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Ruth Norberg
Ruth Norberg, age 84, a resident of Oregon City, OR, formerly of Little Falls, MN, died recently at her home. Interment was in Oregon City.
Ruth was a graduate of Little Falls High School and the Rural Teacher Training Department. She was also a member of the Congregational Church.
Survivors include her sister, Doris-Marie Avis of Kerrville, TX, and two nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Gunnar Norberg.
Dale Oliver Orton
Dale Oliver Orton, age 67, a resident of Little Falls, MN and formerly of the Fort Ripley and Freedhem area, died March 14, 1997 in Georgetown, CA at the home of his sister-in-law, Marge Peterson, where he and his wife were visiting for the winter months.
Funeral services were held March 22 at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls with the Reverend Hal Spann officiating. Interment was in Oak Knoll Cemetery in Princeton, MN.
Dale O. Orton was born in Baker, MT, on January 27, 1930 to Russell and Edith (Sanford) Orton. He moved from Baker to central Minnesota in 1938 with his family. In 1940, he and his family moved to the family farm in the Freedhem-Fort Ripley area, where he farmed until 1994. During this time he was also employed for several years at Fleet Supply in Little Falls. In 1996 he and his wife moved to the Camp Ripley area. Dale graduated from Little Falls High School in 1948. He served as a member of the 747th National Guard Unit. He married Maxine Nelson on January 1, 1951. They lived on the family farm until their retirement in 1994.
Survivors include his wife, Maxine; daughter, Deb Konen and husband Rein, of Maxwell, IA; sons, Dwight Orton and wife Joyce, of Holdingford, MN, Mark Nelson of Little Falls, and Greg Nelson and wife Wendy of Clear Lake, MN; 14 grandchildren and one great- grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant son, and sister, Della Piekarski.
Pallbearers were grandchildren, Karen, Joel, Jeremy and Lisa Konen, Brian Orton and a special friend, James Hellman.
Virgil Athman
Virgil John Athman, age 72, a resident of Pierz, MN, died March 15, 1997, at his home following an illness with cancer.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held March 19 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz with the Rev. Kenneth Brenny officiating. Burial was in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls, MN. Military rites were conducted by the Pierz American Legion Post.
Virgil J. Athman was born March 15, 1925, in Buh Township, Morrison County, MN, to the late Bernard and Catherine (Ellering) Athman. He grew up in Lastrup on a farm and attended school in Lastrup. After his schooling, he entered the United States Army, December 6, 1944, and received an honorable discharge September 14, 1946. During his military years he was stationed in the Philippines and received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, Battle Star Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Battle Victory Star, Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart. Upon returning from the service he returned to the family farm. He worked for a short time in Thief River Falls and then worked in Avon from the fall of 1948 to the summer of 1951 where he and his brother Cel operated Athman Brothers. In 1951 he returned to Pierz and he and his brother Cel built Pierz Iron Works. He was united in marriage to Regina M. Schmidtbauer on June 2, 1953, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Lastrup. In 1987 following his brother’s death, Virgil became sole proprietor of the business and operated it until his death. In March of 1996, he changed the name of his company to Morrison County Tractor and Equipment. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz, Knights of Columbus and the Pierz American Legion Post, and was a former 4-H leader.
Survivors include his wife; sons and daughters, Leon and wife Karen of Pierz, Earl and wife Patsy of Little Falls, Eric of Los Angeles, CA, Paul and wife Michelle of Little Falls, Dale of Minneapolis, MN, Tony of Pierz, Joan Bieganek and husband James of Brainerd, MN, Ruth Dunn and husband William of Grand Rapids, MI, and Lila Keip and husband Trevor of Johannesburg, South Africa; brothers, Norberg and wife Margaret of Lastrup, Edward and wife Lorraine of Pierz, Bernard and wife Judy of Little Falls; sisters, Irene Goebel of Lastrup, Evelyn Branson of Minneapolis, Bernadine Loidolt and husband Raymond of Pierz; and Alice Poser and husband Arnold of Milwaukee, WI; and 12 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Irwin, Coelestine, Alex and twin brother Victor; and, a sister, Marie Banach.
Casketbearers were Leon, Earl, Eric, Paul, Dale, and Tony Athman and Jim Bieganek.
Nora Schrupp
Nora Schrupp, age 90, a resident of Pine River, MN, died March 15, 1997 at the Lutheran Senior Citizens Home in Little Falls, MN.
Funeral services were held March 18 at Northland Funeral Home Chapel in Pine River with Rev. David Barker officiating. Burial was in Norwood Cemetery, rural Pine River.
Nora was born September 22, 1906, in Parker Township, MN, to Fred and Ida Bellamy.
Survivors include sons, Fred Schrupp of Backus, MN; and Kenneth Schrupp, Jr., of Pine River; daughters, Donna Hardin of Minneapolis, MN; Gloria Parker of Fredericksburg, TX; Joyce Motzko of Cushing, MN; and Lorna Loberg of Cushing; sisters, Elsie Kuehn of Randall, MN; Edith Schwartz of Harvey, ND; and Margaret Jackson of Zephyr Cove, NV; 22 grandchildren and 51 great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death were Kenneth Schrupp Sr., three brothers, two sisters, grandson and a great-grandson.
Georgina M. Cremers
Georgina M. Cremers, age 93, a resident of Pierz, MN, died March 24, 1997 at St. Mary’s Villa in Pierz.
Funeral services were held March 26 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz with Rev. Kenneth Brenny officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Georgina M. Cremers was born September 30, 1903 in Graniteville, VT, to the late Louis and Mary Jane ‘Williams’ Brunelle. She grew up in Lead, S.D. graduating from high school in 1923. She was united in marriage to Arnold Cremers on July 13, 1930 at St. Patrick’s parish house in Lead.
Survivors include her son, Jerome Cremers and wife Barbara of Devils Lake, N.D.; daughters, Helen Martin and husband Jim of Sauk Rapids, MN; Sylvia Brennan and husband Pat of Northridge, CA; and Rita Klassen and husband Bob of St. Joseph, MN; and 8 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold Cremers on March 18, 1991; daughter, Mary Barbara Cremers on April 23, 1949; sisters, Hortense Schwenning, Cecelia Brunelle; brothers, Jack and Tennyson Brunelle; grandson, Michael Cremers. Pallbearers were Jerome Cremers, Jim Martin, Bob Klassen, Jon Forsell, Mark VanErt and Todd Curtis.
Frank Czech
Frank Czech, age 69, a resident of Flensburg, MN, died March 19, 1997 at his home.
Funeral services were March 22 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flensburg, with Father Tony Kroll officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Frank was born April 27, 1927 in Bowlus, MN to John and Victoria (Kroll) Czech. He was united in marriage to Mila Gantala. They farmed all their married life in the Flensburg area.
Survivors include his wife, Mila of Flensburg; sons, David, Christopher and John all of Flensburg; daughters, Donna Balaski of St. Cloud, MN and Darla Billmeyer of Coon Rapids, MN; brothers, George, Leo, Vince, and Roman all of Little Falls, MN and Alois of Arkansas; a sister, Mary Kuchinski of Little Falls; 3 granddaughters, Rebecca, Ashley and Amber; 1 great-grandson, Dylan. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers and one sister. Casketbearers were Jerry Czech, George Czech, Jr., Tom Czech, Tim Czech, Florian Czech and Joe Klisch.
Kenneth Schmitt
Kenneth E. Schmidt, age 73, a resident of Pierz, MN, died March 23, 1997, at his home in Pierz, MN.
Funeral services were held March 26 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz with Rev. Kenneth Brenny officiating. Burial was in the parish cemetery.
Kenneth was born February 20, 1924, in St. Louis, MO, to the late James and Zora “Light” Schmitt. He grew up in St. Louis and graduated from high school in 1942. Ken entered the U.S. Navy on February 27, 1943, and served as an aerial gunner and aircraft mechanic. He was stationed at Sand Point, WA, Hawaii and Okinawa until being discharged on December 30, 1946. Ken attended Clemson University in South Carolina for two years and also played football. Kenneth E. Schmitt was united in marriage to Deloris G. Bayer on September 6, 1952, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz. Ken was amember of the Pierz American Legion Post 341 for 50 years, Little Falls VFW Post 1112, served 3 terms on the Pierz Public School Board, and also served on the Pierz Park Board.
Survivors include his wife, Delores G. Schmitt, son, James Schmitt and wife Mary Beth of Circle Pines, MN; daughters, Debra Wahl and husband Bruce of Fergus Falls, MN; Sandra Kapsner and husband Paul of Little Falls, Patricia Lindquist and husband Andrew of Zimmerman, MN, and Stephanie Fyten and husband Mark of Pierz; brother, Fred Schmitt of Bartlesville, OK; sister, Norma McCullum of Grandburg, TX; nephew, Christopher Timmons of Sauk Rapids, MN and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Garnett Hughes and Amy Ruhland. Pallbearers were Tom and Ray Bayer, Ray Poepping, Melvin Grell, Chris Timmons and Roland Schreiner.
Lois Paull
Lois J. Paull, age 75, a resident of Hibbing, MN, formerly of Fort Ripley, MN, died February 18, 1997, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, MN.
Services were conducted at St. Leo’s Catholic Church with the Rev. John O’Donnell officiating. Burial was in the Belle Prairie Cemetery of Belle Prairie.
Lois was born January 31, 1922, in Fort Ripley to John and Mattie Reichert. She worked at John 10:10 in Hibbing as a sales clerk for 13 years and was currently working at Olive Branch in Hibbing.
Survivors include six daughters, Linda Taylor and husband Tom, Marilyn Huusko, Elaine Sweeney and husband Robert, Sharon Phillips and husband Jay, all of Hibbing; Bobbie Paull of Spooner, WI, and JoAnn Paull of Duluth, MN; three sons, Wayne Plante of Hibbing, Ronald Plante of Chisholm and Tom Paull of Duluth; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and a brother, Bernard Reichert of Fort Ripley. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Lester Plante, second husband, Thomas Prout Paull and a son, Gary.
Irene D. Anderson
Irene D. Anderson, age 84, a resident of Little Falls, MN, died March 26, 1997 at St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls.
Funeral services will be March 31 at First Lutheran Church in Little Falls with Rev. David L. Steffenson officiating. Burial will be in the Fort Ripley Cemetery.
Irene D. Anderson was born June 24, 1912 in Ripley Township, Morrison County, MN, to the late Charles and Ida ‘Larson’ Hedlund. She grew up in Ripley Township and attended country school. Irene was united in marriage to Raymond V. Anderson on June 24, 1933 at the Bethel Lutheran parsonage in Little Falls. The couple resided on the family farm in Ripley Township until Raymond’s death on October 13, 1978, when she moved to Little Falls.
Survivors include her daughters, Beatrice Sargeant of San Carlos, CA; Bonita Immeker and husband Gary of Fremont, CA; and Beverly Larsen and husband Howard of Little Falls; sister, Ellen Dipzinski of Michigan; five grandchildren, Diane Allen and husband Roger, Shaun Immeker and wife Carolyn, David Immerker, Stephanie Larsen and Hans Larsen, and one great-grandson, Matthew Allen. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond V. Anderson, parents and four sisters.
