Search Archived Marriage Records
Ethel Utecht
Ethel Mary (Ruegger) Utecht, 93, Rochester, formerly of Sleepy Eye, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, at Seasons Hospice in Rochester. Funeral services were Monday, Dec. 29, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, with interment in the church cemetery. Sturm Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Ethel was born Oct. 19, 1910, in Dieterich, Ill., the daughter of William and Margaret (Iffert) Ruegger. She lived in Dieterich until moving to Sleepy Eye as a child. She graduated from St. Mary's High School and the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. After working a brief time in Sleepy Eye, Ethel moved to San Francisco for employment. In January of 1938, Ethel married Gil Utecht of Sleepy Eye. Gil died in November of 2002, after almost 65 years of marriage. The couple initially settled in Los Angeles, where Ethel worked as a nurse in several hospitals as well as in employee health at North American Aviation during World War II. Due to Gil's employment transfers, the family lived both in California and Melbourne and Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., where Ethel was an active school and church volunteer. In 1971, Gil and Ethel retired and returned to Sleepy Eye where they lived until Ethel moved to Rochester in May, 2003, following the death of her husband. Ethel was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Sleepy Eye Golf Club. She enjoyed spending time with her family, sewing, reading, playing cards and traveling.
Ethel is survived by her daughters, Sally and husband Michael Burns of Rochester and Ruth and husband Douglas Lundborg of Pine Haven, Wyo.; grandchildren, Daniel and wife Christine Burns, Catherine and husband Ken Graeve, David Burns, Geoff and wife Amy Hurley and Lauren Hurley; sister, Marguerite Metzger of Kingsburg, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and sister, Sally Granucci.
Harold Carlson
Harold Virgil Carlson, 75, Darfur, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003, at Sleepy Eye Care Center, Sleepy Eye, after a courageous battle with Amyloidosis
Services were held at New Hope Lutheran Church, Comfrey, on Sunday, Jan. 4, with interment at the Congregation Cemetery near Comfrey. Memorials are preferred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester for Amyloidosis Research or the donor's choice. Arrangements were with Sturm Funeral Home, Comfrey. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family via www.sturmfh.com.
Harold Virgil Carlson was born April 15, 1928, the son of Gustaf E. and Helga K. (Johnson) Carlson in Adrian Township, Watonwan County. He was baptized and confirmed at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Darfur. He graduated from Comfrey High School and in January of 1946, Harold entered the U.S. Navy. Harold served on the USS Chicago in the 7th fleet in the Pacific and the occupation of Japan. He was honorably discharged in November of 1947, as Seaman First Class. Harold married Anita Stark on Nov. 18, 1951, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Darfur. He had worked for Tri County Co-op, the Farmer's Elevator Company, State Bank of Darfur, the Darfur Lumber Company and sold real estate. He was a member of the American Legion Post #549, First United Church of Christ in Comfrey, the Commercial Club for 50 years, an active member in the Masonic Lodge in Comfrey and St. James, was on the Darfur Fire Department for 32 years and taught gun training for 21 years. Harold enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, reading, softball, baseball, gardening and bowling in St. James, Comfrey and Springfield and coaching Darfur Town Team in softball.
Harold is survived by his wife, Anita of Darfur; son, Bradley and wife Julie Carlson of Rochester; daughters, Dawn and husband Tom Gage of Rochester and Brenda and husband Scott Berberich of Byron; five grandchildren; brother, Edner and wife Marlene Carlson of Aladdin, Wyo.; sister-in-law, Rosetta Petersen of Springfield; god children, Margaret Ann Jones of Custer, S.D. and Vanessa Taylor of Oxford, Fla.; brothers and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Michael Gage; brothers, Melvin Carlson and a brother in infancy; sister, Mildred Englof; and brother-in-law, Wilbur Englof.
Earl Cunningham
Earl Cunningham, 90, Sleepy Eye, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, at Sleepy Eye Medical Center. Funeral services were Jan. 5 at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye, with interment in Home Cemetery, Sleepy Eye.
Earl was born Aug. 6, 1913, the son of Ray and Lillie (Wachtler) Cunningham. He grew up on the family farm south of Sleepy Eye and attended Quail Trap Country Grade School, Sleepy Eye High School and North Central College in Naperville, Ill. After a period of work and travel, Earl married Della Schultz in Sleepy Eye, on Dec. 31, 1938. They made their first home in California, where Earl worked in the orange groves and as a tool and die maker for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. In 1946, they returned to the family farm where their family grew to include two sons and two daughters. The diversified farm operation also grew to encompass 400 acres, including a certified seed business and the production of purebred Columbia sheep. Earl's many leadership roles included serving as director/officer of the Brown County Farm Bureau, the American Sheep Producers Council, the North Central Wool Marketing Association, the National Wool Council, the International Wool Secretariat and the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home. The family farm became one of the first totally organic farming organizations. Earl was a leader and spokesman for natural agriculture and responsible stewardship of the land -- which he viewed as God's precious earth. Earl enjoyed travel within the United States and to the Soviet Union, South Africa, countries in South America and Europe and numerous Asian rim countries. He sustained lifelong church involvement and leadership, most recently as a member of the Highland Baptist Church in St. James. On Dec. 31, 2003, Earl and his wife celebrated 65 years of marriage.
Earl is survived by his wife, Della of Sleepy Eye; daughters, June Lloyd of Dallas, Tex. and Joy Cunningham of St. Paul; sons, Reverend Lee and wife Roxanne Cunningham of Arden Hills and Van and wife Linda Cunningham of Sleepy Eye; grandchildren, E. Christopher Lloyd of Durham, N.C., Jason Cunningham of Sleepy Eye, Jennifer Reck of Seattle, Wash., Matthew Cunningham of Kilgore, Tex. and Mark Cunningham of Duluth; and great-grandson, E. Carter Lloyd of Durham, N.C.
Gordon Hauth
Gordon Hauth, 74, rural Springfield, died Monday, Dec. 29, 2003, at St. John Lutheran Home, Springfield. Funeral services were Friday, Jan. 2, at St. John Lutheran Home Chapel, with interment in St. Paul's Catholic Cemetery, Comfrey. Military honors were conducted by the Springfield Legion Honor Guard. Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, New Ulm, handled the arrangements.
Gordon was born Aug. 26, 1929, in rural Springfield to August and Louise (Schultz) Hauth. He attended country school until the eighth grade and helped on the family farm until joining the Army in 1954, with a tour of duty in France. In 1956, he was honorably discharged from the Army and married Marlys Briske on Sept. 12 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Ulm. He enjoyed farming and running a dairy operation. He loved to spend time with his relatives, friends, neighbors and most of all his grandchildren. He liked to listen to old time music and helped his sons start their own band.
Gordon is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Gerald J. and Lavonne Hauth of Springfield, Randy G. and Jennifer Hauth of Sleepy Eye, Roger P. and Diane Hauth of Springfield and Marvin E. and Junelle Hauth of Fort Dodge, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a sister and brother-in-law, Renata and Lawrence Middleton of Springfield. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marlys on July 9, 1978; daughter, Diane Schroeder; sisters, Roseita Hauth in infancy, Mildred Quiram, Irene Fromm; and brother, Royal Hauth.
Eugene "Lemon" LeMoine
Eugene "Lemon" LeMoine, 80, New Ulm, died Monday, Dec. 29, 2003, at New Ulm Medical Center, New Ulm. Mass of Christian Burial was Saturday, Jan. 3, at The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm with Father John Richter and Deacon Mark Steffl officiating. Burial was in New Ulm Catholic Cemetery. Full military honors were conducted at the cemetery by the New Ulm Veterans Organizations. Minnesota Valley Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Eugene Arthur LeMoine, son of Eugene and Elsie (Nun) LeMoine, was born Dec. 26, 1923, in New Ulm. He served in the United States Army as a medical technician enlisting in May of 1943 and was honorably discharged in December of 1945. Lemon retired from Bordon's in New Ulm after working there for 39 years. He was a member of The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the St. Joseph Catholic Aid Council, the Seifert Bianchi American Legion Post #132 and the #15 Chapter DAV both in New Ulm. He had been a resident of the Oak Hills Living Center since November 2003.
Lemon is survived by his wife, Rosalin "Rosie" of New Ulm; daughters and sons-in-law, Deborah and Jerome Clyne and Jaculin and Richard Rohde all of New Ulm; grandchildren, Dustin Schweiss, Darcy Brey, Daisy Brey, Kari Butcher and Holly Dybsetter and her husband, Graham; sister, Elizabeth "Betty" Holcomb of Mankato. Lemon was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Elsie (Nun) LeMoine; and brother-in-law, Victor Holcomb.
Ed R. Lowinske
Ed R. Lowinske, 85, Sleepy Eye, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003, at Sleepy Eye Medical Center. Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 5, at Sturm Funeral Home, with interment in Home Cemetery, Sleepy Eye. E-mail condolences may be sent to the family via www.sturmfh.com.
Ed was born Nov. 1, 1918, in Brown County, the son of Fred and Minnie (Seidl) Lowinske. He grew up in Sleepy Eye and attended St. John's School. After completing his schooling, Ed worked for several farmers in the area before serving in the United States Army for a short time. When he returned to Sleepy Eye, Ed was self-employed as a milk hauler for many years.
Ed is survived by his brother, Leonard and wife Lylla Lowinske of Sleepy Eye; three grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; one brother; and sons, Dennis Lowinske and Ronald Lowinske.
Nicholas "N.J." Mertz III
Nicholas "N.J." Mertz III, 41, New Ulm, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at his home. Visitation is Wednesday, Jan. 7, 4-8 p.m., and Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to noon, at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, New Ulm. There will be a parish prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Sleepy Eye, with interment in New Ulm City Cemetery.
Nicholas was born Jan. 10, 1962, in Sleepy Eye, to Nicholas and Rosemary (Laux) Mertz. He was a 1980 graduate of St. Mary's High School in Sleepy Eye. He attended St. Cloud State University and was a graduate of Mankato Vo-Tech, with a degree in sales and marketing. Nicholas married Rachel Anne Sullivan on March 7, 1992, in New Ulm. He worked for Inver Grove Ford as a salesman and then for Thomson Auto Brokers in Burnsville until the present time. He was a member of the New Ulm Men's Pool League, and played softball in New Ulm and Sleepy Eye. He enjoyed trap shooting, hunting, snowmobiling, boating and camping. He loved spending time telling stories with his family and friends.
Nicholas is survived by his wife, Rachel of New Ulm, their animal children, Smoky, Pepper and Oscar; goddaughter, Wendy Vogel of St. Louis, Mo., sisters and brothers-in-law, Cheryl and Loren Blick, Lori and Rick Gilliland and Missy and Bob Maas, all of Sleepy Eye; brothers and sisters-in-law, Kim and Corrine Mertz of Sleepy Eye, and Brad and Linda Mertz of West Salem, Wisc.; nieces and nephews, Cal, Kyle, Cassey, Andrew, Jennifer, Kelly, Jared, Megan, Cody, Dylan, Dustin, Colten, Brandon, Bradley and Brandon; mother-in-law, Kathleen Sullivan of New Ulm; father-in-law, Nathan and wife Linda Sullivan of Columbus, Ohio; sisters-in-law, Rebekah Rannow of New Ulm, and Elizabeth Sullivan of Columbus, Ohio; brothers-in-law, Scott and wife Sue Sullivan of New Ulm and Matt and wife Jen Sullivan of Olivia; and several aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; nephew, Cole Mertz; and his hunting buddy, Brandy.
