Funeral services for Myrtle Hagen were held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2 at Decorah Lutheran Church in Decorah with Rev. James Glesne and Rev. Bryan Robertson officiating.

Interment was in Lutheran Cemetery. Pallbearers were: Wes Brinkmann, David Hagen, Georgiann Hagen, Richard Hagen, Michael Lillegraven, and Carrie Ross. Honorary pallbearer was Joel Lillegraven. Fjelstul Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Myrtle, 98, died Sunday, September 29, 2002 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah.

Myrtle Luella Hagen was born December 6, 1903 in Decorah, the daughter of Otto and Mina (Prestsater) Moe. She was baptized in 1904 and confirmed on June 29, 1919, both at the Glenwood Lutheran Church. She received her education in rural schools of Glenwood Township.

On May 4, 1927 she married Adolph Hagen at Glenwood Lutheran Parsonage. They made their home in Glenwood Township until 1966 when they moved to Decorah.

The latter years they were members of Decorah Lutheran Church. She was active in Ladies Aid and church circles. In January 1993, Myrtle moved to the Aase Haugen Home.

She is survived by one son: Dean Hagen of Decorah; one daughter: Janice Matthews of Evansdale; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one sister: Stella Sorenson of Decorah; and one brother: Carl of Decorah.

Myrtle was preceded in death by her husband Adolph on April 25, 1991; one granddaughter; her parents; three brothers: Juel, Alert and Merlin; and two sisters: Esther Rovang and Arlene Fagerlie.

Clare Poindexter

Clare willed her body to the Mayo Foundation Medical Research in Rochester, MN and interment will be in the Cresco Cemetery.

Clare died Thursday, September 26, 2002 at Artesia, CA.

Clare Poindexter was born March 15, 1922 in Cresco, the daughter of Page and Kathryn (Daley) Minear. She attended schools in Cresco and as a 16 year old began her teaching career in a one room school house.

In 1942 she joined the WAVES. Her entire service time was spent in Washington, D.C. After discharge from the U. S. WAVES, she moved to California where she started her long educational journey. Clare attended the University of California at Berkeley and became a graduate of the first graduating class of Cal State University at Long Beach in 1949, earning a BA and her teaching credential. She then attended the Claremont Colleges in Claremont, CA, earning a Masters in Education and her Secondary Administration credential.

She began her career in the educational field in 1950 at Jordan High School in Long Beach, CA. She was later appointed principal at John Glenn High School in July 1970, being the first woman high school principal in the Norwalk-La Mirada School district and just one of five in the United States. While serving as principal, she attended Western State University College of Law, earning her Jurist Doctorate degree in 1973, and began practicing law in Artesia, CA from 1975 until the time of her death.

She is survived by her husband Harry of Artesia, CA; two step daughters: Colleen Poindexter of Walnut Creek, CA and Susan Barron of Estero, FL; two sisters: Marjorie Jacobson of League City, TX and Evangeline Fujioka of Cresco; and one brother: Irvin Minear of Cresco.

Gladys McGee

Funeral services for Gladys McGee of Minneapolis, MN, formerly of Cresco, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 12 at Notre Dame Parish, Assumption Worship Center in Cresco.

Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco.

There will be no visitation, but family will greet friends at the church prior to services. Conway Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Gladys, 99, died Thursday, August 29, 2002 at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Inver Grove Heights, MN.

Gladys E. McGee was born August 22, 1903, the daughter of Owen and Josephine (Sullivan) McGee. She was raised in the Cresco area. She spent her working years as a secretary for the Congoleum Corporation in Minneapolis. Gladys enjoyed golf, traveling, playing bridge, sewing, reading, and doing charity work.

She is survived by two sisters: Edith Finnegan of Pacific Grover, CA and Bette Schreiner of Lakeville, MN.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters: Irene and Mildred McGee; and four brothers: Eldon, Orin, Neal, and Earl.

Irene Faldet

Funeral services for Irene Faldet of Decorah will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 10 at the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church, rural Decorah with Rev. Norman Bauer of the Calmar Lutheran Church officiating.

Interment will be in the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Cemetery.

Friends may call after 12:00 noon at the church on Thursday afternoon.

Schluter-Balik Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Irene, 82, died Sunday, October 6, 2002 at the Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah following a long illness.

She is survived by one daughter: Lana Oyloe of Decorah; four grandchildren; one brother: Walter Kubik of Harpers Ferry; and one sister: Bernyce Sheetz of New Hartford.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband Arnold in 1993; her parents; two brothers: Frankie and George; and two sisters: Pauline Hovden and Myrtle Olson.

Roy Hopperstad

Funeral services for Roy Hopperstad of Cresco were held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 5 at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco with Rev. Gary Lee officiating.

Interment was in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Cresco. Pallbearers were: Alan Peter, Brian Peter, Wayne Burnikel, Earl Walker, George Schumacher, and Lauren Iverson. Lindstrom Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Roy, 78, died Tuesday, October 1, 2002 at the Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco.

Roy Donald Hopperstad was born November 26, 1923, the son of Fred and Maybelle (Shatzka) Hopperstad at Chance, SD. He attended the rural schools in Perkins County, South Dakota and moved with his family back to Iowa in 1938.

He worked on the family farm north of Cresco with his parents and worked as a hired man for several neighbors.

He moved to the Colonial Manor Rest Home in Elma in April of 1998 following a stroke. In November of 2000 he moved to the Cresco Care Center.

He is survived by one sister: Donna Mae Hughes of Thermopolis, WY.

Roy was preceded in death by her his parents; and one brother: Eldon.

Gary Lilley

Funeral services for Gary Lilley of West Union will be held at 1:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, October 9 at Burnham-Wood Funeral Home in West Union with Rev. Roland Waterman officiating.

Interment will be in Des Moines.

Gary, 62, died Friday, October 4, 2002 at his home in West Union following a heart attack.

Gary Lilley was born June 27, 1940 in Grant City, MO, the son of Clarence and June Lilley. He graduated fro Valley High School in West Des Moines. He also attended Northwest Missouri State College in Mariville, MO and Area II Community College in Ankeny. Gary entered the US Navy on January 8, 1959 to January 4, 1963 and was among one of the first groups of Navy Seals.

On May 2, 1986 he married Lila Mackaben in Des Moines. Gary lived and worked in several areas of the country and moved to West Union nine years ago and worked for Dura Corporation as a Tool and Die maker.

He is survived by his wife Lila; two sons: Craig of Portland, OR and Troy of Greeneville, SC; two daughters: Roxanne Sanders of Beauford, SC and Shannon Lilley of Alta Vista; six step children: Vickie Reave of Grinnell, Melody Hammer of Waukon, Shelley Ridinger of Kalispal, MT, Rhonda Minner of Malcom, Daniel Mielke of Cresco, and Tammy VanderWhal of Paxton, IL; six grandchildren; 17 step grandchildren; two adopted grandchildren; his father; and one brother: Larry of Adel.

Gary was preceded in death by his mother.

Gertrude Vsetecka

Funeral services for Gertrude Vsetecka of Decorah were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 5 at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Decorah with Rev. Msgr. John R. McClean officiating.

Inurnment was in St. Mary's Cemetery in Little Turkey. Fjelstul Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Gertrude, 86, died Tuesday, October 1, 2002 at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah where she as lived since September 2000.

Gertrude Ann Vsetecka was born July 25, 1916 near Jackson Junction, Winneshiek County, the daughter of Frank W. and Stella (Klima) Vsetecka. She attended the rural country school and also the Catholic school. She was confirmed at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville.

Gertrude was a homemaker and farm hand on the family farm until 1961, when she moved, along with her parents to Decorah. She became a member of St. Benedict's Catholic Church. She was employed at different jobs in Decorah, the last 22 years as a nurse's aid at the Aase Haugen Home.

She was an avid reader and loved old time music, white horses, flowers and gardening.

She is survived by one sister: Marcella Vsetecka of Decorah; and two brothers: Raphael of Cresco and Alvin of Lawler.

Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters: Elsie Chihak and Margaret Panos; and four brothers: Marceline, James, Cletus, and Frank.

Alan Fadness

Funeral services for Alan G. Fadness of Decorah will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 11 at the Decorah Lutheran Church with Revs. Philip and Ginny Olson of the Madison Lutheran Church officiating.

Interment will be in the East Madison Lutheran Cemetery, rural Decorah.

Friends may call on Thursday, October 10 from 3:00-8:00 p.m. at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home in Decorah and after 9:30 a.m. at the church on Friday morning.

Alan, 19, died Saturday, October 5, 2002 at the Denver General Hospital in Denver, CO from injuries received in an automobile accident.

He is survived by his parents: Dave and Lynn Fadness of Decorah; one sister: Laura Fadness; one brother: Paul, both at home; grandparents: Gerald and Darla Bakken and Belva Fadness , all of Decorah.

Ronald Krueger

Funeral services for Ronald Krueger were held on Friday, October 4 at First Lutheran Church in Cresco with Rev. Gary Lee officiating.

Interment was in New Oregon Cemetery in rural Cresco. Pallbearers were: Doug Engel, Vincent Hornberger, Jim Langreck, Mitchell Langreck, Johnie Vobr, and Ronald Jungie. Lindstrom Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Ronald, 49, died Wednesday, October 2, 2002 at the Colonial Manor in Elma.

Ronald Lee Krueger was born August 22, 1953 in Cresco, the son of Clarence and Evelyn Krueger. He was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco by Rev. Robert Ahrens. He became a member of First Lutheran Church with his parents in 1967.

Ronald became a client of Comprehensive Systems in 1974. He lived in group homes at Osage, Elma, and New Hampton until being discharged by Comprehensive Systems in 2000. He was then admitted to the Colonial Manor in Elma with Alzheimer's disease.

Ronald was preceded in death by his parents.

Emma Frankhauser

Funeral services for Emma Frankhauser , 86, of Cresco will be held today, Wednesday, October 9 at the Conway Funeral Home in Cresco.

Interment will be in the New Oregon Cemetery in rural Cresco.

She is survived by four children: Darlene Rue of Bloomington, MN, William of Pinellus Park, FL, Corienne Knowles of Edina, MN, and Diana Briske of Rochester, MN; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

                Posted on 10/10/02 by Gene Manning 

Esther Hartogh

Funeral services for Esther Hartogh of Elma were held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 12 at Immaculate Conception Church in Elma with Rev. John Hemann officiating.

Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Riceville. Esther's children placed the pall. Pallbearers were: Mike Thome, John Hartogh, Mark Lamerson, Mike Manning, Dave Manning, and Joe Manning. Conway-Kolbet Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Esther, 93, died Wednesday, October 9, 2002 at Colonial Manor in Elma of natural causes.

Esther Marie Hartogh was born February 23, 1909 at Meyer, the daughter of Nicholas John and Rachael (Goergen) Mueller. She received her schooling in Meyer.

On October 6, 1931 she married J. Michael Hartogh in Meyer. They farmed in the Mitchell County area until retiring in 1974 and moving to Elma.

She was a 4-H leader for 25 years, was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Elma, and an active rosary society member.

She enjoyed 4-H projects, gardening, canning, sewing, and refinishing furniture.

She is survived by six children: Janet Manning of LeMars. Arlene Thome of Waterloo, Leon of Sauk Village, IL, Frances Lamerson of White Lake, MI, Bernard of Elkhart, IN, and Kenneth of Bristol, IN; 26 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; four brothers: Arnold of Sheldon, Paul of Highland Park, IL, Bill of Prescott Valley, AZ, and Reynold of Des Moines; and one sister: Martha Duebner of Arlington Hts, IL.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband J. Michael; her parents; three brothers: Francis, Raymond, and Carl; and two sisters: Rose Durben and Agnes Bees.

Ada Schacht

Memorial services for Ada Schacht of Cresco will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 21 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cresco with Rev. Robert Hupp officiating.

Lindstrom Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Ada, 93, died Sunday, October 13, 2002 at the Cresco Care Center in Cresco.

Ada Schacht was born July 28, 1909 at Alta Vista, the daughter of Ernest and Emma Schulz.

On June 12, 1936 she married Oscar Schacht.

She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. She participated in the church choir, women's church group and Cresco Women's Club. She worked at Brewer's Produce for many years.

She is survived by one daughter: JoAnn Christensen of Davenport; two grandchildren; and one sister: Myra Denner of New Hampton.

Ada was preceded in death by her husband Oscar; her parents; two sisters: Luella Hoppie and Bernice Gardner; and one brother: Harry Schulz.

Price Jones

Funeral services for Price Jones of Lime Springs will be held at 2:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, October 16 at the United Methodist Church in Lime Springs with Rev. Tim Walker officiating.

Interment will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Lime Springs. Lindstrom Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Price, 90, died October 13, 2002 at the Cresco Care Center in Cresco.

Price Jones was born October 24, 1911 in Forest City Township near Foreston, where he resided for 80 years. He is the son of Griff W. and Sarah (Price) Jones. He attended country school before graduating with the class of 1931 from the Lime Springs High School.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Westminster Presbyterian Church and served as Elder and Trustee for many years. After the closing of the Westminster Church he joined the United Methodist Church in Lime Springs.

Price was proud to have been a farmer and always loved his horses, the land, and other animals. He broke his draft horses and was proud of the accomplishments of his pulling team. After the era of the draft horse he had much enjoyment riding his saddle horse "April" on trail rides and celebrations in the area. He also enjoyed the winters he and his sister spent in Arizona.

He is survived by one sister: Adell.

Price was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister: Pearl.

                         Posted by Gene Manning on 10/18/02 

Ruth Bruner

Funeral services for Ruth Bruner of Rochester, MN, formerly of Cresco were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 18 at Notre Dame Parish - Assumption Worship Center in Cresco with Rev. John Barnes officiating.

Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco. Pallbearers were her five brothers and uncle Loren Lienhard. Conway Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Ruth, 52, died October 15, 2002 at the Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Ruth Ann Bateman was born June 26, 1950 in Cresco, the daughter of Walter and Helen (Lienhard) Bateman. She attended the Assumption Grade School and Notre Dame High School graduating in 1968. Following graduation she worked in a dentist office in Ossian.

On August 29, 1970 she married Mark Bisping in the Assumption Church at Cresco. They were the parents of three sons: Matthew, Jason, and Nathan. They were divorced in 1988.

On September 19, 1992 she married William Bruner at the Church of the Resurrection in Rochester, MN, where they have been members.

She was employed by the Mayo Medical Library.

Her hobbies were reading, crafts, and collecting Character Dolls. She worked in the "Y" Day Care Center for several years.

She is survived by her husband William; three sons: Matthew and Nathan, both of St. Cloud, MN, and Jason of Minnetonka, MN; her mother: Helen M. Bateman of Cresco; one sister: Kathryn Bateman of Cedar Rapids; and five brothers: John of Cedar Rapids, Paul of Hubbard, David of West Bend, WI, Thomas of Waterloo, and Steven of Cedar Rapids.

Ruth was preceded in death by her father Walter; grandparents: E.E. and Ella Bateman, and Walter and Ida Lienhard.

Donald Winter

Funeral services for Donald Winter of Mason City were held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16 at Major Erickson Funeral Home in Mason City with Rev. Chris Podhajsky of St. Joseph's Catholic Church officiating.

Inurnment will be held at a later date.

Donald, 66, died Sunday, October 13, 2002 at home.

Donald Joseph Winter was born June 17, 1936 in Waucoma, the son of Louis and Johannah (Balk) Winter. He attended school in Waucoma.

On April 28, 1962 he married Carol J. Junk in St. Lucas. They moved to Mason City in 1971 where Don was farm manager at the Cerro Gordo County Care Facility for 20 years.

They moved to Rochester, MN in 1992, returning to Mason City in 1995. He was currently employed at Shopko as a maintenance supervisor.

He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, enjoyed woodworking, the outdoors, yard work, and watching sports.

He is survived by his wife Carol; two daughters: Dee Ann Rogers of Clear Lake and Lori Myers of Clear Lake; Kyle of Mason City and Kurt of Mason City; three grandchildren; three sisters: Dorothy Holthaus of Cresco, Marie Schissel of Ossian, and Evelyn Schmitt of Waukee; and one brother: Linus of Mt. Auburn.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Leonard, Clarence, and Leo; and four sisters: Agnes Appelman, Veronica Schmitt, Helen Kappas, and Irene Moeller.

Conrad Johnson

Funeral services for Conrad Johnson of Spring Valley were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 21 at the Valley christian Center Assembly of God Church in Spring Valley with Rev. Steve Kuno officiating.

His body will be cremated following church services. Thauwald Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Conrad, 73, died Wednesday, October 16, 2002 at the Ostrander Nursing Home.

Conrad D. Johnson was born April 18, 1929 in Chicago, IL, the son of Conrad and Gladys (Perrin) Johnson. He attended high school in Chicago. He was a mechanic for many years in Palos Heights, IL.

On August 30, 1946 he married Patricia Stephenson in Kahoka, MO. They resided in Palos Heights. They moved to Worth, IL and Conrad sold insurance. In 1963 they moved to Spring Valley and owned and operated the Dairy Queen with his father for several years. After this Conrad worked in the Twin Cities at various jobs. He was involved in the Republican party politics for over 10 years.

He was an avid piano player.

He is survived by his wife Patricia; five sons: Dean of Las Vegas, NV, Douglas of Phoenix, George and Mark, both of Spring Valley, and Gary of Monroe, WI; four daughters: Dale Gehrking of Spring Valley, Dawn Malli of Cresco, Patty Kraft of Lake Havasu City, AZ, and LeeAnn Hungate of Spring Valley; 16 grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two brothers: Paul of Woodbury, MN and Raymon of Shafety Harbor, FL.

Conrad was preceded in death by one son: Stephen; one granddaughter; his parents; one brother: Thomas; and one sister: Elaine in infancy.

Geneva Kuntz

Funeral services for Geneva Kuntz of Minneapolis were held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22 at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco.

Interment was in Ridgeway Cemetery.

Geneva, 93, died Thursday, October 17, 2002.

Geneva Kuntz, the daughter of Charles and Ella (Butz) Beucher, studied for a year at Iowa State Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa before teaching in a small country school.

On September 23, 1931 she married George Kuntz at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They resided on a rural Ridgeway farm for over 50 years . She was an active homemaker, 4-H leader, and church member before retiring to Cresco.

She is survived by two daughters: Janelle Vaubel and Laurel Sellers; one son: Darrell; four grandchildren; step-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

William Goetsch

Funeral services for William Goetsch were held on Saturday, October 19 at the United Methodist Church in Cresco Rev. Lewis Flanigan officiating.

Interment was in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in rural Cresco. Pallbearers were: Leonard Bronner, Larry Walter, Brent Bronner, Jerry Keune, Jonathan Keune, and Robert Easler. Lindstrom Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

William, 73, died Thursday, September 17, 2002 at the Regional Health Services in Cresco.

William Earl Goetsch was born January 26, 1929, the son of William F. and Sylvia (Grabau) Goetsch. He attended Lincoln country school in Albion Township, and graduated from the eighth grade, as he was needed on the family farm in rural Cresco.

The army called him to service in June 1953. He trained at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, then Camp Carson, Colorado, where he specialized in operating a grader and building roads. He also served a year in Germany. He was honorably discharged in May 1955.

On September 7, 1957 he married Darlene Huhe.

He lived on the family farm until 1994, when his son married, then they moved to their home in Lime Springs.

He enjoyed fishing on the Upper Iowa River and driving around with one of his Ford tractors to "scout" the crops and trap gophers.

He enjoyed reading and served for many years on the Cresco Library Board. He was a member of Zion Church in rural Cresco, where he served on the Board of Trustees. He also was a long-time Farm Bureau member, a member of Lime Springs American Legion Post #545 and served on the Republican Central Committee of Howard County.

He is survived by his wife Darlene; his children: Sharyl Keune of rural Cresco, William K. of rural Cresco, and Shirley Miller of Mankato, MN; seven grandchildren; and one sister: Vera Easler of Des Moines.

William was preceded in death by his parents; one sister: Mona Wohlsdorf; and one brother: Lawrence.

                   Posted by Gene Manning on 9/24/02 

James Shane

Funeral services for James Shane of Riceville were held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 29 at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Riceville with Rev. James Shelton officiating.

Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Riceville with Father Ray E. Atwood and Rev. James Shelton administering graveside rites.

James, 22, died Saturday, October 26, 2002 in an automobile accident.

James Robert Shane was born February 1, 1980 in Cresco, the son of Alan Gene and Leesa Jo (Wyatt) Shane. He was a 1998 graduate of Riceville Community High School and was employed at Heim Drywall of Rochester, MN.

He is survived by his mother: Leesa Shane of Riceville; his father: Alan of Riceville; three brothers: Adam of Mason City, Jacob and Jonathon, both of Riceville; one sister: Ashley of Riceville; maternal grandmother: Nancy Wyatt of Osage; maternal grandfather: Pete Wyatt of Riceville; paternal grandmother: Mary Ann Shane of Riceville; maternal great-grandmothers: Lillian McCarthy and Marcella Wyatt, both of Riceville; and paternal great-grandmother: Ruth Shane of Taopi, MN.

James was preceded in death by his grandfather: Robert Shane; maternal great-grandfathers: Thomas McCarthy and Howard Wyatt; paternal great-grandparents: Paul and Anna Mayer; and paternal great-grandfather: Robert Shane, Sr.

Rose Tilkes

Funeral services for Rose Tilkes of North Washington were held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 25 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in North Washington with Rev. John Hemann officiating.

Interment was in St. Mary's Cemetery in North Washington. Rose's eight children placed the pall. Pallbearers were : David Kerkove, Mark Tilkes, Jeff Tilkes, Neal Franzen, Mike Joebgen, and Tony Franzen. Hugeback Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Rose, 94, died Tuesday, October 22, 2002 at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton after a brief illness.

Rose Tilkes was born March 15, 1908 in Chicago, the daughter of Anton and Catherine (Reiss) Wegner. At an early age, the Wegner family moved to the Ionia area where Rose received her education in rural country schools.

On October 12, 1925 she married Joseph Frank Tilkes at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Ionia. They farmed near North Washington. Joseph died on September 23, 1966. Rose continued to live and work on the farm until her death.

Her passion was gardening. Rose also loved the horses, crocheting, and playing cards.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Rosary Society in North Washington.

She is survived by three sons: Vincent of Golden, CO, Lavern of New Hampton, and Greg of Faribault, MN; five daughters: Rosella Kerkove of North Washington, Frances Chapman of New Hampton, Jane Lynch of Lawler, Laurine Whalen of New Hampton, and Darlene Franzen of Lawler; 19 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one sister: Lena Tenge of North Washington; and a half-sister: Anne Rodamaker of Iowa Falls.

Rose was preceded in death by her husband Joseph; one son and daughter in infancy; her parents; three brothers: Frank, Tony, and John; and one sister: Regina Meirick.

Ellen Blagen

Funeral services for Ellen Blagen of Decorah were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 18 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah.

Interment was in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah. Schluter-Balik Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Ellen, 82, died Monday, October 14, 2002 at the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, WI following an extended illness.

Ellen Josephine Blagen was born November 11, 1919 near the Canoe Ridge area, rural Decorah, the daughter of Alfred and Emelia (Istad) Blagen. She was baptized at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church and confirmed by Rev. Hoff at the First Lutheran Church. Ellen attended and graduated from Decorah High School in 1937. She started her telephone career in 1938 as an operator and training instructor with Northwestern Bell. She moved to Milwaukee, WI, working in the traffic dept., returning to Northwestern Bell in 1946 as an operator in Calmar and later moved back to Decorah.

She married Curt Severson in 1946, and later divorced. In 1955, she moved to Independence as an assistant chief operator. Due to an illness in her family, Ellen returned to Decorah working until the office closed in 1977, and then transferred to Rochester, MN, working the next five years, retiring in 1982 with 43 years of service. She moved back to Decorah, where she lived with her sister Melba.

Ellen was a member of the First Lutheran Church, enjoyed music and bowled on a bowling league.

She entertained in pantomime at various clubs and organizations and was one cast of the original Nordic Fest Humor Show and Music Festival at the Theater.

Ellen was preceded in death by her parents; one brother: Nathan; and one sister: Melba Selland.

                     Posted by Gene Manning on 10/31 /02