Obituaries, March 19, 2007

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

Born Sept. 12, 1916, in Dumont, Iowa, she was the daughter of Fred and Grace Slight Eisentrger. She married Blaine Bruflat July 7, 1940, in Canby. He died Dec. 1, 1965.

After marriage, they lived in Canby. She worked at the Canby schools as a cook. In 1971, she moved to Fairmont and worked at the Fairmont Hospital as a nurse's aid. She retired in 1982 and moved to Fulda. In June 2004, she became a resident at Maple Lawn Nursing Home, Fulda. She was a member of Fulda Presbyterian Church, where she was active in ladies aid and the Sunshine Committee. She received the Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership Award. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and Fulda Pink Ladies. She was an RSVP volunteer and delivered Meals on Wheels.

Surviving are three daughters, Sydney (Earl) Halverson, Fulda, Janet (Gary) Schmidt, Dunkirk, Md., Janice (Jim) Weiss, Oakhurst, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

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

The service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Fulda Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Bob Raedeke officiating. Burial will be in St. Stephens Cemetery, Canby.

WALDEMAR AMBROSE "WALT" BELDT, 87, of Sheldon, died Friday, March 16, 2007, at Osceola Community Hospital, Sibley, Iowa.

Born Nov. 9, 1919, on the family farm near Matlock, Iowa, he was the son of Fred and Albena Walgenbach Beldt. He married Lillian Peters at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Sheldon. She died Aug. 23, 1993.

He attended country school in Dale Township of Lyon County, Iowa, and Sheldon High School. After marriage, they lived on the family farm northwest of Sheldon and farmed the land together. He continued to help his children with the farm even in his later years. He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, where he served on the school board and the financial committee. He was a member of Right to Life for more than 30 years and he was a member of Knights of Columbus for 66 years.

Surviving are five children, Patricia (Charles) Bell, Lebanon, Mo., Barbara (John) Addengast, Ashton, Iowa, Charles (Christine) Beldt, Ashton, Iowa, David Beldt, Sheldon, and Lawrence Beldt, Omaha, Neb.; two brothers, Milford (Maxine) Beldt, Longmont, Colo., Harold Beldt, Sheldon; and 14 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and a 7 p.m. wake service and a 7:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus rosary, at Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Sheldon, with the Rev. Robert Schimmer officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

ALBERT EISFELD, 89, of Slayton, died Sunday, March 18, 2007, at Minnesota Veterans Home, Luverne.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Totzke Funeral Home, Slayton, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at Christ Lutheran Church, Slayton.

The service will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Christ Lutheran Church, Slayton. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Lake Wilson.

ARNOLD WESLEY BLEYENBERG, 65, of Edgerton, died Saturday, March 17, 2007, at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Born July 4, 1941, on a farm north of Edgerton, he was the son of Art and Carrie Menning Bleyenberg. He married Charlotte Miersma June 27, 1962, in Holland.

He was raised in Edgerton and attended the Free Christian School. After his education, he remained at home helping on his parents' farm. After marriage, they lived and farmed near Edgerton. He was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia on Aug. 24, 2006, and was admitted to Avera McKennan Hospital Feb. 6. He was a member of First Protestant Church, Edgerton.

Surviving are his wife; 11 children, Brian (Jennifer) Bleyenberg, Yucaipa, Calif., Brenda (Carl) Vande Kamp, Sioux Center, Iowa, Becky (John) DeBoer, Hudsonville, Mich., Bonnie (Gerrit) Meelker, Redlands, Calif., Tim (Kate) Bleyenberg, Jenison, Mich., Stacy (Brian) Bruinsma, Lansing, Ill., Aric (Rachel) Bleyenberg, Caledonia, Mich., Shanda (Joel) Houck, Lansing, Ill., Heidi (fiancée Tom Vander Waal) Bleyenberg, Hudsonville, Mich., Carisa (Timothy) den Hartog, Yucaipa, Calif., and Jerod Bleyenberg, Hudsonville, Mich.; his father; seven brothers; two sisters; and 31 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Colonial Funeral Home, Edgerton.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Christian Reformed Church, Edgerton. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Edgerton.

GRACE MINNIE RYPKEMA, 95, of George, died Saturday, March 17, 2007, at George Community Good Samaritan Center.

Born Nov. 9, 1911, in rural George, she was the daughter of George and Grace Eilders Geerdes. She married John D. Rypkema Feb. 23, 1933. He died Sept. 24, 1992.

Her mother died in 1912 and she was raised by Ben and Hannah Geerdes Blau. After marriage, they farmed northeast and south of George. They retired and moved to town in 1973. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the Lyon County First Presbyterian Church, rural George, and the Dorcas Society.

Surviving are three sons, Donald (Mavis) Rypkema, Sioux Falls, S.D., Norman (Lori) Rypkema, Sioux Falls, Edward (Alice) Rypkema, Lincoln, Neb.; one daughter, Joan (Bob) Luitjens, George; one brother, George (Jo) Geerdes, Elfrida, Ariz.; one sister, Vera (Clifford) Eberlien, Sheldon, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Lyon County First Presbyterian Church, rural George.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Lyon County First Presbyterian Church, rural George, with the Rev. Dale Lint officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Lawn Cemetery, George.

Roste Funeral Home, George, is in charge of arrangements.

JEANETTE SANKEY, 92, of Worthington, died Saturday, March 17, 2007, at South Shore Care Center, Worthington.

Arrangements are pending with Dingmann Funeral Home, Worthington.

DELWYN DOPPENBERG, 42, of Sibley, died Friday, March 16, 2007, at Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Visitation will be 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., at Andringa Funeral Home, Sibley.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Christian Reformed Church, Sibley, with the Rev. David Van Buren officiating. Burial will be 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in Chandler Cemetery, Chandler.

LOWELL E. BINFORD, 77, of Luverne, died Saturday, March 17, 2007, at Sanford Luverne Hospital.

Born Aug. 8, 1929, on a farm in Vienna Township, Rock County, he was the son of Harold and Clara Nelson Binford. He married Marybeth Bahnson Aug. 5, 1966, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Inwood, Iowa.

He was raised on the family farm, which became a centennial family farm in 1994. He received his education through eighth grade at District 29 country school before graduating from Luverne High School in 1947. After his education, he continued to farm with his parents. In 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served two years in the Korean War as a tank commander. During his service, he received a combat infantry badge with two bronze campaign stars. He returned home in June 1953 and moved to Leadville, Colo., where he worked at a molybdenum mine in Climax, Colo. He later moved to Newell, S.D., where he worked constructing minutemen missile silos for the United States government. In 1962, he returned to the family farm and began his career in agriculture. In 1969, they purchased a farm one mile from the family farm. He semi-retired from farming in 1992 and began selling real estate with Gene Cragoe in the Luverne area. In 1997, they built a new home between their old house and the original family farm house. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Luverne, where he served on many ministries. He was a charter member of the Rock-Nobles Cattlemen's Association and served as president. He also was past president of the Rock County Farm Bureau and was an active member on the board of directors. He served as director of Rock County Co-op Oil and was a founding board member of Agri-Energy, where he helped make the Luverne ethanol plant a reality. He was a founding member of Minwind Energy, was a director of Minnwest Bank, was on the Luverne school board, was president of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Rock County, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and was a member of the Rock County VFW, where he served in the honor guard.

Surviving are his wife; three children, Grant (Rebecca) Binford, Luverne, Eric (Shari) Binford, Luverne, Roslyn (Thomas) Hopf, Frankfurt, Germany; two brothers, Jerry (Judy) Binford, Luverne, Larry (Marcia) Binford, Moorhead; two sisters, Joyce Hartz, Luverne, Lois (Robert) Hatting, Luverne; and three grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Hartquist Funeral Home, Engebretson Chapel, Luverne.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Grace Lutheran Church, Luverne. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

ANGELINE VAN ESSEN, 99, of Leota, died Friday, March 16, 2007, at the Edgerton Edgebrook Care Center.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bethel Reform Church, Leota.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bethel Reform Church, Leota, with the Rev. Dave Vanderleest officiating. Burial will be in Leota Cemetery.

Dingmann Funeral Home, Adrian, and Leota Burial Association are in charge of arrangements.