Waldo B. Holstad
April 8, 2003
Waldo B. Holstad,
77, Forest Lake, Minnesota, died
suddenly on Thursday, April 3,
2003, at the Hennepin County
Medical Center in Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
Funeral services
were held on Monday, at the
Faith Lutheran Church, Forest
Lake, Minnesota, with Rev. Phil
Petterson officiating and at the
Sion Lutheran Church, rural Lake
Mills, with Rev. Tom Hagen and
Rev. Lynn Gore officiating.
Burial was in the Sion Church
Cemetery.
Waldo B. Holstad,
was born in his parents farm
home in Brookfield Township,
Worth County, rural Northwood,
Iowa. He was born on December
21, 1925, the son of Otto and
Margaret (Storey) Holstad. He
was baptized into the Christian
faith on January 17, 1926, at
the Sion Lutheran Church, rural
Lake Mills and confirmed his
faith on October 6, 1940 also at
Sion. Waldo grew up in the
Northwood area attending rural
schools. He graduated in 1944
from the Kensett High School.
During 1945 and 1946, Waldo
served in the Army in the
Pacific Theatre.
On August 17,
1947, Waldo married LaVonne
(Belville) at the Sion Lutheran
Church Parsonage. Waldo and
LaVonne farmed for 12 years in
the Brookfield Township area of
Worth County. In 1960 Waldo and
LaVonne moved to Los Angeles,
California, where he began work
for the United States Postal
Service. In 1966, Waldo and
LaVonne moved back to White Bear
Lake, Minnesota. Waldo continued
to work for the postal service
until he retired after 32 years
of service.
He was a member
of the Faith Lutheran Church in
Forest Lake, Minnesota. He
enjoyed working with his Belgian
horses. He was an avid fan of
auctions and loved to bring home
treasures of all kinds. Waldo
enjoyed visiting with friends
and strangers alike at these
auctions. He had an incredible
memory for people and events
form the past. He remembered
people and family relationships
and not just his own family, but
all the family relationships
within the Northwood and Lake
Mills areas. Waldo enjoyed being
with and talking about his
family.
He was preceded
in death by his parents, Otto in
1978 and Margaret in 1985; and
his brother, Orin Holstad in
1981.
Survivors include
his wife, LaVonne Holstad of
Forest Lake, Minnesota; three
children, Linda and her husband,
Rev. Lynn Groe of Waukon, Iowa,
Wayne and his wife, Julie
Holstad of Dellwood, Minnesota
and Joel and his wife, Jody
Holstad of Forest Lake,
Minnesota; eight grandchildren;
two brothers, Arden and his
wife, Lois Holstad of Tucson,
Arizona and Richard and his
wife, Helen Holstad of
Northwood; a sister-in-law, Mary
Lou Holstad of Clear Lake; and
many other family and friends.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
|
Marilyn J. Hillman
April 15, 2003
Marilyn J.
Hillman, 51, of Albert Lea, died
on Thursday, April 3, 2003.
A celebration of
life was held on Saturday, at
the Albert Lea Senior High
School Auditorium. The Rev.
Curtis Zieske officiated.
Interment was in the Graceland
Cemetery.
Marilyn Joan
Hillman, was born on February
11, 1952, to Martin Richard
"Dick" and Mavis Caroline
(Grosland) Nelson in Albert Lea.
She was a life-long resident of
Albert Lea and was a member of
the Trinity Lutheran Church.
Marilyn graduated from the
Albert Lea High School and
attended Mankato State College,
receiving a Bachelor of Science
Degree Cum Laude in Elementary
Education with minors in Library
Science and Special Education.
She continued her education at
Mankato State and earned her
Master of Science Degree as a
Media Specialist and attended
additional graduate classes. On
July 16, 1977, Marilyn married
Gary Lee Hillman at the Trinity
Lutheran Church.
Her life revolved
around her family and spending
time with them. She was wife and
mother first but then so much
more, a hockey and soccer mom.
Marilyn loved riding around in
her Corvette, boating, her pets,
gardening and the Friday nights
at Casa Zamora.
Survivors include
her husband, Gary; children,
Peter, David and Laura Hillman;
brother, Merlyn and wife, Mary
Nelson and family: Jenny (Mark)
Nelson, Jason and Daniel Nelson,
Wendy Carlsen, and Anne (Brian)
Egeness; sister, Mary and
husband, Gary Loewenberg and
family: Jeremy (Diane), James
(Kara), Jens, Jay and Jon
Loewenberg; parents, Martin
(Dick) and Mavis Nelson;
sister-in-law, Sandy Johnson and
family: Melissa (Kenneth) Smith,
Matthew (Nicole) Johnson, and
Molly Wallin; and many students,
former students, friends and
relatives.
Marilyn was
preceded in death by her
daughter, Randee Kim Bogue;
grandparents, Oscar and Inah
Grosland and J. P. and Minnie
Nelson; mother and
fathers-in-law, Delores E.
Hillman Eulberg, Robert Hillman
and Don Eulberg.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
|
Thomas T. Speltz
April 15, 2003
Thomas T. Speltz,
74, died on Sunday, April 6,
2003, in St. Petersburg,
Florida.
Funeral services
were held on Wednesday, at St.
Theodore Catholic Church. The
Rev. Robert Schneider
officiated.
Tom was born on
June 10, 1928 in Albert Lea, to
Ralph and Marie Speltz. He
married Jean Donovan on May 31,
1952. After her death in 1989,
he married Celeste MacAllister
on May 6, 1991. This year marked
Tom’s 50th year in the grain
business. Speltz Elevators was
established in 1901 by his
grandfather and uncle, Theodore
and Arthur Speltz. Tom joined
his father, Ralph in the
business in 1953 following
military service. He helped
bring many agricultural
innovations to southern
Minnesota, including grain
dryers, agricultural chemicals
and fertilizers, and unit grain
trains. A long-time member of
the Northwest Agridealers
Assoc., he served as President
from 1986 to 1988, spreading
these innovations across the
upper Midwest.
Survivors include
his wife, Celeste; son, John and
wife, Barbara of Minneapolis;
daughters, Ann and husband, Paul
Hoedeman of Atlanta, Sue and
husband, Steve Rice of St.
Cloud, Mary and husband, Tim
Carroll of St. Paul and Katie
and husband, Ryan Lynch of
Hudson, Wisconsin; 13
grandchildren; and a sister,
Jean Shea Brenner of Albert Lea.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
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Einer M. Lunde
April 15, 2003
 Einer
M. Lunde, 63, of Northwood, died
on Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at
the Muse Norris Hospice
Inpatient Unit in Mason City, of
pancreatic cancer.
Funeral services
were held on Friday, at the
First Lutheran Church in
Northwood, with the Rev. Paul
Holmer officiating. Burial was
in the State Line Cemetery in
Northwood. The Schroeder & Sites
Funeral Home, Northwood, was in
charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the Muse Norris Hospice
or the Northwood Fire & Rescue
Department.
Einer was born on
May 6, 1939, near Wanamingo,
Minnesota, the son of Einar and
Mabel (Trelstad) Lunde. He
attended Wanamingo Schools, then
Waldorf College, where he met
Sharyl Buchanan. They were
married on August 28, 1959, in
Gordonsville, Minnesota and
resided in Rochester, Minnesota
until 1966. At the time of his
death, Einer was Executive
Director of the Winnebago, Worth
Counties Betterment Council,
responsible for expanding
economic opportunities in the
region. Prior to this position,
Einer had worked for 12 years as
a consultant for housing
rehabilitation programs in many
parts of Iowa and as a housing
inspector for the North Iowa
Council of Governments. He had
also been employed as CEO of
Northwood Sunrooms from
1988-1992 and B & K Lumber from
1966 to 1987.
Einer had a
long-standing involvement in
community development. He was a
founding member of the Viking
Industrial Park Board in
Northwood and served as a member
of the Northwood Development
Corporation. Einer was President
of the I-35/105 Welcome Center
Inc. and was instrumental in the
establishment of the Top of Iowa
Welcome Center. Other board
memberships included Secretary
of the Mental Health Center of
North Iowa, Chair of the Top of
Iowa Regional Coordinating
Council, Chair of NIACOG and
Chairman of the North Central
Municipal League. Einer's
devotion to community was also
evidenced by his serving as
Mayor of Northwood for eight
years, council member for 12
years and 23 years of service on
the volunteer fire department.
He was recognized in 1986 as
Northwood's Outstanding Citizen
and in 1982 for outstanding
community service. Throughout
the years he was a member of the
Jaycees, Lions Club, and served
as a Boy Scout Leader. Since
moving to Northwood in 1966,
Einer was a member of the First
Lutheran Church where he served
as a Sunday School Teacher,
youth group leader and a
longtime member of the Choir.
He was preceded
in death by his parents.
He is survived by
his wife, Sharyl; sons, Joel
Lunde and his wife, Carol of Des
Moines, Jeff Lunde and his wife,
Angie of Rochester, Minnesota
and Kirk Lunde and his wife,
Regina of Asheville, North
Carolina; a daughter, Angela
Lunde of Atlanta, Georgia; a
brother, Burnell Lunde and his
wife, Pat of Wanamingo,
Minnesota; in addition to six
grandchildren; and numerous
nieces and nephews.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
|
Community Leaders Praise
Lunde’s Legacy
April 15, 2003
 Einer
Lunde, one of the
driving forces behind
Northwood ndustrial
development and civic
improvement over the
past three decades, died
last Tuesday morning at
the Muse Norris Hospice
Inpatient Unit in Mason
City, following a
four-month battle with
pancreatic cancer. He
was 63. According to
other community leaders,
Lunde's death creates a
void that will be felt
for years, not just in
Northwood, but across
North Iowa.
Lunde
served 12 years (1971 -
82) on the Northwood
city council and eight
years (1983 - 91) as the
city's mayor. In that 20
year span, Lunde played
the leading role in
bringing four new
industries to town and
in laying the groundwork
for major infrastructure
projects such as the
Main Street Improvement
Project, the north and
south storm sewer trunk
lines, the paving of
Enterprise Drive in
Viking Industrial Park
and 15th Street South.
Lunde was named
executive director of
Win-Worth Betco in
December and learned he
had inoperable cancer
shortly after that. But
in his four months on
the job, he worked to
solidify Iowa Ethanol's
plan to build an ethanol
plant in Hanlontown and
persuaded Woodharbor
Molding and Millwork to
expand into the former
Fieldstone Cabinetry
building in Northwood.
Several
past and current civic
and industrial
development leaders here
reminisced with The
Northwood Anchor
recently about Lunde's
legacy in Northwood. "I
think it's safe to say
we wouldn't have the
Viking Industrial Park
or the new sewage
treatment plant if it
wasn't for Einer," said
Bud Kragenbrink, who
brought Lunde here in
1966 when he hired him
and put him in charge of
B&K Lumber's home and
apartment construction
projects. "Einer, Kary
Paulson and Lunde, Chuck
Stock were the
motivating forces in
bringing Fieldstone
Cabinetry to Northwood
in the early 1980s, and
it's obvious we've had
considerable growth in
the industrial park
since then, with ADA
Enterprises and Grand
Central. "I don't think
there's a big enough
'thank you' for what he
did for this community.
This is probably one of
the most significant
losses Northwood has
ever experienced. It
really is."
Stock
echoed Kragenbrink's
sentiment. "We've lost a
very valuable
individual," he said. "I
can't remember meeting
any other man as
knowledgeable on
economic and industrial
development as Einer
Lunde." Paulson cited
Lunde's grant and
loan-writing abilities.
"I know of no other
layman who had Einer's
ability to write grants
and loans for small
manufacturers and
businesses," Paulson
said. "I just called him
Northwood's private
consultant. His loss
will be felt. It's not
that we can't go
forward, but it will be
more difficult without
his knowledge and
expertise. He generated
millions of dollars of
grants and loans for
industries in Northwood
alone."
True
Value Hardware owner
Terry Steinmetz
remembered the role
Lunde played in the main
street project and the
city's housing incentive
program. "He was
probably the primary
pusher for the main
street project,"
Steinmetz said. "Another
thing he was interested
in promoting was housing
and I'm sure it was his
idea to create a $3,500
grant to anyone who was
building a new home. I
don't know if that
particular program was
used to the greatest
extent, but it later
became the basis for a
larger housing incentive
program."
According
to Northwood mayor Bob
Perry, who sat on the
city council during the
'80s, Lunde's knowledge
of the financial process
saved the city a lot of
money. "When Einer was
mayor back in the '80s,
a phone call came in
that we had a special
meeting at 4 p.m.,"
Perry recalled. "I got
there and the Farmers
Home Administration was
in some financial
trouble and was buying
back bonds, discounting
them by 25 cents on the
dollar, so Einer, with
the council's approval,
made a deal that saved
Northwood about a
half-million dollars,
and nobody ever knew
that because Einer never
said squat about it to
anyone outside the city
government."
Northwood
Development Corporation
president Doug
Fallgatter recalled how
Lunde developed some of
the city's earliest
promotional brochures.
"When I was on the Job
Training Partnership Act
Board, they had some
money available for job
training for communities
and I told Einer about
it and he said maybe we
need a community
brochure and we got a
really nice one with
those funds and a
promotional video too,"
Fallgatter said. "Einer
had the foresight to use
that federal money for
the benefit of
Northwood."
Bill
Douglass of Bolton &
Menk consulting
engineers worked with
Lunde on numerous
projects here. "Einer's
greatest capability was
finding where there was
money available and
securing that outside
money for the betterment
of Northwood," Douglass
said. "He was an
excellent person to work
with. I'm going to miss
him because he was adept
at figuring out what the
key issues on any
project would be right
off the bat and he was
able to address those
issues to please the
largest number of
people. He was so
knowledgeable he could
have gone off and become
a city administrator for
any larger town. He was
that for Northwood and
he was unpaid for it. I
can't say enough good
things about Einer. I
learned a lot from him."
Perry called Lunde's
death "A tremendous loss
of a friend as well, as
(KGLO radio announcer)
Tim Renshaw put it, a
community icon. "I think
back on all the mayors
Northwood has had in the
40 years I've been
here," Perry said, "and
I'd have to say he's
done more for Northwood
than any other mayor in
that span."
Northwood
attorney Doug Krull
remembered Lunde's
professionalism. "When I
moved to Northwood,
Einer was at the head of
what was the greatest
era of progress in
Northwood in the 20th
century," Krull said,
"and I saw him weather
criticism and
misunderstanding with a
level of grace and
professionalism, keeping
a positive attitude and
a keen desire to better
the community in which
he lived." Lunde's full
obituary appears on Page
9 of this week's Anchor.
© Northwood Anchor 2003
|
|
Jeffrey Scott Lehman
May 20, 2003
Jeffrey Scott
Lehman, 44, of Webster City,
died on Friday, April 11, 2003,
at the Iowa Methodist Medical
Center in Des Moines of ALS -
Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Funeral services
were held at the Trinity
Lutheran Church, with Revs. John
Grebner and Doug Tiffany
officiating.
Jeffrey Scott
Lehman, son of Harley and Esther
Olson Lehman, Jr., was born on
December 27, 1958 at Britt,
Iowa. The family lived at
Titonka at the time and in 1963
moved to New Hampton, where they
lived for four years. In 1967,
the family moved to Webster
City. He received is education
in the Webster City schools and
graduated from the Webster City
High School in 1977. He attended
Iowa Central Community College
for two years, University of
Northern Iowa for one year and
graduated from Iowa State
University in 1982 with a degree
in Accounting. He was employed
at Nissens Meat Processing at
Webster City, prior to
relocating to Sarasota, Florida
in 1983. While in Florida, he
was employed as an apprentice
accountant for the Wellcraft
Boat Co. and later transferred
to Winn-Dixie Grocery
Warehouses. He returned to
Webster City in 1993 due to his
illness. Prior to a
hospitalization on March 6, he
had been living at the USA
Healthcare Nursing Home at
Urbandale since September 2002.
Jeffrey loved
life, lived it to the fullest
and had many and varied
interests. During high school,
he was active in football, band
and baseball. After high school,
he participated in the Emerald
Knights and Silver Spectrum Drum
and Bugle Corps. He was an avid
fisherman and loved to canoe the
Boone river. While he was ill,
he maintained an interest in car
racing, cooking, sports and
reading and was able to begin
the restoration of two old cars.
He lived long enough to know
several of this nieces and
nephews and loved planning for
family gatherings.
Jeffrey is
survived by his mother; brother
and sister-in-law, Rodney and
Heidi Lehman of Dallas, Texas;
sisters and brothers-in-law,
Diane and Andrew Clause of West
Des Moines, Valerie and Richard
Rickert of Beach Park, Illinois
and Kristin and Don McKee of
Webster City; nieces and
nephews, Katherine, Willis and
Evan Claude Harleigh and Kyra
McKee and Brady Lehman.
He was preceded
in death by his farther, Harley
Lehman, Jr.; grandparents, Oscar
and Mildred Olson and Harley and
Esther Lehman, Sr.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
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Olaf Arthur Thompson
April 15, 2003
 Olaf
Arthur Thompson, 85, of
Northwood, died on Saturday,
April 12, 2003, at the Mercy
Medical Center-North Iowa in
Mason City.
Funeral services
were held on Wednesday, at the
First Shell Rock Lutheran
Church, with Rev. Karl Hermanson
officiating. Burial was in the
Sunset Rest Cemetery in
Northwood. The Conner Colonial
Chapel, Northwood, was in charge
of the arrangements. The family
of Olaf Arthur Thompson has
requested that memorial
contributions be made to the
First Shell Rock Lutheran Church
Handicap Accessible Fund, which
will be established at the
church by the family in his
memory.
Olaf Arthur
Thompson, was born on June 7,
1917 in Mona, Iowa in Mitchell
County, the son of John G. and
Clara (Stromley) Thompson. He
was baptized in Mona and
reaffirmed his faith through
confirmation in the First Shell
Rock Lutheran Church in the
Norwegian language. He attended
and received his education in
the Otranto School System. He
married Wilma (Gentz) on
November 25, 1937, at the First
Lutheran Church Parsonage in
Northwood. Olaf farmed in the
Northwood and Crystal Lake, Iowa
areas for 35 years before his
retirement.
He enjoyed
dancing, playing cards,
gardening, flowers, and reading.
He was a member of the First
Shell Rock Lutheran Church in
Northwood.
Left to cherish
his memory are his wife, Wilma
Thompson of Northwood; five
children, Carol Ann Nehman and
her husband, Darvin of Fonda,
Iowa, Marvin Thompson and his
wife, Diane of Sparta,
Wisconsin, Dennis Thompson and
his wife, Donna of Glenville,
Minnesota, Dale Thompson of
Northwood and Calvin Thompson
and his wife, Sandra of Osage;
15 grandchildren; 22
great-grandchildren; a sister,
Caroline Gentz of Northwood; as
well as other relatives and
friends.
He was preceded
in death by his parents; a
daughter, Gladys Lorraine
Thompson; three grandsons,
Brandon Thompson, Brian and
Shaun Nehman;
great-granddaughter, Madison
Nehman; and two brothers,
Francis and Gerhard Thompson.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
|
Nethalie M. Fuller
April 22, 2003
Nethalie M.
Fuller, 80, formerly an Arpin
and Pittsville, Wisconsin area
resident, died on Saturday,
April 12, 2003, at the Bethel
Center in Arpin.
Private memorial
services were held on Thursday,
at the Rembs/Kundinger Chapel,
with the Rev. Michael Schelble
officiating. Burial was in the
Gate of Heaven Cemetery in
Marshfield.
Nethalie was born
on August 21, 1922, to the late
Burton and Florence (Goyette)
Peltier in Shoreham, Vermont.
She attended the Shoreham area
school and married Ernest S.
Fuller Sr. on June 28, 1943 in
Shoreham. He died on December
10, 1994. After their marriage,
the Fullers farmed in Vermont.
They moved to Wisconsin in May
1968, where they farmed in the
Arpin area and later in the
Pittsville area until
retirement.
Survivors include
four sons, Ernest S. (Mary)
Fuller, Jr. of Arpin, John
(Linda) Fuller of Mosinee, Gary
(Tammy) Fuller of Pittsville and
Seth (Cheryl) Fuller of Fort
Hauchuca, Arizona; seven
daughters, Dawn (Wayne) Finley
of Northwood, Diana (Tom)
Kundinger of Auburndale, Debbie
(Charlie) Triplat of Pittsville,
Juanita (Mike) Varsho of Arpin,
Vanessa (Jim) Bugman of Pine
Island, Minnesota, Vicki (Steve)
Varsho of Hewitt and Ernestine
(Frank) Neve of Port Edwards; 28
grandchildren; 14
great-grandchildren; and several
brothers and sisters in the
Vermont area.
Besides her
husband, she was preceded in
death by two grandchildren; and
one great-grandchild.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
|
Lee A. Holstad
April 22, 2003
Lee A. Holstad,
58, of Albert Lea, died on
Monday, April 14, 2003, at his
home in Albert Lea.
Funeral services
were held on Friday, at the Our
Savior’s Lutheran Church in
Albert Lea. The Rev. Wayne
Halvorson officiated. Interment
was in the Somber Lutheran
Cemetery, rural Northwood.
Lee Adrian
Holstad, was born on July 4,
1944, to Odis and Lillian
(Miller) Holstad in Albert Lea.
The family lived in Northwood,
where Lee attended school and
graduated from the
Northwood-Kensett High School.
He also attended the North Iowa
Area Community College for two
years. Lee was employed at
Streater before serving in the
United States Army. On December
27, 1967, he married Linda
Tasker at the Somber Lutheran
Church. After being discharged
from the service, Lee returned
to Streater, where he worked as
a truck driver before retiring
in 2000 after 38 years because
of poor health. He was a member
of the Somber Lutheran Church.
Survivors include
his wife, Linda; daughters,
Adrienne Holstad and Chris
Benson of Rochester and Andria
Holstad and fiancée, Matthew
Baas of Clarks Grove; mother,
Lillian Holstad of Northwood;
sisters, LaDonna Holstad and
Marlene Holstad and brother,
Dale and wife, Laura Holstad,
all of Northwood; two
granddaughters; and several
cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded
in death by his father, Odis;
and a son, Scott Holstad.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
|
Mike L. Smeby
April 22, 2003
 Mike
L. Smeby, 39 of Joice, Iowa,
died on Monday, April 14, 2003,
at the Muse Norris Hospice Unit
in Mason City.
Funeral services
were held on Friday, at the
Salem Lutheran Church in Lake
Mills, with Pastor Bill Peters
officiating. Burial was in the
Concordia Cemetery in rural
Joice.
Mike Leroy Smeby,
was born on August 28, 1963 in
Forest City, Iowa, the son of
Royden and Verna (Jaspersen)
Smeby. Mike was baptized and
confirmed at the Bethany
Lutheran Church in Joice, Iowa.
He attended grade school and
high school in Lake Mills and
graduated with the “Class Of
1981”. Mike was an actively
involved with the Lake Mills
Community Schools all of his
life, assisting with coaching,
open gym and many other
activities.
Mike was a member
of the Bethany Lutheran Church
where he taught Sunday School
and was a beautiful voice on the
Praise & Worship Team.
He is survived by
his loving parents, Royden and
Verna (Jaspersen) Smeby of
Joice; two sisters, Cheryl and
her husband, David Schulte of La
Crescent, Minnesota and Brenda
Smeby and her partner, Patrick
Hagan of Minneapolis, Minnesota;
one brother, Mark and his wife,
Lori Smeby of Joice; two nieces,
Kristy Schulte and Joa Smeby;
three nephews, Greg and Daniel
Schulte and Brandon Smeby; along
with many aunts, uncles, cousins
and friends too numerous to
list.
Mike was preceded
in death by an infant sister,
Janyce in 1956; and his
grandparents.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
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Wilma Mae Thompson
April 22, 2003
 Wilma
Mae Thompson, 84, of Northwood,
died on Wednesday, April 16,
2003, at her home.
Funeral services
were held on Tuesday, at the
First Shell Rock Lutheran
Church, Northwood, with Rev.
Karl Hermanson officiating.
Burial was in the Sunset Rest
Cemetery in Northwood. The
Conner Colonial Chapel,
Northwood, was in charge of the
arrangements.
Wilma Mae
Thompson, was born in rural
Mitchell County, Iowa on July 8,
1918 near Meltonville, the
daughter of William Gentz, Sr.
and Mathilda (Hanson) Gentz. She
was baptized at her parent's
home in rural Northwood and
reaffirmed the faith of her
baptism through confirmation in
the First Lutheran Church in
Northwood. She attended and
received her education in the
Otranto and rural Northwood
School System. She married Olaf
Arthur Thompson on November 25,
1937, at the First Lutheran
Church Parsonage in Northwood.
He preceded her in death on
April 12, 2003. After their
marriage together they farmed in
the Northwood and Crystal Lake,
Iowa areas for 35 years, before
their retirement. Wilma also
worked as a cook for various
restaurants in the north Iowa
area before going to work for
Fleet Guard Incorporated in Lake
Mills.
She enjoyed
dancing, playing cards, and
going to family gatherings, but
her great love and enjoyment was
her family. She was a member of
the First Shell Rock Lutheran
Church in Northwood.
Left to cherish
her memory are her children,
Carol Ann Nehman and her
husband, Darvin of Fonda, Iowa,
Marvin Thompson and his wife,
Diane of Sparta, Wisconsin,
Dennis Thompson and his wife,
Donna of Glenville, Minnesota,
Dale Thompson of Northwood and
Calvin Thompson and his wife,
Sandra of Osage; 15
grandchildren; 22
great-grandchildren; two
brothers, Raymond Gentz and his
wife, Dorothy of Northwood and
William Gentz, Jr. and his wife,
Esther of Northwood; a sister,
Dorothy Low of Northwood; a
sister-in-law, Caroline Gentz of
Northwood; as well as other
relatives and friends.
She was preceded
in death by her parents;
husband, Olaf Thompson; a
daughter, Gladys Lorraine
Thompson; three grandsons,
Brandon Thompson, Brian and
Shaun Nehman;
great-granddaughter, Madison
Nehman; and two brothers, Roy
and Art Gentz; and a sister,
Florence Bottleman.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
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Lemoyne Ellsworth Ellingson
April 22, 2003
 Lemoyne
Ellsworth Ellingson, 77, died on
Thursday, April 17, 2003, at the
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa,
Mason City, Iowa.
Memorial service and Celebration
of his Life will be held at the
Elks Club, Albert Lea,
Minnesota, on Saturday, April
26, at 10:30 a.m. Lunch will
follow.
Lem was born at
home on the farm one mile west
of Northwood, on April 24, 1925,
the fifth child of John B.
Ellingson and Barbra O.
(Espedokken) Ellingson, He
graduated from the Northwood
High School in 1943. While a
senior, he enlisted in the Navy
V-5 Program, and learned to fly
in open-cockpit planes in the
winter at Glenview, Illinois.
Serving as a Naval aviator, he
flew off aircraft carriers in
the Pacific theater and taught
many Navy pilots to fly. He was
in the first jet training unit
the Navy had; JTU-1. He learned
to fly the F-80 Shooting Star.
It was a single-place airplane,
so when the student went up for
the first time, he was alone.
Lem then taught other Navy
pilots to fly this airplane. He
was honorably discharged as a
Lieutenant in 1950 and returned
to Northwood to farm. He married
Jean Alice Taylor, and they have
two daughters, Pamela Wallace
and Kimberly Kotur and three
grandsons, Ted Koerselman,
Daniel and Michael Kotur.
Lem loved to
farm, and always marveled at how
Mother Nature made the corn grow
and the new calves frolic
happily in the pasture. In 1967
while continuing farming, Lem
went back to flying,
recertifying as a private,
instrument and commercial flight
instructor. He taught flying out
of the grass strip in Northwood
until his death. He taught his
wife, Jean, to fly and helped
well over 100 students earn
their private, instrument and
commercial pilot's licenses. His
calm, hands-on, individual
instruction will be remembered
by numerous students, some of
whom have gone on to fly for the
airlines, and as corporate
pilots.
Lem and Jean were
members of many organizations
nationwide, including the
Aircraft Owners and Pilot's
Association, the 99's (an
organization of women pilots),
the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Elk's Lodge and the Northwood
United Methodist Church. He had
a beautiful tenor voice and was
known for singing "The Messiah"
in numerous choirs.
Left to cherish
his memory are his wife, Jean
Taylor Ellingson of Northwood;
daughters, Pamela (Scott)
Wallace of Lafayette, Colorado
and Kimberly E. (Mel) Kotur of
Bozeman, Montana; three
grandsons, Ted Koerselman,
Daniel and Michael Kotur; his
sister, June Hermanson of
Colton, A; nieces and nephews
and many friends.
He was preceded
in death by his parents; his
brother, Hiram Ellingson;
sisters, Crystle Nelson and
Kristine Noble Helgeland.
Lem had an
excellent quality of life
despite his 3½-year illness with
a rare form of myelodyspastic
anemia and died suddenly of
pneumonia.
The family
suggests memorials be directed
to the Mercy Cancer Center or
Critical Care Unit, Mason City,
Iowa, The Blood Center of Iowa,
Des Moines, Iowa Attn: Stacy
Sime; or The National Museum of
Naval Aviation, Pensacola,
Florida.
The Schroeder &
Sites Funeral Home, Northwood,
was in charge of the
arrangements.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
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Duane Ronald Langerud
April 22, 2003
 Duane
Ronald Langerud, 71, of Lake
Mills, Iowa, died on Wednesday,
January 22, 2003, at the Health
Park Medical Center in Ft.
Meyers, Florida of a heart
ailment. A memorial service was
held on his birthday, Monday,
April 21, 2003, at the Salem
Lutheran Church in Lake Mills,
with Rev. Roger Dykstra
officiating. Military Rites were
performed by the Lake Mills
Otto/Chose Post #235 with burial
at a later date in the Salem
Memorial Cemetery, also in Lake
Mills.
Duane Ronald
Langerud, was born on April 21,
1931, in rural Leland, Iowa, the
son of Maynard S. and Ruth
(Arnevik) Langerud. Duane farmed
west of Lake Mills and was a
Sergeant in the Korean War. He
was a member of the Salem
Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, and
the Hope Lutheran Church,
Estero, Florida. As a member of
the North Prairie Church since
baptism, confirmation and adult
member, Duane was active serving
in various church offices and
Luther League Advisor. In
Florida, Duane was studying to
become a Stephens Minister.
Duane started to
play duplicate bridge with Myrna
after retirement. He was a
master player and an American
Contract Bridge League National
Club director. Duane and Myrna
met many wonderful people
playing bridge.
He is survived
by his loving wife of 48 years,
Myrna Langerud of Lake Mills and
Estero, Florida; son and
daughter-in-law, Alan and Mary
Langerud of Plymouth, Minnesota;
two daughters and their
husbands, Ann and Jay Benzshawel
and Amber and Jeff Hollar, both
of West Des Moines; five
grandchildren, Daniel
Benzshawel, Addison Benzshawel,
Kristian Langerud, Kevin
Langerud and Ethan Hollar; three
brothers, Calmer and his wife,
Muriel Langerud of Clear Lake,
Iowa and Mesa, Arizona, Ernest
and his wife, Sue Langerud of
Lake Mills and David Langerud of
Minneapolis, Minnesota; and one
sister, Sally and her husband,
Jim Bevan of Ottumwa and Ft.
Meyers, Florida.
Duane was
preceded in death by his mother
and father, Ruth and Maynard.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
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Stanley Joseph Hagen
May 6, 2003
Funeral services
for Stanley Joseph Hagen, 84,
were held at the Glory of Christ
Lutheran Church, Plymouth,
Minnesota on Sunday, with Rev.
Klemet I. Preus, officiating.
Interment was in the Fort
Snelling National Cemetery.
Stanley died on Tuesday, April
22, 2003, at Plymouth, Mnnesota.
Survivors include
his wife, Idena (Holstad) Hagen;
daughter, Kathryn Hagen; son,
Paul (Lynne) Hagen; one
granddaughter; three
step-grandchildren; two
brothers; one sister; and
nephews, nieces and many
friends.
He was preceded
in death by his daughter, Eunice
Olson.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
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Robert Henry Knowles
April 29, 2003
 Robert
Henry Knowles, 76, of Manly,
died on Friday, April 25, 2003,
at the Manly Nursing & Rehab
Center.
Funeral services
were held on Monday, at the
Bethel United Methodist Church,
Manly, with Rev. Robert Cumings
officiating. Burial was in the
Manly Cemetery.
Robert Henry
Knowles, was born on June 3,
1926 in Manly, the son of Ellis
Henry and Velma Mae (Kimmel)
Knowles. Bob was the second of
three children who were born in
a bedroom on the family farm.
Bob joined his older sister,
Beverly and several years later
their younger sister, Lola Mae,
joined them. He attended country
school and graduated from the
Hanlontown High School, where he
played the trombone in the band.
He was a lifetime member of the
Bethel United Methodist Church
and sang in the church choir for
many of his younger years.
One of his
favorite youthful pastimes was
roller-skating, where he met his
wife and life-long partner,
Janelle Adene Scott. On June 19,
1955, in Mason City they were
married and she moved to the
farm, where they lived together
until her death on April 9,
1989. Bob spent his life working
the family farm, raising hogs,
milk cows, chickens, beef cattle
and grain, along with barnyard
cats and the ever-present farm
dogs. Never satisfied with any
piece of machinery and always
creating a different way of
doing things, he was known for
his many adaptations and unique
inventions, including a
self-propelled windrower, bean
buggy, three wheeled sprayer and
motorcycle sidecar.
He loved
woodworking, welding and making
things better and was often
found helping others with
projects and repairs. At the age
of 72, he bought a truck from a
salvage yard, rebuilt and
painted it. He rode a Harley,
played an accordion, repaired
old equipment and lived to farm.
He was a proud father and
grandfather.
Left to cherish
his memory are his two
daughters, Rebecca Lynn Real and
her husband, Kevin of
Minneapolis, Minnesota and
Roxanne Helene Knowles of Ames,
Iowa; three granddaughters; a
sister-in-law, Karen Reinke and
her husband, Lynn of Geneva,
Iowa; a brother-in-law, Gale
Cook of Manly; several nieces
and nephews, cousins, and many
good friends and neighbors.
Bob was preceded
in death by his parents, Ellis
and Velma (Kimmel) Knowles; his
wife, Janelle Adene (Scott)
Knowles; and two sisters, Lola
Mae Knowles and Beverly
(Knowles) Metzger Cook.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
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Flora Westendorf
April 29, 2003
 Flora
Westendorf, 102, of Northwood,
died on Saturday, April 26,
2003, at the Manly Nursing &
Rehab Center.
Funeral services
will be held at 11:00 a.m., on
Thursday, May 1, at the United
Methodist Church, Northwood,
with Rev. Richard Jensen
officiating. Burial will be in
the Graceland Cemetery in
Buffalo Center. Visitation will
be one hour prior to the service
time on Thursday at the church.
According to Flora's wishes the
casket will remain closed. The
family of Flora Westendorf has
requested that memorial
contributions be made to the
United Methodist Church in
Northwood, in her memory. The
Conner Colonial Chapel,
Northwood, is in charge of the
arrangements.
Flora Westendorf,
was born on March 12, 1901 in
Cleve, Iowa, the daughter of
Fredrick Bartles and Flora
(Risius) Limberg. She attended
and received her education in
the Buffalo Center area schools.
She married Fred Westendorf on
September 15, 1925. He preceded
her in death. After their
marriage together they farmed in
the Lake Mills area until their
retirement in 1963, moving to
Northwood.
Flora was a
charter member and past
president of the American Legion
Auxiliary. She was the last
surviving member since 1933.
Flora also was a member of the
United Methodist Church in
Northwood.
Left to cherish
her memory include her daughter,
Maxine Wilde and her husband, H.
Judson Wilde of Charlotte, North
Carolina; seven grandchildren;
seven great-grandchildren; and
many nieces and nephews, as well
as other relatives and friends.
She was preceded
in death by her parents;
husband, Fred; daughter, Norma
Jean Sullivan; eight sisters;
and four brothers.
©
Northwood Anchor 2003
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