Charles Stark

Funeral services for Charles Herman "Chuck" Stark, 71, of Austin, Minnesota, who died at his home on Monday, August 4, 2003, will be held Friday, August 8, 2003, at Grace Lutheran Church in Austin with the Rev. Harold Deye officiating.

Charles was born April 30, 1932, to Charles Carl and Sylvia "Micky" (Freese) Stark in St. Charles, Minnesota. He attended schools and served in the US Army from 1949 until 1952 during the Korean War, a member of the Charlie Company. After his discharge, he returned to Austin where he married Donna Tuinder on April 11, 1953, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

He hauled milk for Marigold Dairy and with his brother, Ed, owned the Deep Rock Stations on the East Side and on Highway 218 south of Austin and Mobil Station until January, 1965. After leaving the oil business, he worked for Minnesota Department of Transportation, retiring in 1994. From 1974 until 1989 he lived in Lyle and then moved back to Austin. He was a member of the Lyle Fire Department for 13 years, the Elks, Eagles, Moose and American Legion Post 105. He enjoyed traveling and lived in Apache Junction, Arizona during the winters.

Charles is survived by his children: Don (Sandra) Start of Boston, Massachusetts Debbie (Randy) Berg of Austin; Dale (Stephanie) Stark of Oakland; seven grandchildren; fiancée, Donna Meyer of Austin; his dog, Friday; sister, G. Larrie (Jerry) Montgomery of Austin; brother Ed "Red" (Sandy Mogen) Stark of Stacyville; step daughter Jody Meyer of Austin.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jacob "Jack" Stark.

Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery with military rites by Lyle American Legion Post 105.

Elder Dutte

Funeral services for Elder Dutte, 85, of St. Ansgar, who died July 30, 2003 at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center, were held on Saturday, August 2 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Toeterville, with Rev. Dr. Elaine Siemsen officiating.

Elder was born March 26, 1918, in Mitchell County, Iowa, the son of Louis and Josephine (Bartz) Dutte. He was baptized at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Toeterville. He received his education at Drown School in Toeterville. On April 8, 1945, he married Dorothy Wolff at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle, Minnesota. They farmed near St. Ansgar for 25 years before moving to St. Ansgar. He worked for H.L. McKinley and Sons for 23 years.

Elder is survived by one sister, Lynette Brown of St…

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Joseph Follmuth

Funeral services for Joseph Albert Follmuth, 71, of St. Ansgar, who died Thursday, July 31 at Methodist Hospital, in Rochester, were held Sunday, August 3, 2003, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Lyle, with the Rev. Barbara Finley-Shea officiating.

Joseph was born July 24, 1932, to Joseph A. and Marie (Hanson) Follmuth in Mitchell County, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Joe attended Lyle Public Schools, graduating in 1950. He served in the United States Army from 1953 until he was honorably discharged in 1955 as a Sergeant at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. On June 5, 1955, he was united in marriage to Marlys Johnson at Mona Lutheran Church, Mona, Iowa. They lived and farmed in rural St. Ansgar all their lives. Joe was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Lyle, Minnesota, and of the American Legion Post 105. He was a dairy and grain farmer all his life. A member of the Pleasant Hill Cemetery board, his greatest joy was his crops, his cows and spending time with his family. He also enjoyed playing pool with his buddies.

Joseph is survived by this wife, Marlys of St. Ansgar; four daughters, Kathie (Dave) Dahl of Lyle; Arlene (Kevin) Myhre of St. Ansgar; Gloria  (Dick) Reding of Osage; Joy (Doug) Salz of St…

(Note: obituary is not complete)

Updated by Chuck Prickett 03/22/2004

Cassandra Pettey Fricke

Funeral services for Cassandra L. "Cassie" Pettey Fricke, 12, who died Tuesday, August 5, 2003, was held on Saturday, August 9 at Immanuel Lutheran Church with the Rev. Byron North-wick officiating.

Cassie was born on June 6, 1991. She grew to be a very special outgoing young lady and a joy to all who were blessed to know her. Cassie loved shopping, swimming, doing arts and crafts, singing karaoke and going to Girl Scout camp. She loved working on the farm, fishing, and all kinds of animals. She wanted to be a veterinarian someday.

Cassie, or "peanut" as she was nicknamed by her dad, enjoyed going to church and helping out. She had finished her first year of confirmation at Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar.

Cassie is survived by her parents, Julie and Gary Fricke and brothers, Joshua and Christopher Johnson, at home; maternal grandparents Bill and Kathy Jackson and maternal great grandparents, Eleanor Jackson and Kenneth Miller, all of Mason City; paternal grandfather, Norbert Fricke of Millville, Minnesota; aunts and uncles: David Fricke and wife Jackie of Forest Lake, Minnesota; Gayle Fricke of Zurnbro Falls, Minnesota; Dawn Unez and husband Gary of Oregon; James Jackson and wife Rachel of Plymouth; Jodie Fink and husband Jim of Rockford; Greg Bradbury and wife Stacey of Mason City; Tim Bradbury and wife Bonnie of Nora Springs; and Lynn Martindale and husband Jim of Glendora, California; many cousins, great aunts and uncles and friends.

She was preceded in death by her great grandma, Lots Miller, and her grandma Ardith Fricke.

Burial was in the St. Ansgar Cemetery.

William R. Matthews

Funeral services for William R. Matthews, 83, of St. Ansgar, who died on August 8, 2003, at Mitchell County Regional Health Center, Osage, were held Monday, August 11 at First Christian Church, Hampton, Iowa, with Rev. Joe Jones officiating.

William Matthews was born on February 5, 1920 in Middletown Springs, Vermont, the son of Lawrence W. and Ethel (Adams) Matthews. He graduated from Rutland Vermont High School in the class of 1937. He attended the University of Vermont for one year before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1940. He served in the Medical Corps and transferred to the Signal Corps, being stationed for three years in London, England, as a specialist sergeant in cryptography. He followed the invasion into the continent with duties of monitoring enemy communications. After WWII, Bill graduated with a BA degree from the University of Vermont. He settled in St. Ansgar in 1950 and was employed by the St. Ansgar Enterprise until his retirement in 1985. He married Jean A. McNie, also of St. Ansgar, on July 29, 1961. He was a 50 year member of the St. Ansgar Lions Club, and a 50 year member of the American Legion. Bill served on the St. Ansgar Library Board, County Care Facility Board, Maple Manor Board, was a Board Director at the Good Samaritan Center. He was an avid reader.

William Matthews is survived by his wife, Jean of St. Ansgar; a sister, Bobbie Bryant of Needham, MA; a brother, Lawrence Matthews of Des Moines.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.

Burial was in the Hampton Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent directed to the St. Ansgar Lions Club for their Sight Saving Project.

Updated by Chuck Prickett 03/22/2004

(Note: no obituaries published August 23, 2003)

Gwendolyn Pike

Funeral services for Gwendolyn Irene Pike, 96, of St. Ansgar, who died August 25, 2003, at the Good Samaritan Center, St. Ansgar, will be held on Friday, August 29, 2003 at St. Ansgar Baptist Church with Rev. Gary Gonnerman and Rev. James Goodhue officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar.

Gwendolyn was born on April 14, 1907 in Otranto Township, Mitchell County, Iowa, to Elmer L. and Ethel (Van Camp) Wilder. She married Archie Pike on November 7, 1925, in Austin, Minnesota. She liked gardening, started crocheting at the age of 76 and did doilies for all her children and grandchildren. She spent 62 years on the family farm. Gwendolyn was a lifelong member of the Otranto Community Church, was a member of the Ladies Aid and of the Garden Club. She also raised sheep.

Gwendolyn is survived by seven daughters: Georgia Lindley of La Porte City, Iowa; Barbara Leraaen (Oral) of St. Ansgar; Mary Kittleson (Edward) of Greene; Audrey Goodew (Carroll) of Lewisburg, N.C.; Frances Milne (John) of Waterloo; Sandra Keith (Roger) of Algona; Gwendolyn Eileen Helfter (James) of Sherrard, Illinois; 41 grandchildren; 100+ great grandchildren; 25+ great great grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Dorothy Naber of Mason City; Alice Olson of Northwood; Thelma Delaney of Austin, Minnesota.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband in 1983, daughter, Dawn McCormack, three brothers, two sisters, three grandchildren, three sons-in-law.

Burial will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery, St. Ansgar.

Updated by Chuck Prickett 03/22/2004