Obituaries, Feb. 25, 2006

LEO G. BALSTER, 90, of Wilmont, died Thursday, Feb. 24, 2006, at Worthington Regional Hospital.

Born Dec. 5, 1915, in Larkin Township, Nobles County, he was the son of Frank and Elizabeth Hellman Balster. He married Inez Bruns on Feb. 1, 1943, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Wilmont.

He attended rural school before attending Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Wilmont. After graduation, he lived with his parents on the family farm and helped on the farm. He was drafted into the Army in April 1941. He served eight months before his medical discharge in December 1941. After marriage, they lived on the family farm until they retired in 1982 and moved to Wilmont. He was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Wilmont, and was a member of Catholic Order of Foresters. He also served on the Parish Council.

Surviving are his wife; two sons, James (Marcie) Balster and Dale Balster, all of Wilmont; three daughters, Marian (Joe) Hibma, Harris, Iowa, Jane (Marc) Eldal, Arnolds Park, Iowa, and Carol (Vernon) Bell, Pine Island; and 12 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Wilmont.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Wilmont, with the Rev. Gerald Kosse officiating. Burial will be in Cavalry Catholic Cemetery, Wilmont.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Worthington, is in charge of arrangements.

GRACE ETHEL LEV, 105, of Lakefield, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006, at Lake Park Care Center in Lake Park, Iowa.

Born Sept. 29, 1900, in Story City, Iowa, she was the daughter of Eric and Julia Erickson Johnson. She married William "Bill" J. Lev on July 10, 1920. He died Aug. 8, 1992.

As a young child, she moved with her family to Lakefield. She grew up in Lakefield and attended school there. After marriage, they farmed in the Lakefield and Jackson areas. After her husband's death, she continued to live on the farm in Minneota Township. She entered Colonial Manor, Lakefield, in 1995 and then moved to Lake Park Care Center in 2002. She was a member of United Methodist Church, Lakefield. She also belonged to Royal Neighbors of America.

Surviving are two sons, Cecil (Norma) Lev, Lake Park, and Richard (Donna) Lev, Jackson; three daughters, Evonne (Harlan) Place, Lakefield, Patty (Don) Svoboda, Jackson, and Dianne (Don) Palmer, Jackson; 21 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; and 27 great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. today at United Methodist Church, Lakefield.

The service will be 11 a.m. today at United Methodist Church, Lakefield, with the Rev. Daniel Brewer officiating. Burial will be in Good Shepherd Catholic Cemetery, Jackson.

Hansen Funeral Home, Lakefield, is in charge of arrangements.

GILBERT CLOID ROW, 75, of Rock Rapids, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006, at his home.

Born Aug. 7, 1930, in Ashton, Iowa, he was the son of Cloid and Helen Hatting Row. He married Gloria Anderson in 1965 in New Ulm.

He attended schools in Ashton and Sibley, Iowa, where he graduated in 1948. He worked at the J.C. Penney Company in Sibley during his high school years and continued working for the company in Tracy and New Ulm. In 1965, he left Penney's to open Skogmo's Department Store in Rock Rapids, which became Row's Department Store in 1967. He and his wife managed Row's for 25 years, retiring in 1990. He was active in Holy Name Catholic Church activities and served 15 years on the Rock Rapids Municipal Utilities Board.

Surviving are his wife; one son, Dr. Charles Row, Portland, Ore.; three daughters, Elizabeth (Dale) Whitlock, Hinton, Iowa, Margaret (Eric) Letsche, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, and Theresa Row, Baltic, S.D.; one step-daughter, Cathy (Ted) Matthews, Osakis; three grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. today at Holy Name Catholic Church, Rock Rapids, Iowa, with the Rev. Jeff Schleisman and the Rev. Clair Boes officiating. Burial will follow lunch at St. Andrew's Cemetery, Sibley, Iowa.

GLADYS KAMPARS, 86, of Fresno, formerly of Mountain Lake, died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006, in Fresno.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdayat First Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake, with the Rev. Ernie Neufeld officiating. Burial will be in Mountain Lake Cemetery.

Bjerum Funeral Home, Mountain Lake, is in charge of arrangements.

ARLENE CATHERINE HANSEN, 87, of Ellsworth, died Friday, Feb. 24, 2006, at Parkview Manor, Ellsworth.

Born Dec. 12, 1918, in Ellsworth, she was the daughter of Joseph and Mathilda Rosenberg Meester. She married Clifford Hansen on Feb. 19, 1941, at Zion Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth. He died in March 2002.

She graduated in 1936 from Ellsworth High School and went on to attend Nettleton College in Sioux Falls, S.D. After marriage, they owned the Skelly Bulk Oil Company in Ellsworth, where she helped pump gas at the station. She also worked as a secretary at Ellsworth Public Schools and drove bus for a number of years. She began baking cakes for weddings and special occasions later in life. She became a resident of Parkview Manor, Ellsworth, shortly after his death. She was a member of Zion Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth. She sang in the church choir, served in various church offices and was a member of Ladies Aid. She was a member of the extension club and the Ladies and mixed bowling leagues.

Surviving are two sons, Ron Hansen, Castlewood, S.D., and Scott (Kristi) Hansen, Rochester; one daughter, Sherri (Roger) Willard, Colton, S.D., one brother, Kenneth (Lorraine) Meester, Little Rock, Iowa; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Zion Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth.

The service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Zion Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth, with the Rev. William Kleymann officiating. Burial will be in Grand Prairie Cemetery, near Ellsworth.

Hartquist Funeral Home-Engebretson Chapel, Luverne, is in charge of arrangements.