Martha J. Dahl

April 28, 2010

Martha Johanna Dahl, age 97, of Austin, Minnesota, died on Sunday evening, April 18, 2010, at the St. Mark's Lutheran Home in Austin.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m., on Thursday, April 22, at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, with Rev. Ronald Barnett officiating, Interment followed the services in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Albert Lea. Visitation was held from 5-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, April 21, at the Worlein Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the services at the church on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. Olaf Lutheran Church Foundation.

Martha was born on February 18, 1913, to Ole Thomas and Clara Elsie (Holter) Grosland on the family farm near Northwood, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at the Bristol Lutheran Church in Worth County, Iowa. She attended school at the Brookfield #3 Country School and the Northwood High School. When Martha started school she spoke Norwegian and learned English in kindergarten. On July 22, 1930, she was united in marriage to Stewart Estes in Albert Lea, Minnesota. They were later divorced. During World War II, Martha worked as a sewing machine operator for Munsingwear in Little Falls, Minnesota. On September 13, 1947, she married Henry M, Dahl at Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota. They lived in St. Louis Park, Rochester and Austin. Hank and Martha were self-employed as tailors for several years. She was Austin's first meter maid lady and a sales representative for Playhouse Toys. She also delivered Winnebago motor homes to the west coast.

Martha was a member of the St. Olaf Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday School, was a Stephens' minister and held various leadership positions. She was a member of the Sons of Norway and an active member of the Republican Party. She continued her education later in life, attending classes at the Austin Junior College. Martha loved to travel and took four trips to Norway.

Martha is survived by her son, Dean (Mary) Estes of Avondale, Arizona; 14 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; sister, Evelyn Garness of Clear Lake; daughter-in-law, Beverly Estes of Northwood; her dear friend and Stanley's life partner, June Vainer of Little Falls; sister-in-law, Della Grosland of Mason City; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Dahl on March 5, 1987; three sons, Maynard Estes, Stanley Estes and George Dahl; a great-grandson, Matthew Walter; and seven brothers, Oscar, Carl, Louis, Elmer, Adolph, August and George Grosland.
© Northwood Anchor 2010

Mildred Davids

April 28, 2010

Mildred Davids, age 82, of Buffalo Center, Iowa, passed away at the Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center, on Wednesday, April 21, 2010.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 24, at 10:30 a.m., at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, in Buffalo Center, with Pastor Perry Aalgaard officiating. A luncheon followed the service at the church. Burial was at 2:00 p.m., in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City.

Mildred is survived by her children, Susan Holm of Waterloo, Marcia (Charlie) Smith of Buffalo Center, Jeanne (Dean) Gruis of Ankeny, Brad (Nancy) Johnson of Milton, Wisconsin, Karen Fennell of Chestnut, Tennessee, Sheryl (Phil) Scholer of Kasson, Minnesota and Kim (Sheryl) Davids of Buffalo Center; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; sister, Helen Kohler of Mason City; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Emmet Johnson, Jr. and Vern Davids; granddaughter, Jessica Gruis; her parents; a brother in infancy; brother-in-law, Armin Kohler; son-in-law, Joe Fennell; and in-laws, Emmet and Tena Johnson.

The Winter Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Buffalo Center, was in charge of the arrangements.
© Northwood Anchor 2010

Allan G. Hanna

April 28, 2010

Allan G. Hanna, age 80, of Forest City, died on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Memorial services were held at 1:00 p.m., on Monday, April 26, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with the Rev. Rodd Hopp officiating. Inurnment was in the Grant Township Cemetery in rural Woden. The family requests memorials be directed to the Forest City YMCA or the Forest City Public Library.

Allan Gene Hanna, was born at the Forest City Hospital, on April 30, 1929, the son of Gilbert and Carrie (Skilbred) Hanna. He was baptized and confirmed at the Grant Church and attended local rural school. He went to the Buffalo Center High School, where he also played football. Allan liked to hunt, fish and trap. His hobbies were woodworking and wood-carving, including an 18 foot totem pole. In 1950, he married Anne Madson and lived on a family farm near Woden, raising livestock and crops. Allan also was an agent for Farmers Mutual Insurance for many years. He worked at the voting precincts for many years and was on the Grant Church Board.

He retired from farming in about 1999. He and Anne moved to Forest City in 2005. Allan enjoyed his family and socializing at the Forest City YMCA, at church and with other woodworkers.

Survivors include his wife, Anne of Forest City; his son, Paul Hanna of Ankeny; his step-children, Carol Neal of Woodward and John Koehler of Forest City; one grandchild, Suzanne; six great-grandchildren, Matt, Alison, Paul, Samantha, Piper and Paige; a sister, JoAnn Beers of Tipton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a step-daughter, Patricia; and a grandson, Mike.
© Northwood Anchor 2010

LeRoy E. Luecht

April 28, 2010

LeRoy Edward Luecht, 77, rural Kensett, died on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at his home, surrounded by his family.

A memorial service was held on Monday, April 26, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, Northwood, with Reverend Randy Baldwin officiating. Military honors were conducted by members of the Our Buddies Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #6779 of Northwood on Monday. Visitation was held one hour prior to the services. According to his wishes, cremation has taken place.

LeRoy Edward Luecht, was born on October 6, 1932 in Glenville, Minnesota, the son of Jonas James and Augusta (Herman) Luecht. LeRoy attended and graduated from the Alden High School in Alden, Minnesota. LeRoy was inducted into the Air Force on January 18, 1950, in Minneapolis, Minnesota and served during the Korean Conflict as an aviation radar technician. He received an honorable discharge on June 11, 1954, at the Donaldson Air Force Base in South Carolina. LeRoy was united in marriage to Zona Mae Baldwin on May 18, 1957, at the First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, Minnesota and to this union seven children were born, Dawn, Ronald, Michael, Jeffrey, Terry, Teresa and Gerald, who is deceased. After their marriage, LeRoy painted water towers for nine years for the Clear Lake Water Tower Company. LeRoy also worked until his retirement for the Wilson Foods Company in Albert Lea, Minnesota. At the age of 60, LeRoy, through the gift of life and love, donated one of his kidneys to his son, Jeff.

LeRoy enjoyed reading, playing guitar, singing, bowling, gardening, shooting pool, was a “big” Minnesota Vikings fan and was a very carrying and giving person. LeRoy’s greatest love and enjoyment was his family and grandchildren. LeRoy received a certificate of attendance for the completion of study of the Aeronautical Knowledge required to be a private pilot. He was a former member of the Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children, Dawn (Jon) Osgood of St. Ansgar, Ronald Luecht and his fiancée, Lynn Hovey of Albert Lea, Michael (Cheryl) Luecht of Lake Mills, Jeffrey Luecht of Freeborn, Minnesota, Terry (Bobbi Jo) Luecht of Freeborn, Minnesota and Teresa Carlson and fiancée, Shawn Bottleman of Lake Mills; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; four sisters, Verna Mae Sanderson of Lake Mills, Alitha Amundson of Glenville, Ethel Lea Moen of Albert Lea and Frances Daily of Texas; as well as many other extended family members and friends.

LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Zona who died on December 18, 2003; son, Gerald Luecht; grandson, Caleb Anderson; brother, Wilfred Luecht; and three sisters, Jonata, Katherine and Wilma.

LeRoy will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by his family and friends. Since the passing of his beloved wife Zona, his driving passion was to be with the love of his life, “Zona,” which is now fulfilled.
© Northwood Anchor 2010