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Dorothy Verena Jensen
Dorothy Verena Jensen, 90, of Rushford died Sunday (April 11, 2004) at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford.
She was born at home in Rushford on Oct. 9, 1913, the Jensen’s seventh child.
Her father, Carl C. Jensen, had been a country school teacher for a few years. In 1900, he bought half interest in the furniture and undertaking business in Rushford. That same year he married Dorothy’s mother, Annette Gaarden Jensen. They built a home across from the narrow park in front of the school in 1903. Dorothy lived in that house all her life until moving to the nursing home four years ago.
She graduated from Rushford High School in 1931. Each of the six Jensen children who grew to adulthood, attended St. Olaf College; however, Dorothy’s college education ended after two years because of the financial hardship of the Depression. Dorothy came back to Rushford to work in the store where her father had become sole owner. That began a long tenure of assisting with funerals, “keeping the books,” and clerking for her father and eventually for her brother, Bert, who succeeded in the family mortuary business.
Always the “undertaker’s daughter,” she recalled details of countless funerals and never tired of reading obituaries. A treasured childhood memory was her most fashionable doll buggy, beautifully outfitted with the satin samples given by casket salesmen and sewed by her mother.
Dorothy cared for her sister, Myrtle, and her parents for years during their final illnesses and offered child care when her nieces and nephews were born.
She was a lifelong member of Rushford Lutheran Church, joined its ladies groups and taught Sunday School classes, as well as being a member of the Eastern Star in Rushford.
After Good Shepherd Lutheran Home opened in 1965, she became a dedicated nursing assistant until retiring.
Dorothy Verena is survived by 12 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Myrtle; an infant sister; and brothers, Clifford, Otto, Bertram and Milford.
The funeral service was April 17 at Highland Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Peterson, the Rev. David Watson officiated, with burial in Rushford Lutheran Cemetery.
Hoff Funeral Homes-Rushford Chapel is assisting the family.
Eric Arthur Hall
A memorial service for Eric Arthur Hall was Apr. 18 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lanesboro, the Rev. Kerry Eversole officiated.
Mr. Hall, 44, of Minnesota City, formerly of Lanesboro, died Wednesday (Apr. 1, 2004) at his home.
Born June 13, 1959, in St. Paul, he moved to Lanesboro in 1962, graduated from Lanesboro High School in 1977, and attended vocational-technical schools in Rochester and Austin. Mr. Hall lived in Lanesboro until 1984 and then in Holmen, Wis., St. Charles and Elba before moving to the Minnesota City area in 1989. He was a heavy equipment operator for Winona Excavating Co. He was married and later divorced.
Survivors include two sons, Nicklas of Rushford and Cole of Altura; his parents, Curt and Jean Hall of Lanesboro; and four brothers, Mark (Kristine) of Mankato, Kris (Marsha) of Winona, Andy of Minneapolis, and Cory of Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Theressa A. Meyer
Funeral services for Theressa A. Meyer were held Apr. 10 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hart, the Rev. Frederick Buth officiated.
Mrs. Meyer, 89, of Rushford died Wednesday (April 7, 2004) at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford.
Theressa A. Jonsgaard was born on March 12, 1915, to Andrew and Margaret (Stinson) Jonsgaard in Fremont Township.
On October 18, 1938, she married Walter Meyer at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hart. They farmed together until they retired to their home in Rushford. During their retirement years their favorite activity was taking their grandchildren fishing.
Mr. Meyer preceded her in death on February 4, 1985.
She enjoyed quilting, serving for others, crocheting, embroidery and playing cards. She especially enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved the their big hugs.
Mrs. Meyer is survived by one daughter, Arlene (Wayne) Wenzel of Rushford; one son, Wayne (Darlene) Meyer of Rushford; eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 14 great- grandchildren, eight step-great-grandchildren, two brothers, Joe Jonsgaard, Winona and Roy Jonsgaard of Utica; one sister, Seldie Bartelson of Winona.
She was preceded in death by her husband, one grandson, one step-grandson, five sisters, and three brothers.
The family prefers memorials to be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hart.
Norman H. Luehmann
Norman H. Luehmann, 84, died Sunday (April 11, 2004) at Community Memorial Hospital.
He was born Feb. 20, 1920, in Lewiston to August and Rose (Mueller) Luehmann. On Oct. 30, 1943, he married Norma Mueller in Lewiston. She died June 5, 1984.
Mr. Luehmann began working at the Lewiston Creamery prior to his lifelong career of farming. His passion in life was farming, and prior to his retirement in 2000, he especially loved farming with his son Gary and his grandchildren as they operated Rolling Ridge Acres Inc. in Lewiston.
During his farming career, Mr. Luehmann received many awards for his soil conservation practices. He was also the fire warden for Warren Township for 40 years. He was a lifelong member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lewiston.
Mr. Luehmann moved to Lake city for two years to be close to his daughter. He returned to the Lewiston area living in Bremmer Suites in Rushford for the past year and a half.
Survivors include his three children, Gary (Donna) of Lewiston, Glen (Jan) of Dodge Center, and Sandra (Mark Dan) Pritzl of Lake City; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; a brother, James (Pat) Luehmann of Lewiston and three sisters, Ruth Milstein of Minneapolis, Grace Hunter and Doris Matt, both of Lewiston.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Norma; an infant granddaughter; brother, LuVern; and sister, Elvira.
Funeral services were Apr. 14 at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lewiston, the Revs. David Fischer and Michael Lindemann officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Keith R. Gartner
The funeral for Keith R. Gartner, a former Preston mayor and city council member, was Apr. 10 at Preston United Methodist Church, the Rev. Carolyn Westlake officiated. Burial was in Preston United Methodist Cemetery.
Mr. Gartner, 78, of Preston, a retired Preston Creamery employee and former mayor, died Wednesday (Apr. 7, 2004) at his home.
He was born Nov. 8, 1925, on a farm near Chatfield and later moved with his family to a farm in the Preston area. He attended Chatfield schools through his junior year and graduated from Preston High School in 1944.
On Dec. 7, 1946, he married Donna Bestor of Greenleafton in Preston. They lived on his family’s farm until moving into Preston in 1955. He worked at the Preston Creamery for 33 years, and after retiring, worked for the city in park maintenance. He was chairman of Minnesota Dairy Processors for three years and was a past president and treasurer for Dist. 5 Dairy Processors.
He served on the Preston City Council for four years and was mayor for eight years. He was a member of city and county planning and zoning, served on the Community Education board, Preston Public Utilities Commission and Fillmore County Cancer board, and was a ambulance attendant for seven years. He was a member of the Preston Lions, the Preston Area Community Foundation and Preston United Methodist Church.
Survivors includes his wife; a daughter, Patricia Mattson of Peterson; two sons, David (Jan) of Stewartville and Randy (Lori) of Rochester; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Claire (Marian) of Chatfield; and a sister, Marietta (Glenn) Fjerstad of Isle, Minn.
Lois Rickert Roberton
Lois Rickert Roberton, 87, Rushford, died on Mar. 27, 2004. She was born Oct. 6, 1916 to Elmer and Viola (French) Rickert in Reinbeck, Iowa. She graduated from Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Nursing School in Chicago and pursued a nursing career in Chicago and at Cornell Medical Center in New York City. She realized a life-long dream when she graduated magna cum laude from Winona State University in 1978 majoring in Independent Studies with a concentration in Theater Arts.
She met Theodore S. Roberton, Sr. on a blind date on New Year’s Eve 1943 in Chicago and they were married three weeks later on Jan. 23. They moved to Rushford in 1946 were she worked at the Rushford State Bank serving as a teller and as Ted Sr.’s secretary. She was also on the Rushford State Bank board of directors and was honored last year by the Minnesota Bankers Assn. for 50 continuous years of director service.
Roberton’s long time interest in the progress of Rushford led to service in many civic and local organizations. She was the local chairperson of Crippled Children’s Association, local and county chair of the Polio Foundation during the polio epidemic in Rushford, served on the local and Fillmore County American Lung Association Board. She was director/secretary to the Minnesota TB and Health Board for 10 years, receiving a distinguished service award. Roberton served as chairwoman of the Fillmore County Republican Committee. She organized and served as first president of the Rushford Federated Women’s Club, and sponsored the Town and Country Federated Club. She was a lifetime area representative of the Winona Community Hospital and one of the incorporators of the Rushford Community Clinic and served on that board until her death. Roberton took an active role in the development of the new clinic building in downtown Rushford. She also served on the Study Commission for Consolidating the City of Rushford and the Village of Rushford. Mrs. Roberton was founder of Rushford Area Society of the Arts, directed several one act plays, and organized the Reader’s Theatre in the Rushford elementary school; she was on the founding board of the Rushford Community Foundation and in it last year created an endowed fund for nursing scholarships.
Mrs. Roberton was a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron, Grand Page of Minnesota Grand Chapter, Grand Adah of Minnesota, Grand Representative of Minnesota in Oregon Grand Chapter and of Iowa Grand Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, and as District Instructor of Eastern Star for eight years.
She was named Mrs. Rushford in the 2000 Homecoming Celebration and is listed in the 5th edition of the Who’s Who of American Women for her volunteer work.
Loving life and people, Lois always opened her heart and home to family and friends. She loved to dance, sing, play bridge, and all aspects of theater. But most of all, she loved her true companions, her dogs Barney and Pepper.
She is survived by one son, Theodore S. (Anne) Roberton of Rushford; and a daughter, Teryl R. (Brian) Nelson of Payson, Ariz.; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Faye Paulsen of Reinbeck, Iowa; sister-in-law, Florence Rickert of Reinbeck, Iowa; half-sister, Sharon Boyce of Elgin; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and one brother.
Services were set for Rushford Lutheran Church, Mar. 31, with Rev. Roger Michelson officiating, with internment in the Oak Grove Cemetery.
The family would prefer memorials sent to the Lois Roberton Nursing Scholarship Fund in care of the Rushford Community Foundation, or a charity of your choice.
Elida M. Engrav
Elida M. Engrav, 96, of Rushford, died Saturday (March 27, 2004) at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford.
She was born on May 18, 1907, in Whalan, Minn. to Otinius and Thea (Tandberg) Olson. She lived in the Rushford and Peterson areas all of her life.
On Sept. 10, 1924, she was united in marriage with Carl Engrav at the Highland Prairie Lutheran Parsonage in rural Peterson.
Mrs. Engrav worked for several area flower shops for many years. Her interests included gardening, crafts, and enjoying time with her family.
Mrs. Engrav was a lifetime member of Highland Prairie Lutheran Church, as well as being a member of the Rushford Garden Club and the Bird Club in Winona.
She is survived by one son: Wallace V. (Alice) Engrav of Red Wing, Minn.; one daughter: Audrey (Dale) Overland of Lanesboro, Minn.; seven grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren; and one daughter-in-law, Barb Engrav of Plymouth, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her husband; one son, Francis; one granddaughter, Peggy; five brothers; and five sisters.
Funeral services were Mar. 30 at the Highland Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Peterson, the Rev. Paul Johnson officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Barbara Dahl Wright
Barbara Dahl Wright, 72, Oxford, Georgia, died Mar. 1, 2004.
She was born Barbara Ann Darlene Dahl on June 15, 1931, in Starbuck, Minn., to Edward and Bertha Highum Dahl, former Fillmore County residents.
She was preceded in death by her sister Carolyn ‘Sis’ Jones and Betty Gage; brothers Bud, Arvid, and David; and her parents who are buried in the Choice Community Cemetery.
Mrs. Wright is survived by her husband John Wright (of Oxford); a brother, Warren (June) Dahl of Alexandria; and several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Wright’s father, Edward Herman Dahl, was a prominent farmer and architect in Pope and Fillmore counties. Most remembered is the Scheie Lutheran Church that he built in 1913.
Several relatives living in this area are Hansons, Andersons, Bunkes, Eikens, Highums, Swiggums, and others.
