Obituaries, March 17, 2007

CLARA ELSBETH-TINA HELLWINCKEL, 98, of Fulda, died Wednesday, March 14, 2007, at Our House Hospice, Slayton.

Born Jan. 25, 1909, on a farm in Bondin Township, Murray County, she was the daughter of Martin and Catherine Von Holdt Miller. She married Carl Hellwinckel June 22, 1927, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. He died Oct. 12, 1977.

She grew up on a farm near Fulda and attended country school and later St. Paul's Lutheran School. After marriage they farmed south of Fulda for 43 years. They retired in 1970 and moved to Fulda. She remained in their home until August 2003, when she moved to Maple View Estates, Fulda. In January 2007, she moved to Our House Hospice, Slayton. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, where she belonged to Ladies Aid.

Surviving are three children, Duane Hellwinckel, Tualatin, Ore., Phyllis (Donald) Hecht, Hutchinson, Charlotte (Patrick) Brock, Longview, Wash.; one brother, Kenneth (Norma) Miller, Tucson, Ariz.; 16 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fulda.

The service will be 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fulda, with the Rev. Wayne Krohe officiating. Burial will be in Prairie Hill Cemetery, Fulda.

Totzke Funeral Home, Fulda, is in charge of the arrangements.

NEVA LENORE CUMMINGS, 96, of Luverne, died Thursday, March 15, 2007, at Sanford Luverne Hospital.

Born Dec. 8, 1910, in Jefferson, Iowa, she was the daughter of Edward and Sarah Freeman Tyer. She married Dwight Cummings Aug. 26, 1932, in Sioux Falls, S.D. He preceded her in death.

She graduated from Luverne High School and Normal Teaching Training School. She taught country school for a few years after her education was completed. After marriage, they made their home in Luverne, where she worked various jobs in town, but mostly was at home raising their family. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Luverne, where she was active in the Ladies Circle.

Surviving are her children, Lenore (John) Lohr, DeFuniak Springs, Fla., D. Russell (Anita) Cummings, St. Paul, Judy (Gary) Seidel, Lakewood, Colo., and Joanne (Steve) Gallos, Annapolis, Md.; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

The service will be 4 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Terry Morse officiating.

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

DOROTHY JUNE "BABE" BRECKLE, 92, of Sibley, died Wednesday, March 14, 2007, at Osceola Community Hospital, Sibley.

Born Feb. 11, 1915, she was the daughter of Frank Joseph and Anna Catherine Wickadal Breckle.

She graduated from Sibley High School in 1933. While in high school, she sold tickets at the Max Theatre. After graduation, she worked with photographer Norm Barnes and later at Brunson's Hardware store and AMPI. She finished her career with a job as bookkeeper at the Ford Garage, Sibley. She began a new career working for her niece, Nancy Ramsdell, and her husband Mike, as bookkeeper of Park Pharmacy. She was a 50-year member of Catholic Daughters.

Surviving is one brother, George Breckle Sr.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with the family present from 5 to 8 p.m., at Walton-Roste Funeral Home, Sibley. There will be a 5 p.m. Rosary and a 7 p.m. vigil service.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Sibley, with the Rev. Clair Boes officiating. Burial will be in St. Andrew's Catholic Cemetery, Sibley.

GERALD JOHN DOLPHIN, 79, of Rock Rapids, died Thursday, March 15, 2007, at Lyon Nursing and Rehab Center, Rock Rapids.

Born Sept. 17, 1927, in rural Hospers, Iowa, he was the son of John and Tracy Hulst Dolphin. He married Mary Silvey June 29, 1973.

He grew up and attended school in Primghar, Iowa. After graduating from high school, he managed a Primghar grocery store. In 1950, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served his country in the Korean War as sergeant. After discharge, he entered the University of South Dakota and received a masters degree in teaching and school administration. After marriage, they farmed together until he was elected county recorder. He retired in 1993 and spent his winters in Phoenix, Ariz., until his health deteriorated. He was admitted to Prairie View Villa, Sanborn, Iowa, in spring 2006, but was transferred to Lyon Manor and Rehab Center in February.

Surviving are his wife; two stepchildren, Sandy (Rod) Ferguson, Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Loren (Linda) Silvey, Rock Rapids, Iowa; one brother, Eugene (Mary) Dolphin, Hampton, Iowa; three step grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., at Lester Community Building, Lester, Iowa.

The service will be 1 p.m. Monday at Lester Community Building. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Rock Rapids.

Roste Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, is in charge of arrangements.

VIOLA BRUFLAT, 90, of Fulda, died Friday, March 16, 2007, at Maple Lawn Nursing Home, Fulda.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Totzke Funeral Home, Fulda, and from 12 to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Fulda Presbyterian Church.

The service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in St. Steven Lutheran Cemetery, Canby.

DONALD BENSON, 61, of Omaha, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2007, at the VA Medical Center, Omaha.

Born May 1, 1945, in Leon, Iowa, he was the son of Harold and Myrtle Reed Benson.

He grew up in Garden Grove, Iowa, and Fremont, Neb. before moving to Jackson in 1956. He graduated from Jackson High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1969, with service in Vietnam. He returned to New Ulm for two years and then went back to Vietnam with a civilian job. After his move back to the United States, he lived in several different cities in California before moving back to Fremont, where he worked for Ted's TV and Appliance. He also worked in Omaha for First Data Resources as a computer programmer for 12 years, before health problems forced his retirement. He was a life member of VFW Post 854 and of the DAV Chapter 20, both in Fremont.

The memorial service will be 12 p.m. Sunday at Vietnam Veterans' Living Memorial, Clemmons Parks, Fremont. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery, Jackson, on Monday.

Osterberg Funeral Home, Jackson, is in charge of arrangements.

FLORENCE E. WALTERS, 83, of Worthington, died Thursday, March 15, 2007, at Crossroads Care Center, Worthington.

Born Feb. 6, 1924, in Schleswig, Iowa, she was the daughter of William and Elma Shur Hingst. She married Ivan Walters Oct. 9, 1948, in Sioux City, Iowa.

As an infant, she and her family moved to Michigan and then to Iowa in 1935. She attended schools in both Michigan and Iowa. After marriage, they moved to Worthington. She worked at Campbell Soup Company for 20 years, retiring in 1985. She was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, the VFW and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Surviving are two sons, Ronald Walters, Sioux City, and Gary (Darci) Walters, Worthington; one daughter, Pam (Kelly) Merchant, Wichita, Kan.; six grandchildren; and one step grandchild.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Benson Funeral Home, Worthington.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Worthington, with the Rev. Robert Schulze officiating. Burial will be in Worthington Cemetery.