Obituaries, March 31, 2006

ROSETTA KNUTH, 88, of Ruthton, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at the Sunrise Manor Nursing Home/Tyler Healthcare Center in Tyler.

Born Dec. 12, 1917, in Ottison, Iowa, she was the daughter of Paul and Katie Zinnel Westphal. She married Bernard Knuth June 26, 1938, in Worthington.

She attended West Bend and Rodman Schools until moving to New Richmond, Wis., at the age of eight with her family, where she attended Deer Park. She moved with her family to Worthington in 1934. After marriage the couple lived in Sibley, Iowa, and in Worthington until settling in Woodstock in 1938. They operated the grocery store in Woodstock until 1941. In 1957 the family moved to Ruthton, where she ran the switchboard for the Woodstock Telephone Company for 12 years. She was part of card club, Peace Lutheran ladies aid, circle and the Grandma Club.

Surviving are her children, Ken (Marlys) Knuth, Slayton, Alva (Paul) Enemark, Tyler, Gloria Judge, Mesa, Ariz., Shelly (Dale) Borman, Holland, Valorie Knuth, Sioux Falls, and Kathy (Joe) Tutt, Balaton; a brother, Jack (Ericka) Westphal, Bloomington; a sister, Margaret Lange, Fulda; 17 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Tyler Area Funeral Home, Tyler, and 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Peace Lutheran Church, Ruthton.

The service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Peace Lutheran Church, Ruthton. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

ADELINE BARBARA RAY, 96, of Windom, died Wednesday, March 29, 2006, at Sogge Good Samaritan Center in Windom.

Born March 9, 1910, in Belfast Township in Murray County, she was the daughter of Frederick and Katherine Lidtke Wildfeuer. She married Clifford Ray June 2, 1927.

She attended elementary school at Belfast Township District 54 and parochial and Fulda High School until a sophomore. After marriage the couple farmed by Windom until moving to Redwood Falls for three years. She worked as a housekeeper at the Frederick Hotel and Blue Star Motel in Windom. They moved back to Windom and lived on a farm north of town until she entered Sunrise Terrace on April 2, 1996. On February 16, 2000 she entered the Sogge Good Samaritan Center in Windom. She was a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom, where she taught Sunday school and was a member of the Ladies Aid and Circle. She was a member of the Dale Ladies Aid, Three Lakes Garden Club, and American Legion Auxiliary and volunteered at the Blood Bank.

Surviving are seven sons, Robert (Marjorie) Ray, Machesney Park, Ill., Harvey (Lorna) Ray, Thatcher, Ariz., Eugene (Evelyn) Ray, Windom, Verlan (Judi) Ray, Windom, James (Julee) Ray, Cloquet, Larry (Anne) Ray, Medford, Wis., and Bruce Ray, Windom; five daughters, Eva (Donald) Solem, Bingham Lake, Lois (Robert) Petron, Albertville, Karon (John) Aumer, Windom, Sharon (Marvin) Bretzman, Bingham Lake, Marilyn (Wayne) Brown, Luverne, and Marsha (Randy) Kolander, Jackson; 46 grandchildren; and 71 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. today at LaCanne Family Funeral Home, Windom, and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Windom.

The service is 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Windom, with the Rev. Paul Sajban officiating. Burial is in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Windom.

HOWARD LEROY VAN KEKERIX, 83, of Sheldon, Iowa, died Wednesday, March 29, 2006, at the Prairie View Home in Sanborn, Iowa.

Born Jan. 8, 1923, on a farm near Sheldon, Iowa, he was the son of Sam and Martha Sneller Van Kekerix. He married Suzanna Westra Feb. 17, 1950.

He received his education through eighth grade in a country school near Sheldon and received his honorary diploma from the Sheldon Community School in 2001. He entered the U.S. Army in February 1944, serving as a Private First Class in Co. C 15th Armored Infantry Battalion 5th Armory Division in World War II. After marriage the couple moved to a farm east of Sheldon. He retired from farming in 1989 and moved to Sheldon in 1992. He was a member of the First Reformed Church in Sheldon, where he served on the Consistory. He was on the board of directors for the Sheldon Farmers Co-op Elevator, was a member of the Sheldon Prairie Queen Kiwanis and was a Sheldon Marigold volunteer.

Surviving are his wife; three children, Jacquelyn (Dennis) Vande Griend, Doon, Iowa, Kenneth (Lisa) Van Kekerix, Sheldon, and Leroy (Jasey) Van Kekerix, Orange City, Iowa; a brother, Elmer (Helen) Van Kekerix; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon.

The service will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Reformed Church, Sheldon, with the Revs. David Brower and Gordon Bloemendaal officiating. Burial will be in the East Lawn Cemetery, Sheldon, with military graveside service by the American Legion Post 145 and VFW Post 7354 of Sheldon.

RONALD GENE KLAASSEN, 68, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, formerly of Lakewood, Calif., died Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at the Royal C. Johnson Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Born Jan. 13, 1938, in rural Little Rock, Iowa, he was the son of John and Edith Klaassen Klaassen. He married Evelyn Dirksen Nov. 22, 1960, in Little Rock.

He grew up in the Little Rock area, graduating from Little Rock High School on 1956. He attended one semester at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He served from Dec. 2, 1960 until his honorable discharge Nov. 30, 1962. He lived in Spencer, Iowa, working at Spencer Glass, and in the early 1960s lived in Artesia, Calif. and Lakewood, Calif. working various jobs. He moved back to Little Rock in September 2004 and to Rock Rapids in April 2005. He served as deacon at the First Christian Reformed Church of Artesia and most recently attended Salem Reformed Church of Little Rock.

Surviving are five children, Ronetta (James) Bantly, Anaheim, Calif., Michael Jon Klaassen, Buena Park, Calif., Father Gregory Klaassen, Etna, Calif., Kaylene Klaassen, Anaheim, and Mother Helen Klaassen, Etna; eight brothers and sisters, Harmon Klaassen, Worthington, Helena Sprock, Rock Rapids, Ruth (Albertus) Van Westen, Luverne, Alma DeBuhr, Rock Rapids, Alfred (LaVonne) Klaassen, Ellsworth, Lois Snitselaar, Livermore, Calif., John (Carolyn) Klaassen, Sioux Falls, and Erma (Ubbe) Wagenaar, Adrian; and a granddaughter.

Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. today at Roste Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, with the Rev. Brian Hellenga officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasantview Cemetery, Little Rock.

THE REV. FRANCIS "FRANK" KLEIN, 85, of Adrian, died Wednesday, March 29, 2006, at St. Ann's Nursing Home, Winona.

Born May 19, 1920, in Adrian, he was the son of Frank and Elizabeth Kellen Klein.

He was educated at St. Adrian's elementary and high school, attended St. Mary's Seminary in Winona and continued his study at St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, Colo. He was ordained in Adrian and celebrated his first Mass Dec. 9, 1945. Shortly after his first assignment, he studied Canon Law for the Diocese of Winona at Catholic University, Washington, D.C., where he earned his bachelor's degree in canon law, then at the Lateran University in Rome, Italy, where he earned his J.C.L. degree. For the next 50 years, he served in the Tribunal of the Diocese of Winona. During that time he served as judicial Vicar, was appointed vice-chancellor of the diocese in 1952 and was named a Monsignor in 1953. He served as pastor of various parishes, including Sacred Heart in Heron Lake, St. Wenceslaus in Jackson, dean of the Worthington deanery, co-pastor of the Church of Crucifixion, LaCrescent, Pastor of St. Augustine in Austin, Holy Trinity Rollingstone-Immaculate Conception in Oak Ridge, St. Joseph's, Rushford-St. Mary's Houston, St. John in Winona and St. Anthony Altura-St. Aloysius in Elba. In 1988 he was appointed to the Regional Tribunal for the St. Paul-Minneapolis province serving dioceses in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Upon retirement in 1990, he continued to serve as appellate judge for the tribunal until 2000. He was a priest for 61 years, and continued to preside at daily Mass in his final years for the residents of Calista Court in Winona. He published two books that traced the historical roots of his family.

Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity, Rollingstone and 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Dingmann Funeral Home, Adrian, with a rosary at 4:30 p.m. and a 7:30 p.m. vigil service.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity, Rollingstone and 11 a.m. Monday at St. Adrian Church, Adrian, with the Rev. Gerald Kosse and Bishop Bernard Harrington officiating. Burial will be in St. Adrian Cemetery.

REINHOLD "REINIE" STUERMER, 91, of Jackson, died Wednesday, March 29, 2006, at his home.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Osterberg Funeral Home, Jackson, and 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Salem Lutheran Church, Jackson.

The service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Salem Lutheran Church, Jackson, with the Revs. Martin Lucin and Dan Taylor officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Riverside Cemetery, Jackson.

DAYTON "BUD" STAUBUS, 90, of Worthington, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at his home in Worthington.

Born Jan. 18, 1916, in Worthington, he was the son of Dayton and Esther Jenkins Staubus. He married Clara Lundeen Aug. 20, 1938, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

In his childhood he and his family resided in Illinois, Florida and New York until they returned to Worthington, where he graduated from Worthington High School in 1936. During the war years he helped build the Alcan Highway in Alaska, then returned to Worthington to operate the Conoco Service Station for over 20 years. At age 50 he went back to school, attending the University of Minnesota for his real estate broker license. He worked as the Worthington City Assessor and building inspector until 1966. In 1972 he became the Nobles County Assessor and continued in that position until his retirement in 1982. He then worked part-time for Johnson Real Estate as an agent for a short time.

Surviving are his wife; two daughters, Esther (James) Strom, Bloomington, and Barbara (David) Miller, Palmer, Texas; and six grandchildren.

Visitation is 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Benson Funeral Home, Worthington, and 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church, Worthington.

The service is 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church, Worthington, with the Rev. Mike Richmond officiating. Burial will be in the Worthington Cemetery.

GERTRUDE BRONS, 71, of Edgerton, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at her home in Edgerton.

She was born Feb. 5, 1935, in Nijkerk, Netherlands. She married Peter Mollema April 28, 1954, in Chandler. He died Aug. 14, 1985. She married William Brons Feb. 14, 2004, in Edgerton.

She was raised in Nijkerk, where she attended school, and moved to Edgerton in March 1948. She attended Edgerton Christian Grade School through the eighth grade, and then attended high school through the tenth grade in Chandler. Following her education she moved to Denver, Colo., and worked as a nurse's aide. After marriage the couple moved to Valley Springs, S.D., for two years. They moved to Chandler until 1967, when they moved to Jasper. In 1979 they moved back to Chandler where she worked at Huisken Meats. She retired in 2000 and remained in Chandler until she remarried and the couple moved to Edgerton. She was a former member of the Chandler Christian Reformed Church and Bethel Christian Reformed Church and a present member of First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton. She was an active member of the ladies aid, participated in quilting at the Chandler Community Center and volunteered at the thrift store in Worthington. She took care of area residents in Chandler and helped knit sweaters for Chandler Lutheran Church.

Surviving are her husband; six children, Kathy (Craig) Hakl, Corpus Christi, Texas, Steve (Roxine) Mollema, Pipestone, Jackie (Jim) Van Nieuwenhuyzen, Edgerton, Anita (Dana) Berreau, Lake Wilson, Kris (Mark) Beek, Lake Wilson, and Wayne (Donna) Mollema, Slayton; three step-children, Dave (Sally) Brons, Edgerton, Nelvin (Janice) Brons, Sioux Center, Iowa, and Judy (Doug) Matalik, Westminster, S.C.; her mother, Artie Den Herder, Pipestone; 18 grandchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. today at Colonial Funeral Chapel, Edgerton.

The service will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday at First Christian Reformed Church, Edgerton. Burial will be in Chandler Memorial Cemetery, Chandler.

LILLIE MILLER, 96, of Pipestone, died Saturday, March 25, 2006, at Stillwater Good Samaritan Home, Stillwater.

Born June 19, 1909, in Logan Township of Minnehaha County, South Dakota, she was the daughter of Edwin and Clara Cordes Zellmer. She married Walter Miller Jan. 18, 1936, in Oxnard, Calif. He died April 1, 1993.

She was raised in Logan Township and attended country school. She graduated from Dell Rapids High School in 1926 and attended Eastern State Teachers College in Madison, S.D. Upon completion of her education, she taught school in several rural country schools in Minnehaha County. After marriage the couple farmed in Sweet Township of Pipestone County. They continued farming until 1982, when they retired and moved to Pipestone. She moved into Ridgeview Estates in December 2001. In August 2004 she became a resident of Good Samaritan Care Center in Stillwater. She was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Pipestone, where she was a member of the Guild for many years. She was also a member of the hospital auxiliary and was on the Home Health Advisory Board for many years. She was also involved in the State Liners Extension Club and was very active in the Hemophilia Foundation of Minnesota.

Surviving are a daughter, Sylvia (Hollis) Grubb, Hudson, Wis.; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Hartquist Funeral Home, Pipestone Chapel.

The service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Pipestone. Burial will be in New Woodlawn Cemetery, Pipestone.