Obituaries, August 29, 2006

ANTOINETTE GILLES, 81, of Slayton, died Monday, Aug. 28, 2006, at the Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Totzke Funeral Home, Slayton, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. and a rosary at 4:30 p.m.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Ann's Church, Slayton. Burial will be in St. Ann's Cemetery, Slayton.

MELBA MAE MARTIN CARNEY, 92, of Edgerton, formerly of Lake Wilson, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006, at Edgebrook Care Center, Edgerton.

Born Jan. 1, 1914, in Jefferson, Green County, Iowa, she was the daughter of Frank and Myrtle Jones Martin. She married Arthur Carney Jan. 1, 1935.

She moved with her family in 1923 to Walnut Grove, then in 1927 near Lake Wilson, where they farmed for seven years until moving to a farm south of Slayton in 1934. She worked for the Corn Hog Program. After marriage the couple farmed on four rented farms from 1935 through 1940, when they purchased a farm north of Lake Wilson. She worked at various jobs outside the home as well as working on the farm. In later years she became a professional home maker and financial guardian with the Region 8 Welfare until her retirement at age 70. After a heart attack in 1999, she lived in two hospitals, a short stay back at home, assisted living, three nursing homes and Hospice of Murray County until moving to Edgebrook Care Center.

Surviving are three children, Vesta (Theodore) Berglund, Bancroft, Iowa, Verna (James) Jager, Hazel Green, Ala., and Leon (Elsa) Carney, Chandler; nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at United Methodist Church, Lake Wilson.

The service will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday at United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Hilltop Cemetery.

DARLENE RICHTER, 67, of Windom, died Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, at her residence in rural Windom.

Born April 15, 1939, in Iona, she was the daughter of Jacob and Tillie Lucht Meyer. She married Byron Richter July 28, 1957.

She received her education in Brewster, graduating from Brewster High School in 1957. After marriage, the couple lived in rural Windom on the family farm. She was a telephone operator in Windom for several years and served as the program administrator for the Jackson County Farm Service Agency. She retired from the agency in May 2004. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Windom, where she served as church organist for more than 50 years and choir and music director in later years. She was a member of LWML, Ladies Aid, VBS director and youth counselor. She was a former 4-H leader and delivered Meals on Wheels for several years.

Surviving are her husband; four children, Teresa (Joseph) Rosengarten, Green Bay, Wis., Diane (Morteza) Zand, Colorado Springs, Colo., David (Juanita) Richter, Des Moines, Iowa, and Shelley (Jeff) Lange, Windom; a brother, Ronald (Donna) Meyer, Worthington; a sister, Sylvia (Virgil) Richter, Brewster; 13 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be 1 to 2 p.m. today at Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Windom.

The service will be 2 p.m. today at Lutheran Church of Our Savior, with the Rev. Paul Sajban officiating. Burial will follow in the Delafield Township Cemetery, rural Windom.

Arrangements are being handled by the LaCanne Family Funeral Home, Windom.

IRENE BEATRICE "TOOTIE" JOHNSON, 79, of Pipestone, died Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006, at the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone.

Born Nov. 4, 1926, on a farm east of Verdi, she was the daughter of Julius and Ida Fiseke Willert. She married Kenneth Johnson Nov. 8, 1944, in Tyler. He died Jan. 27, 1992.

She grew up on the farm and attended school in Verdi, graduating from Verdi High School in 1944. After marriage, they moved to a farm near Ruthton, then in 1953 moved to a farm north of Verdi, where they farmed until 1979. They purchased Kit's Korner, a café, store and gas station in Verdi, which they owned and operated until their retirement in 1986. She moved to Pipestone on May 1, 2001, and moved into Ridgeview Estates in Pipestone in February 2004. She became a resident of Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone May 6, 2006. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lake Benton until moving to Pipestone, when she became a member of First Lutheran Church, Pipestone. She was a member of the Verdi Senior Citizens and the Henry Sollie American Legion Post 10 Auxiliary, Lake Benton.

Surviving are four sons, Randy (Sharon) Johnson, College Grove, Tenn., Steven (Nancy) Johnson, Lake Benton, Allen (Kathy) Johnson, Lake Benton, and Todd (Miriam) Johnson, Pipestone; a brother, Merril (Cleone) Willert, Verdi; 13 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Hartquist Funeral Home, Pipestone Chapel, with a prayer service at 7 p.m.

The service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at First Lutheran Church, Pipestone. Burial will be in Memorial Hill Cemetery, Lake Benton.

LYDITH MARIAN HEGER TIBODEAU, 87, of Windom, died Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, at the Sogge Good Samaritan Center, Windom.

Born July 6, 1919, on a farm in Southbrook Township, Cottonwood County, she was the daughter of John and Mary Wilmes Heger. She married Roy Tibodeau Nov. 15, 1938. He died June 11, 1971.

She attended school in rural district 18 of Southbrook Township. After marriage, the couple lived and farmed in Amo Township for 25 years until 1967, when they built a home on the site Roy owned in Amo Township. She remained on the farm until 1999, when she moved to Windom. On June 5, 2006, she became a resident of Sogge Good Samaritan Center. She was a longtime member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Windom, where she was active in the WCCW. She was a former member of the neighborhood birthday club and the Amo All Purpose Club.

Surviving are four children, Ronald (Sharron) Tibodeau, Windom, John "Jack" (Lynette Larson) Tibodeau, Heron Lake, Mary Lou (Gerald Hetland) Peterson, Windom, and Robert (Sandy) Tibodeau, Colorado Springs, Colo.; two brothers, Raymond "Fritz" (Sally) Heger, Fulda, and Loren (Lana) Heger, Dundee; two sisters, Laurene Henkels, Heron Lake, and Marion Freking, Lake Crystal; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. today at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

The service is 10:30 a.m. today at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, with the Rev. Andrew Olsem officiating. Burial will follow in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Windom.

DONALD JAMES GROVES, 80, of Slayton, died Sunday, Aug. 27, 2006, at the Murray County Hospital, Slayton.

Born April 28, 1926, in Chanarambie Township, Murray County, he was the son of Ernest and Myrtle Pippen Groves. He married Lorraine Hartman July 2, 1947.

He moved with his family as a child of four to Lake Wilson, where he grew up and attended school. On Feb. 25, 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served on the U.S.S. Intrepid. Following his discharge on May 13, 1946, he returned to Minnesota and went to work for Pan O Gold Bakery in Pipestone. After marriage, the couple lived in Pipestone, and he worked for Pipestone Auto. In 1954, they moved to Slayton, where he worked at Slayton Auto. In 1960, he purchased property and started his own car dealership, Don's Auto Sales, where he still worked. He attended First Presbyterian Church, Slayton, and was a member of the Slayton VFW.

Surviving are his wife; five children, Diann (Trace) Hafner, Slayton, Dennis (Dori) Groves, Julie (Rick) Grann, Fort Collins, Colo., Mary Lou (Mike) Denker, New Prague, and Randy (Dawn) Groves, Slayton; two sisters, Leona Deadrick, Orange County, Calif., and Hazel Winters, Redlands, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Totzke Funeral Home, Slayton, and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, Slayton.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. David Poppen officiating. Burial with military honors provided by the Slayton VFW will be in the Slayton Memorial Gardens.

PETER G. DUIN, 81, of Humboldt, formerly of George, Iowa, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006, at Humboldt Care Center South.

Born March 7, 1925, in Lyon County, Iowa, he was the son of Peter and Anna Duin. He married Leora Locker in 1951.

He grew up and attended country school and George Public Schools. He entered the U.S. Army in November 1943 and transferred to the U.S. Army Air Force in January 1944. He was selected for Radio Operator School, was recruited for Gunnery School and became a tail gunner on a B24 Bomber. He was sent to England and flew missions over Germany until the end of the war in Europe in May 1945. He was transferred to Sioux Falls, S.D., for transition to Gunnery Training on B29s and service in the Pacific when the war ended in August 1945. He graduated from Iowa State College in June 1950 with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural dducation. His first teaching position was in Newell and Sulfur Springs, Iowa. After five years of teaching, he accepted an Agriculture teaching position in Spencer, Iowa. Later, he became a farm management field man for ISU Extension and the Farm Business Association. He joined the Felco Regional Cooperative, serving as a Field Serviceman for cooperatives in northwest Iowa. He was promoted to sales manager for the Felco Regional Cooperative in Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he served in various capacities. He finished in 1987 after 38 years as Senior VP Marketing and Dealer Services with Land O'Lakes. He was a member of the American Society of Farm Managers, Iowa Vocational Ag Teachers, ISEA, NEA, Farm Bureau and Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Humboldt, where he taught Sunday school.

Surviving are his four children, Doug (Ann) Duin, Hastings, Brad (Laura) Duin, Aurora, Colo., Steve (Melissa) Duin, Onalaska, Wis., and Lorene Duin, Holland, Mich.; and seven grandchildren.

The service was Monday at Bolin Funeral Home, George. Burial was in Evergreen Lawn Cemetery, George.

RODNEY JAMES KRULL, 51, of George, Iowa, died Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, at his home in George.

Born March 11, 1955, in Sibley, Iowa, he was the son of Kenneth and Arlys Goldhorn Krull. He married Janice Timmerman Dec. 7, 1974.

He grew up and attended school in George, graduating from George High School in 1973. After marriage, the couple made their home on a farm northeast of Rock Rapids, Iowa, until moving in 1987 to a farm northwest of George. In 2000, they moved to the family Century Farm north of George. He was a member of Hope Reformed Church, where he served as deacon and on various task force committees. He also served on the DHIA, AMPI, Lyon County Dairy Association and elevator boards.

Surviving are his wife; four children, Ryan (DeAnna) Krull, George, Rachel (Rick) Nielsen, Olathe, Kan., Renae (Micah Weber) Krull, George, and Reid Krull, George; his parents, George; two brothers, Rick Krull, Fonda, Iowa, and Korey Krull, Rock Rapids; a sister, Kalene Diephuis, Rochester; and one grandson.

The service will be 11 a.m. today at Hope Reformed Church, George, with the Rev. David Vander Laan officiating. Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. in Evergreen Lawn Cemetery, prior to the service.

The family requests memorials in lieu of flowers to the Rodney Krull Memorial.

Arrangements are being handled by Roste Funeral Home, George.