Obituaries, March 10, 2007

Patrick Joseph Lewis, 49, of Hector, died Wednesday, March 7, 2007, at his home.

Born Oct. 25, 1957, on a farm near Jasper, he was the son of James and Evelyn Gilfoy Lewis.

He graduated from Jasper High School and received his associate's degree from Southwest State University in Marshall. He served as an area cattle representative, Wisconsin State Cattle Supervisor, Eastern U.S. Livestock Representative, Minnesota State Representative for Cattle Procurement and as a Livestock Negotiator over a 15- year career with the National Farmers Organization. For the past 10 years until its closure in 2006, he was the head cattle buyer for Minnesota Beef in Buffalo Lake. He was serving as a cattle buyer for Revier Cattle Co.

Surviving are his life partner, Judy Freeman; his mother, of Luverne; one brother, James Lewis (partner Bill Bloedow), St. Paul; and two sisters, Connie (Ken) Peterson, St. Paul, and Rita Lewis, Arlington, Va.

The service is 10 a.m. today at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Jasper, with the Rev. Martin Schaefer officiating. Burial is in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery, Jasper.

Hartquist Funeral Home, Foster Chapel, Jasper, is in charge of arrangements.

Emmet Trunnell, 78, of Worthington, died Thursday, March 8, 2007, at his home.

Born March 27, 1928, in Excelsior Township, Iowa, he was the son of Floyd and Emma Jane Thorn Trunnell. He married Wanda Lundeen Sept. 15, 1945, in Sibley, Iowa.

He farmed for many years in the Lake Park, Iowa, Worthington and Rushmore areas. After leaving the farm, he worked at Swift for nine years and for 13 years was a custodian at the First United Methodist Church. He served on the Dewald Township board, pork producers, and was the treasurer of the First United Methodist Church.

Surviving are his wife; one son, Jeff (Cheryl) Trunnell, Fort Dodge, Iowa; five daughters, Pam (Tom) Strom, Brooten, Barb (Lynn) Aggen, Harmony, Sue (Scott) Rose, Worthington, Michelle (Brian) Ling, Bigelow, and Jane (Matt) Wychor, Glyndon; 18 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Benson Funeral Home, Worthington.

The service will be 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church, Worthington, with the Rev. Gordon Orde officiating. Burial will be in Worthington Cemetery.

Minver Oswald Hegstad, 85, of Slayton, died Thursday, March 8, 2007, at the Murray County Hospital, Slayton.

Born May 8, 1921, in Slayton, he was the son of Ole and Mary Anderson Hegstad. He married Delrose Heydluff Aug. 18, 1942, in Sanborn.

He grew up in Slayton and attended Slayton High School. He worked for Skouge Dairy in Slayton before entering the U.S. Navy in July 1942. He served during World War II as a motor mechanist mate and landing craft operator in the South Pacific on a troop transport ship for most of his service. Following his discharge in October 1945, he returned to Slayton and worked at the Worthmore Creamery for a short time. He and Cy Koob then started and operated Koob Implement. He later bought Cy out and changed the business name to Hegstad Equipment. As the business grew, he added several automobile lines and eventually phased out of the equipment business. In 1972, he sold the business to his employees and continued to work there for several more years. He was a lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church, Slayton, and was a member of the Slayton American Legion Post.

Surviving are his wife; one son, Michael (Jan) Hegstad, San Diego, Calif.; two sisters, Doris (Melvin) Essman, Luverne, and Nona Walter, Jasper; and two grandsons.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at Christ Lutheran Church, Slayton.

The service will be 2 p.m. Sunday at Christ Lutheran Church, Slayton, with the Rev. Ted Kunze officiating. Burial is in Slayton Memorial Gardens, Slayton.

Totzke Funeral Home, Slayton, is handling the arrangements.

Roy D. Johnson, 92, of Jackson, died Friday, March 9, 2007, at Jackson Medical Center Hospital.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Osterberg Funeral Home, Jackson, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Bergen.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Bergen, with the Rev. Stephen Norby officiating. Burial is in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Christiania Township, Jackson County.

Helen Carolyn Kolander, 91, of Shakopee, formerly of Jackson, died Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at her daughter's home in Shakopee.

Born Sept. 5, 1915, in Rost Township, Jackson County, she was the daughter of Peter and Mary Swantek Dunai. She married Lester Kolander Oct. 29, 1936. He died Aug. 14, 1990.

She was taken to live with her maternal grandmother in Chicago at the age of 3, following her mother's death. In 1926, she moved to Pennsylvania to live with an aunt after her grandmother's death. She later took a train back home to Minnesota. She attended country school in District 49. Following her education, she returned to Chicago, where she was employed by Motorola. After marriage, the couple farmed in Benson before returning to Jackson County in 1939. She was employed at Campbell's Soup in Worthington for 13 1/2 years, then at Julie Billart Children's Home as an assistant supervisor for six years. She also worked five years at Blum's Candy Corp. before retiring. She moved to the Hi-Rise in Jackson following her husband's death. In 1998, she moved to Shakopee to live with her daughter's family. She was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Jackson, where she had taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible school, was a member of the LWML circle, did Mission sewing and quilting and folded church bulletins. She was a member of the Hospital Auxiliary Board, the American Legion Auxiliary and volunteered for the Jackson County Food Shelf and the pink ladies at the hospital. She helped deliver Meals on Wheels, served as an election judge, and was a member of the Middletown Women's Club and the Sunshine birthday club.

Surviving are five sons, Gene (Sue) Kolander, Akanagon, Wash., and Harlow (Carol) Kolander, Gary Kolander, Rodney (Suzanne) Kolander, and Randy (Marsha) Kolander, all of Jackson; one daughter, April (Robert) Kolander-Nead of Shakopee; three half-brothers, Joseph Dunai, Vernon Dunai and George Dunai, all of Worthington; five half-sisters, Berneice (Ed) Fasel, Aurora, Ill., Adeline (Marvin) Dagel, Lake Park, Iowa, Irene Gehrals-Bartosh, Okabena, Mary (Richard) Sjodahl, Sandstone, and Betty (Don) McBride, Sioux Valley; 21 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Osterberg Funeral Home, Jackson, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Jackson.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Jackson, with the Rev. John Schuetz officiating. Burial is in Sunset Memorial Cemetery, Jackson.

Helen Fae Vander Stoep, 77, of Rock Rapids, died Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at Sanford Health, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Born Aug. 7, 1929, on a farm in Osceola County near Harris, Iowa, she was the daughter of Henry and Freda Brake Riemersma. She married Percy Bootsma Jan. 25, 1949, in Ocheyedan, Iowa. He died in 1960. She married Richard Vanden Berg May 26, 1970, in Sanborn, Iowa. He died in 1992. She married Herbert Vander Stoep on Dec. 1, 1995, in Rock Rapids. He preceded her in death.

She graduated from country school and Harris-Lake Park consolidated school system. Following her first marriage, the couple resided on a farm near Sanborn. She moved into Sanborn following his death. After her second marriage, the couple lived in Pipestone until 1977, when they moved to Sioux Center, Iowa. She remained in Sioux Center until 1995, when she married and moved to Rock Rapids. She worked at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center, Pipestone, and the hospital and nursing home in Sioux Center. She also worked as a secretary and with home health as a patient care provider. She spent the last 10 years before retirement working at Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital, Rock Rapids, in the dietary department. She was a member of the Christian Reformed Church, Rock Rapids, and served in the school auxiliary, as Calvinette leader and on the Golden Hour Ruth Circle.

Surviving are four children, Corwin (Carol) Bootsma, Sanborn, Iowa, Marlyn (Kathy) Bootsma, Woodstock, Arlis (Randy) Bubke, Sioux Center, and Galen (Gerilyn) Bootsma, Melvin, Iowa; 10 step-children, Connie (Allen) Lovell, Mesa, Ariz., Richard (Nancy) Vanden Berg, Munster, Ind., Gary (Evy) Vanden Berg, Luverne, Leslie (Alice) Vanden Berg, Grand Rapids, Mich., Verlyn (Ann) Vanden Berg, Grand Rapids, Mich., Elizabeth (Tom) Van Weelde, Grand Rapids, Mich., Doyle (Norma) Vanden Berg, Glenrose, Texas, Timothy (Brenda) Vanden Berg, Pipestone, Donley Vander Stoep, Ontario, Calif., and Debra Diener, Rock Rapids; one brother, Don Riemersma, Rochester; 11 grandchildren; 27 step-grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and many step-great-grandchildren.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Christian Reformed Church, Rock Rapids, with the Rev. Cliff Hoekstra officiating. Burial will be in Roseland Cemetery, Sanborn, Iowa.

Wayne C. Van Beek, 60, of Boyden, died Thursday, March 8, 2007, at his home.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with the family present from 2 to 4 p.m., at Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Reformed Church, Boyden, with the Rev. Matthew Draffen officiating. A graveside service will be 10 a.m. Monday in Sheridan Township Cemetery, Boyden.

Dan Staples, 52, of Slayton, died Friday, March 9, 2007, at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, at Christ Lutheran Church, Slayton.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Christ Lutheran Church, Slayton.

Totzke Funeral Home, Slayton, is in charge of arrangements.

Clara Wassman, 94, of Ocheyedan, died Thursday, March 8, 2007, at Country View Manor, Sibley, Iowa.

Born April 25, 1912, in Ocheyedan, she was the daughter of Henry and Mabel Jacobs Lutterman. She married Carl Wassman March 19, 1932, in Ocheyedan. He died Sept. 7, 2006.

She lived in various places in Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa. She attended school by Brandt, S.D. Following marriage, the couple lived and farmed east of Ocheyedan on the family farm. In 1944, they moved a mile west of the home place, where they farmed and continued to live. In 1975, they retired. They moved to Country View Manor in 2004. She was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Ocheyedan.

Surviving are two sons, Lorne (Maxine) Wassman, Ocheyedan, and Darwin (Nan) Wassman, Ogallala, Neb.; one daughter, Marilyn (Dennis) Gregerson, Columbus, Ohio; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, with the family present from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Andringa Funeral Chapel, Ocheyedan.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Ocheyedan, with the Rev. Russell Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Ocheyedan Township Cemetery.

Bonnibel Bierma, 82, of Iona, died Thursday, March 8, 2007, at Sanford Health Hospital, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Born Oct. 27, 1924, in Lakota, Iowa, she was the daughter of George and Orlena Barnes Mussman. She married John Bierma May 17, 1961, in Ellsworth. He died March 8, 1996.

She moved at a young age with her family to Ellsworth, where she attended school and graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1943. Following marriage, the couple lived and farmed the Bierma family farm near Iona. She remained on the farm until November 2006, when she moved to Parkview Manor in Ellsworth. She was a member of Iona Presbyterian Church and belonged to the UPW and the Ladies Aid.

Surviving are two daughters, Ruth Bierma, Fulda, and Mary Bierma, Slayton; one sister, Barbara Mussman Smook, Phoenix, Ariz.; and one granddaughter.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Totzke Funeral Home, Slayton, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at Iona Presbyterian Church.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Iona Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dave Poppen officiating. Burial will be in Ransom Township Cemetery, rural Rushmore.