when she was very young and after her mother’s marriage to Nick Twynstra, she loved and adored him as her own father. Frances was united in marriage to Melvin Scheevel on Dec. 4, 1947, at her parents’ home in Greenleafton. The couple moved to the homestead in Fillmore County, rural Chester, Iowa, and made it their home until her death. She was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking and baking for family and friends. She also enjoyed taking bus trips around the country with her husband and sister.
Survivors include her husband, three daughters, Deanna (Joseph) Larson of Mabel, Millicent Scheevel of Rochester, Elaine (Dennis) DeVries of Chester, Iowa; three sons, Frederick of Chester, Clyde of Worthington, Minn., and Craig (Paula) of Winona; and 11 grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather, Nick Twynstra, and a sister, Dorothy Mensink.
Services were Wednesday at the Greenleafton Reformed Church with The Rev. Jonathan Loper officiating. Burial at the Greenleafton Cemetery. Lindstrom Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
John G. Schimming, 68, of Canton
John G. Schimming, 68, died in a farm accident on Friday, July 20, 2001. The accident occurred on his farm in Canton.
He was born May 25, 1933, to Kate and Jack Schimming of the Hesper and Burr Oak area. He received his elementary education at the local country school. In 1951, he graduated from Decorah High School, after which he joined the United States Navy. In 1955, Mr. Schimming was joined in marriage to Phyllis Marie Remke at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Decorah, Iowa. Together they had three sons, Norman of Suffolk, Va, Michael of McHenry, Ill., and John of Necedah, Wis., along with six grandchildren, residing in Virginia and Illinois.
Mr. Schimming retired as commander from the United States Navy in 1973 after 22 years of service. He served as captain of the Terrell County, LST 1157 during the Vietnam conflict. He also held command of the Barbour County LST 1195, homeport of Long Beach, California from 1971 to 1973. Prior to these commands, he received his bachelor of science degree from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, Calif.
He was an active parishioner of the Assumption Catholic Church in Canton. His responsibilities included lector, confirmation class instructor, and he also managed the care of Calvary Cemetery. Mr. Schimming was also an active member in the American Legion Post #400 in Canton. He served as post legion commander and also administered the Legion's Boys State Program. He also served for several years on the school board in the former Harmony School District.
High school and collegiate wrestling was a passion of his. His dedication to the wrestling program included strong support of the Harmony and Fillmore Central wrestling teams and the founding of the Birds of Prey freestyle wrestling club.
His great satisfaction in life was to help develop young men and women into moral, informed, civic-minded citizens of the country that he loved so much.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 24, at the Assumption Catholic Church in Canton with burial in the Calvary Cemetery in Canton.
Lindstrom Funeral Home was in charge of services.
Lillian L. Schmidt, 61, of rural Wykoff
Lillian L. Schmidt, 61, of rural Wykoff, died Friday morning, May 18, 2001, at her home of cancer.
Lillian Jech was born May 11, 1940, in Grand Meadow, the daughter of Henry and Elsie (Boehm) Jech. She was raised in the Grand Meadow area and later moved to Rochester where she worked at Saint Marys Hospital until her marriage to Harlan L. Schmidt on June 14, 1958, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Rochester. The couple made their home on a farm in rural Wykoff where she was a homemaker and worked at Bolles Orchard in rural Wykoff.
She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wykoff where she had been active in their church circles. She loved to travel and was a craft show enthusiast.
She is survived by her husband; two sons, Darvin (Maureen) and Jim (Sheri), both of rural Wykoff; three daughters, Lori (Pat) Weisinger of Wykoff, Barb (Greg) Mulhern of rural Fountain, and Leslie Schmidt of Stewartville; eight grandchildren; five brothers, Clarence Jech of Elgin, Minn., Albert Jech of Rochester, Robert (Donna) Jech of Chatfield, Loren (Mary) Jech of Chatfield and Kenneth Jech of Rochester; two sisters, Edna Farmer of Rochester and Leona "Beezie" (Willie) Cambern of Fountain.
She was preceded in death by one grandson, Bradley; and one sister, Millie Sherwin.
The funeral was held Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church with the Rev. Jerry Crow officiating. Burial in the church cemetery.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Wykoff was in charge of arrangements.
J. Troy Schrock, 90, of Preston
J. Troy Schrock, 90, of Preston, a longtime area farmer, died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester following a stroke.
He was born Dec. 30, 1910, in Shipshewana, Ind., the son of J. Harvey and Edith Schrock. He graduated valedictorian of the class of 1928 at Middlebury, Ind., High School and in 1933 graduated cum laude from Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind.
On Sept. 5, 1937, he married Opal Broadwater on her family's farm in Bristol Township, Fillmore County. They farmed in the Middlebury amd Goshen areas in Indiana until 1944 and then near Greenleafton in Bristol Township on a Centennial Farm until moving to Preston in August of 2000.
He was a member of the Preston Lions Club and Farm Bureau, was involved in the strawberry and apple industry and with the Amish. Also, he was a member of the Mr. and Mrs. Garden Club in Preston, a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren, and participated in a number of community singing groups. He was the first farmer in Fillmore County to utilize soil conservation techniques.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Joel Frank (Joan) of Geneva, Ill.; three daughters, Janeen Aletta Sarlin of New York, Judith (Jim) Aufenthie of Rochester and Joanita (Jack) Brantl of Phoenix; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Titus; and two sisters, Rachel Weybright and Mabel Raber. He was preceded in death by a grandson, three brothers and six sisters.
The funeral service was Friday at the Root River Church of the Brethren in rural Preston, with the Rev. Frances Townsend officiating. The body was cremated. Burial will be in Prairie Queen Cemetery in rural Preston. Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Ila V. Seabright, 92, of Spring Valley
Ila V. Seabright, 92, of Spring Valley, died Friday, March 2, 2001, at the Spring Valley Care Center, where she had resided for the past three years.
She was born Nov. 21, 1908, in Spring Valley Township, Fillmore County, to William and Lucy (DeVoss) Vrieze. She attended country school through the eighth grade and was united in marriage to Edwin J. Seabright on Sept. 24, 1930, at her parents' home. He died in 1970. She was a homemaker and also worked at the Spring Valley School.
She is survived by one son, Jerry (Eldena) of Spring Valley; two grandchildren, Craig (Cindy) of Spring Valley and Lynn Martin of Prescott, Ariz.; four great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and one brother, Burton Vrieze of Spring Valley. She was preceded in death by seven brothers and one sister.
Funeral services were Thursday at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley with the Rev. James Ross officiating. Burial in Frankford Cemetery in Frankford Township, Mower County, Minn.
Catherine 'Kiki' Sears, 95, once of area
Catherine "Kiki" Sears died on Monday, July 9, 2001, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 95.
Catherine McCaffrey was born in Madison, Wis., on March 17, 1906, the daughter of Maurice E. and Catherine Ball McCaffrey. She was educated in Madison, graduating from University High School and from the University of Wisconsin in 1928.
Following graduation she was married to E. Randall Sears, also of Madison. In 1935 the family moved to Lanesboro, where they operated the Lanesboro Leader for 30 years.
After her husband’s retirement the couple moved to Preston. Mrs. Sears moved to Minneapolis in 1984.
While living in Lanesboro she belonged to the Study Club, Gold Club and Eastern Star and was a member of the School Board. For many years she was employed by the Fillmore County Welfare Board.
She is survived by a daughter, Mary Lou (C. Alden) Swanson of Eau Claire, Wis.; a son, Edward R. (Judith) Sears of Friday, Minn., eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, three brothers and a baby granddaughter.
A memorial service will be held at Ebenezer Hall Chapel, 2545 Portland Avenue in Minneapolis, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18.
Carlton Selness, 88, of Spring Grove
Carlton Julian Selness, 88, of Spring Grove, died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2001, at Tweeten Health Services in Spring Grove.
He was born Dec. 12, 1912, in Winneshiek County to John and Maria (Goodno) Selness. He never married. He was a lifelong Spring Grove area resident. He was a WWII veteran, having fought in the North African Campaign. He was a farmer and later a farm laborer for Harold Olerud in Spring Grove. He entered Tweeten Health Services on Feb. 25, 1993. He was a member of Highland Lutheran Church in rural Spring Grove. He was a member of the American Legion Post #249 in Spring Grove.
He is survived by a nephew, Merlin (Deanna) Magnusson of Minneapolis; one great-nephew, Brian Magnusson of Chicago; one sister-in-law, Elizabeth Hagen of Mabel; and numerous cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Mervin Selness and James Selness in infancy, and one sister, Stella Magnusson.
Funeral services were held Saturday at Highland Lutheran Church in rural Spring Grove. Burial was in the church cemetery. The Rev. David H. Andreae officiated.
W. Sexton, brother of Preston woman
William "Papa" Sexton, 83, of Fergus Falls, formerly of Cottage Grove, died Wednesday, April 11, 2001.
He is survived by two daughters, Kathleen Wiegand and Linda (Bob) Ehlert; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Alice Schumar of Sebastopol, Calif., formerly of Preston, and Bonnie Tobias of San Francisco; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marcella, and nine brothers and sisters.
A Mass of Christian burial was held on Tuesday at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in St. Paul Park. Interment was in Newport Cemetery.
The KOK Funeral Home, Cottage Grove Chapel, was in charge of arrangements.
Barbara Sheldon, formerly of SV
Barbara Sheldon of Victorville, Calif., and formerly of Spring Valley, died Friday, June 15, 2001, in VNA Hospice.
She was born June 12, 1924, in Oakland, Calif. She married Richard "Dick" Sheldon of Oakland and they lived there for a few years before moving to Apple Valley, Calif. In 1974, they moved to Spring Valley. In 1981 they returned to California and were in the construction business for five years, then returned to Spring Valley for a short time before once again returning to California.
She is survived by her husband; one son, Rick; one daughter, Wendy; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild, all in California.
The memorial service was June 20 at Church of the Valley in California.
Leona Shoop, 89, mother of SV woman
Leona Shoop, 89, of Austin, a longtime food service worker at Austin High School, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2001, at Austin Medical Center.
Leona Peterson was born Sept. 9, 1911, in Fremont Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. In April 1939 she married Edward Lee Shoop. He died Aug. 16, 1990.
Survivors include a son, Gary (Norma) of Austin; four daughters, Mary (John) Lyle of Monmouth, Ill., Cheryl Shoop of Rochester, Barb (John) Page of Spring Valley and Sonia (Mike) King of Austin; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Three sisters and five brothers preceded her in death.
The funeral was Tuesday at St. Mark's Lutheran Home in Austin, with the Rev. Greg Mannel officiating. Burial in Grandview Cemetery in Austin.
Mayer Funeral Home in Austin was in charge of arrangements.
Fay Kenneth Sikkink, 88, of rural Preston
Fay Kenneth Sikkink, 88, of rural Preston, died at his home on Monday, Jan. 22, 2001, of natural causes.
He was born April 12, 1912, in Carimona Township, Fillmore County, the son of Edward and Dina (Wubbels) Sikkink. He attended Flying Cloud country school and graduated from Preston High School in 1929. He was a member of the high school football team. After high school, during the depression, he worked on the Highway 63 road development and also for many area farmers. He married Cleo Sikkink on May 20, 1937, at the Greenleafton church parsonage. Following their marriage they farmed in Fillmore County on the family farm until his retirement in 1970. He continued to help and harvest until the middle l980s. He lived in his home in the country until his death. His wife died on Dec. 12, 1983. He was a lifelong member of the Greenleafton Reformed Church. He took pride in his woodworking, enjoyed music, sightseeing and especially treasured time with his family.
He is survived by one son, David (Mary) of Preston; two daughters, Sandy (Phillip) Milne of Preston and Jeannie (Kim) Benson of Lanesboro; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, one grandson, two brothers and one sister.
The funeral will be held today (Thursday) at the Greenleafton Reformed Church in Greenleafton with the Rev. Jonathan Loper officiating. Burial will be at Greenleafton Cemetery in rural Greenleafton.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Margaret Sikkink, 76, of rural Harmony
Margaret E. Sikkink, 76, of rural Harmony, died Sunday morning, Aug. 26, 2001, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.
Margaret Boese was born Aug. 9, 1925, in Madison, S.D., the daughter of August and Irene (Kuehn) Boese. In the early years she lived in Lakota, Iowa; Good Thunder, Waltham and Harmony, Minn. She was a 1942 graduate of Austin High School and attended Mankato State and Winona State colleges and became a teacher. She married Lowell Sikkink Aug. 12, 1949, in rural Harmony where the couple made their home. Before and after her marriage she taught school and was active in young people's lives. After her marriage she taught Sunday School and was active in the Greenleafton Reformed Church women's groups. She worked for many years with the physically and mentally disabled at the Sunshine House in Harmony. Her husband died Feb. 3, 1995. Since then, she had been employed by the Fillmore County Food Shelf and the Spring Valley Historical Society.
She is survived by three sons, Stephen (Linda) of Rochester, Reggie (Leanne) of Lake City and Michael (Amy) of St. Charles; one daughter, Sheila, of Coon Rapids, Minn.; ten grandchildren; two brothers, Henry (Betty) Boese of South Carolina and Arnold (Marcia) Boese of Winona; and two sisters, Frances Wilson of Oregon and Naomi (Jerry) Johnson of Winona.
She was preceded in death by one son, Gregg, one daughter, Barbara; one brother, Robert; and a sister, Ardis.
The funeral was today (Wednesday) at the Greenleafton Reformed Church in Greenleafton with the Rev. Jonathan Loper officiating. Burial in the Greenleafton Cemetery.
Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston was in charge of arrangements.
Meredith Sikkink, 64, once of Spring Grove
Meredith Ann Sikkink, 64, of Austin, a dietary aide at Austin Medical Center, died Tuesday, June 5, 2001, at her home.
Meredith Ann Brenna was born July 13, 1936, in Spring Grove. She married Robert L. Sikkink on Nov. 19, 1955, in Mabel. She had lived in Austin 33 years. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and Elks Does Lodge and enjoyed playing bingo, reading and traveling.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Robert (Karen) of Rochester, David of Owatonna and Daniel of Austin; three daughters, Gretchen Sikkink, Nanette (Tim) Sellers and Amy Sikkink, all of Austin; nine grandchildren; a brother, John (Allison) Brenna of Rochester; and two sisters, Rita (Gilbert) Bergsrud of Pontiac, Mich., and Karen (Lewis) Whitmer of Waynesboro, Va.
A memorial service was held on Friday at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin with the Rev. Robert A. Morgan officiating. Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin.
Worlein Funeral Home in Austin was in charge of arrangements.
