Obituaries, March 24, 2007

Jacob "Jay" Bonnema, 85, of Inwood, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at Fellowship Village, Inwood.

Born Jan. 17, 1922, in Sioux County, three miles south of Lebenon, Iowa, he was the son of Jerry and Bessie Van Dahm Bonnema. He married Jennie Baker Feb. 2, 1945, at his parents' home in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

He grew up on the family farm and while he was a teenager, his family moved to Rock Rapids. He worked for area farmers and also with his family on their farm. At age 22, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. While in the army, he served his country as an infantryman, marching across several islands in the South Pacific, and also as a supply sergeant after the war ended. After two and a half years of service, he was discharged and returned home. They made their home on a farm near Inwood, where they remained and farmed until moving into Inwood in 1974. He became a resident of Fellowship Village in December 2005. He helped build the Inwood Fire and Rescue Building and the Inwood Community Center. He was a member of the Inwood Christian Reformed Church and served on the founding board of directors of Fellowship Village.

Surviving are his wife; four children, Bev (Marv) Arp, Inwood, George (Corrine) Bonnema, Luverne, Sharon (Glenn) Davey, Sheldon, Iowa, and Judy (Jay) Van Engen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; one sister, Ruth Caswell, Rock Rapids; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Christian Reformed Church, Inwood, with the Rev. Robert Timmer and the Rev. Rich Kooistra officiating. Burial will be in Richland Cemetery, Inwood.

Roste Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Raymond Edward Fry, 51, of rural Bigelow, died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at his home.

Born July 1, 1955, in Sibley, Iowa, he was the son of Joe and Martha Embree Fry.

He was in farming his whole life.

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

The service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Benson Funeral Home, Worthington, with the Rev. Bill Kleyman officiating. Burial will be in Ransom Township Cemetery near Bigelow.

LaVon Siewert, 79, of Slayton, died Friday, March 23, 2007, at Our House Hospice Home, Slayton.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Totzke Funeral Home, Slayton, and also from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Hadley Lutheran Church.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. at Hadley Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Highland Home Cemetery, Hadley.

Cecilia Klopp, 94, of Minneapolis, formerly of Windom, died Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at Providence Place, Minneapolis.

Born May 28, 1912, in Heron Lake, she was the daughter of Dominic and Mary Antoine Klopp.

She was educated in the rural schools of Jackson and Cottonwood counties. She then attended Mankato State University, where she received her bachelor's degree in education. She taught in numerous school districts in Minnesota, with her last teaching position in Wayzata, before retiring and moving to Windom. After many years, she moved to Minneapolis to be closer to her niece.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Windom.

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

LaCanne Family Funeral Home, Windom, is in charge of arrangements.

Elaine Vercella Predmore, 68, of Luverne, died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Sanford Hospice Cottage, Luverne.

Born June 15, 1938, in Hills, she was the daughter of Earl "Swede" and Eldena Cross Smedsrud. She married William Predmore Sept. 11, 1958, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Hills.

She graduated from Hills High School in 1957 and became employed at Long's Café, Luverne, and later at Cardinal Drive-Inn. After marriage, they moved to Broken Row, Neb., where they lived for several years. In December 1962, they moved back to Luverne, where she raised their children. In 1969, they moved to a farm in Mound Township, north of Luverne. She was admitted to Sanford Hospice Cottage, Luverne, on March 14. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Luverne, where she taught Sunday school in her early years.

Surviving are her husband; five children, Gayle Hartz, Sioux Falls, S.D., Brenda (Richard) Latten, Luverne, Bruce Predmore, Luverne, Mike (Amber) Predmore, Humboldt, S.D., and Julie (Kevin) Fick, Luverne; five brothers, Jim (Janelle) Smedsrud, Sioux Falls, David Smedsrud, Luverne, Keith Smedsrud, Luverne, Dale Smedsrud, Luverne, and Dwight Smedsrud, Luverne; three sisters, Eileen Siebenahler, Luverne, Evonne (Allan) Meinerts, Luverne, and Ellen (Monty) Barton, Gans, Okla.; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Hartquist Funeral Home, Engebretson Chapel, Luverne.

The service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church, Luverne. Burial is in Maplewood Cemetery.

A tree will be planted by Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in her memory.

Elsie Elizabeth Klassen, 88, of Mountain Lake, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at Good Samaritan Village, Mountain Lake.

Born Nov. 26, 1918, in Mountain Lake, she was the daughter of John F. and Elizabeth Dick Loewen. She married Arnold G. Klassen July 1, 1938, in Mountain Lake. He died Dec. 6, 1977.

She received her education in Mountain Lake public schools and graduated from Mountain Lake High School. After marriage, they farmed together in the Mountain Lake area. She helped with farm work and was a bookkeeper and helper in her husband's other business interests. She entered the Good Samaritan Village in June 1997. She was a lifelong member of First Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake, where she taught Sunday school. She hosted two Mennonite Central Committee workers, volunteered at Good Samaritan Village and also at the Care and Share Shop.

Surviving are her children, Darlene Dick, N. Newton, Kan., Wilma (Gary) Schroeder, Roseville, and Ronald (Suzie) Klassen, Mountain Lake; two sisters, Verna Fast, Tahlequah, Okla., and Dorothy Loewen, Windom; one brother, Ervin (Frances) Loewen, Mountain Lake; nine grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and four step-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Bjerum Funeral Home, Mountain Lake, and also from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake.

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

Leslie "Spike" LeRoy Nelsen, 98, of Westbrook, died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Good Samaritan Center, Westbrook.

Born Dec. 4, 1908, in Des Moines River Township, Murray County, he was the son of Ned and Anna Busk Nelsen. He married Luella Franz Dec. 4, 1934, in Westbrook.

He attended Country School District No. 25 in Murray County and later Westbrook High School, graduating with the class of 1928. After marriage, they moved to a farm southwest of Westbrook, which became the family farm. They resided there until 1970, when they moved to their retirement home in Westbrook. He became a resident of Westbrook Good Samaritan Home in December 2005. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Westbrook, and served two terms on its church council. He served eight years on the school board for District No. 25 and was a board member of the Farmer's Union. He was on the board of the Westbrook Senior Center.

Surviving are his wife; three sons, Marlowe (Donna) Nelsen and Bob (Sally) Nelsen, both of Westbrook, and Gary (Jan) Nelsen, Indianapolis, Ind.; two daughters, Elaine Rand, North Mankato, and Mary (Ken) Kashmarek, Eldridge, Iowa; two brothers, Don (Gladys) Nelsen, Irving, Texas, and Jim (Donna) Nelsen, St. Paul; four sisters, Ethel Cohrs and Vera Larson, both of Westbrook, Nina (Bernard) Franz, Plymouth, and Ardys Dennis, Saltillo, Texas; 15 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Westbrook.

The service will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Westbrook Cemetery.

Almlie Funeral Home, Westbrook, is in charge of arrangements.

Leonard Ernest Wascher, 97, of Ormsby, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at Trimont Health Care Center.

Born Feb. 11, 1910, in Beemer, Neb., he was the son of William and Emma Rabbas Wascher. He married Gertrude Breithbarth Feb. 12, 1932. She died May 3, 1938. He married Esther Breithbarth Aug. 6, 1939.

He attended parochial school at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Beemer. He worked as a hired hand for various farmers worked on the farm with horses. After marriage, they lived and farmed in rural Wisner, Neb. After his second marriage, they lived and farmed in the area until 1950, when they moved to the Butterfield-Odin area. They farmed there until 1972, when they moved into Ormsby. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Ormsby, and served on the Odin School Board and the Odin Elevator Board.

Survivors are his wife; one son, Lowell (Lois) Wascher, Helena, Mont., two daughters, LeAnn (Marvin) Cummins, Hamel, and Lana (Richard) Brock, Sheboygan Falls, Wis.; three sisters, Dorothy Frese, Pender, Neb., Helen (Robert) Knobles, Mariposa, Calif., and Madeline Ward, Omaha, Neb.; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Kramer Family Funeral Home, Trimont, and from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church, Ormsby.

The service will be 1:30 p.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church, Ormsby, with the Rev. Don Peterson officiating. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Odin.