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December 2002

Tuesday, December 31, 2002
Jensen, Mary

Monday, December 30, 2002
Wallin, Esther

Monday, December 23, 2002
Elmer, Cheris "Sherry"

Sunday, December 22, 2002
Thornberg, Gerry W.

Tuesday, December 17, 2002
Lee, Loretta Gail

Saturday, December 14, 2002
Wahldieck, Wilma H.

Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Skistad, Louise Ruth Violet

Louise Ruth Violet Skistad

Louise Ruth Violet Skistad, 86, of Fergus Falls died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002 at the Pioneer Retirement Community.

She was born November 10, 1916 in Fergus Falls to Hugo and Gunda (Erickson) Noren. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended school in Fergus Falls, graduating as valedictorian of her class in 1934.

After high school and during the early years of her marriage, she worked at the Otter Tail County Court House. On October 24, 1943, she married Ralph Sethre Skistad at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. They lived on the Skistad family farm and farmed until his death on October 14, 1981. She moved to the Pioneer Home on December 7, 1999.

She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid and the Carlisle Homemakers. She loved mystery stories, remembering birthdays and anniversaries and was a meticulous bookkeeper.

Louise is survived by her children, Noreen (David) Stigen of Fergus Falls and children: Jeremy (Sarah) Stigen of West Fargo, ND, Laurissa Stigen of Bozeman, MT, and Sethrena Stigen at home; Gaylen (Shelley) Skistad of Elizabeth and children: Jenny Skistad of Winona, MN, and Wesley Skistad at home. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ralph Skistad; one sister, Florence Stein Nelson; three brothers, Leo, Roy and Richard"Dick" and one grandson, John Ivan Stigen.

Visitation: Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. with Rev. Harry Olson officiating and the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Service: 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls

Clergy: Rev. Paul Nelson

Burial: South Friborg Cemetery, Oscar Township

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls
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Wilma H. Wahldieck

Wilma H. Wahldieck, 93, of Fergus Falls died Saturday, December 14, 2002 at Mill Street Residence.

She was born August 10, 1909 in Geddes, SD to James T. and Marie (Sidle) Haney. She graduated from Geddes High School and then attended Henderson Beauty School in Cherobee, IA. She was licensed in N.D., S.D. and MN. She owned and operated a beauty shop at Lake Andes, SD.

On June 17, 1929 she married Frank Wahldieck at Sisseton, SD and they lived in Lake Andes. In May of 1933 they moved to Breckenridge, where she worked as a beautician in Wahpeton, ND. In 1942 she opened her own beauty shop in Breckenridge which she operated for 19 years. In 1967 they moved to Otter Tail Lake. Mr. Wahldieck died December 6, 1998.

She was a member of United Methodist Church in Breckenridge and Richville. She also held offices in the Eastern Star and Zonta Club. She was active in the Minnesota and National Hairdressers Association and volunteered her time to do hair styling for local events such as high school class plays. She enjoyed sewing and making quilts and clothes for her grandchildren, fishing with her husband, playings cards, flowers, cooking and baking. At age 92 she learned how to make lefse even though she was not of Scandinavian descent.

She is survived by a daughter, Betty (Joe) Alongi of Olympia, WA; three grandchildren, Jeffrey (Alica) Underberg of Kent, Jennifer Rice of Lacey, WA and Melissa (David) Wrobel of Medford, OR; great-grandchildren, Kurt and Kortny Underberg and Tony and Whitney Wrobel and a sister, Grace Fijala of Geddes, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frank; two brothers and three sisters.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to the Mill Street Residence Van Fund.

Visitation: Tuesday from 4 to7 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service

Service: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls

Clergy: Rev. Terry Tilton

Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Breckenridge

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls.
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Loretta Gail Lee

Loretta Gail Lee gave up her long and valiant battle with pancreatic cancer and quietly stepped into eternity December 17, 2002. She was a wonderful and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend and her spirit will live on forever in the hearts of those who loved her.

Loretta was born at home in Aurdel Township, Ottertail County Minnesota on September 18, 1923 to Gustuv and Ida Boen. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Fergus Falls high school.

She married Robert Walter Lee November 5, 1955. They lived in Breckenridge until moving to Moorhead in 1974. She worked in housekeeping at St. Luke’s Hospital, Fargo, North Dakota until they retired to their lake home on Trowbridge Lake, Vergas, MN in 1985. Their yard was filled with the gardens she loved tending and she would rise each morning to greet the beautiful sunrises across the water. They moved into their daughter’s home in Apple Valley, MN in August of 2001.

She was preceded in death by her best friend and husband, Bob, her son Ronald, her parents, her twin sister, Lorraine Johnson and her sister Corrine Richter.

She will be missed by sons Robert (Marcia) of Seattle, WA and Donald (Sue) of Minneapolis; daughters Judy (Collin) Prochnow of Apple Valley; Debbie Lee of Apple Valley and Kathy (Joe) Hammer of Breckenridge; fifteen grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; brother Kenneth of Fergus Falls, MN; many nieces and nephews and friends as well as her devoted companion, Little Buster.

Services of cremation were held this week with a memorial service set for Saturday, December 28th at 1:00 PM at Glende Nielson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, with interment at Knollwood cemetery Fergus Falls. Memorials preferred to either Grace Lutheran Church, 7800 West County Road 42, Apple Valley, MN 55124 or Allina Hospice, 2750 Arthur Street, Roseville, MN 55113.
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Gerry W. Thornberg

Gerry W. Thornberg, 58, of Evansville died Sunday, December 22, 2002 at his daughter’’s home in Savage.

He was born February 29, 1944 in Alexandria to George and Hilda (Johnson) Thornberg. He graduated from Evansville High School in 1962. He attended the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1967 with a BA in Psychology. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). After basic training at Quantico, VA, he was accepted into officer’’s candidate school where he earned his commission as 2nd Lieutenant. He completed pilot training at Vance AFB in Enid, OK and was subsequently stationed at Cherry Point, NC. At that time, he married Beverly Beers at Enid, Oklahoma. From 1969 to 1970 he served as a USMC fighter pilot flying an A-6 Intruder out of Chu Lai, Viet Nam. After his tour in Viet Nam, he was stationed at the USMC Air Station in Iwa Kuni, Japan. After returning to the United States, he was stationed at the Meridian Naval Air Station in Meridian, MS where he served as a flight instructor. His service awards included the National Defense Service Medal, the Viet Nam Service Medal with one star, the Air Medal and the Viet Nam Meritorious Unit Citation Cross of Gallantry with palm. He received his honorable discharge from active duty as a Captain in the USMC in 1972.

After returning to Evansville in 1972, he began farming the land which has been in his family for over 100 years. He and Beverly were divorced in 1994. Gerry continued farming and also continued his formal education, working on his Masters degree in business.

He was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Evansville, where he was in charge of the audio system for many years. He was currently serving his second term on the Evansville School Board. He enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, and playing chess with Chad. He was a devoted father and loved both of his children deeply.

He is survived by his daughter, Heather (Wade) Sorenson of Savage; his son, Chad Thornberg of Moorhead; a sister, LaDonna (Norman) Mattila of Garfield and a niece, Rita Rosser of Alexandria. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation: Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church

Service: 11 a.m. Friday at Faith Lutheran Church in Evansville

Clergy: Rev. Irving Arnquist

Burial: Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Evansville
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Cheris "Sherry" Elmer

Cheris "Sherry" Elmer, 75, of Evansville died Monday, December 23, 2002 at the Knute Nelson Memorial Home in Alexandria.

She was born January 2, 1927 in Alexandria to William and Emily (Gran) Sexton. She graduated from the Alexandria High School.

On February 24, 1946 she married Ray Elmer in the Episcopal Church at Alexandria. While Ray was serving with the military in Japan during the occupation of Japan, she lived with his parents in Evansville. When he returned from military duty, they built a new home in Evansville where they have lived since.

She enjoyed ceramics and doing volunteer work. She loved to bake cakes and would make special cakes for family member’s birthdays and other occasions. She dearly loved her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Ray of Evansville; daughter, Lynn Huseby of Evansville; sons, Randy (Jackie) Elmer and Shane (Cheryl) Elmer both of Evansville and Kim (Debra) Elmer of Eagan, MN; nine grandchildren; three step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Emily Sexton; brother, Bill Sexton; sister, Delores Thompson and a son-in-law, Dennis Huseby.

Visitation: Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church

Service: 11 a.m. Saturday at Faith Lutheran Church in Evansville

Clergy: Rev. Irving J. Arnquist

Burial: Mound Grove Cemetery, Evansville

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Evansville
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Esther Wallin

Esther Wallin, 97, of Battle Lake died Monday, December 30, 2002 at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center.

She was born May 20, 1905, in Bertha, MN to Charles M. and Annie V. (Swanson) Lind. She was baptized and confirmed in Petri Lutheran Church at Eagle Bend. She attended country school in Germania Township, rural Bertha, and graduated from the Eagle Bend High School in 1921.

On January 11, 1931, she married Harry Wallin at Petri Lutheran Church. Following their marriage they lived in Battle Lake.

At the age of 16 she began teaching in country schools, took summer courses and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree with an emphasis on gifted children from Moorhead State University in 1966. She taught for 50 years, the last 12 with the Barnesville Public School where she taught the Gifted Program with the first grade, retiring in 1971.

She enjoyed her retirement, traveling throughout Europe, Russia, Thailand and most of the United States. She also enjoyed reading, sewing, knitting, gardening and her art. She was a charter member of Art of the Lakes and of Battle Lake League of Women Voters. She was also an active member of First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake for over 50 years.

She is survived by two daughters, Joan (Matthew) Macheledt of White Bear Lake and Karen (Bruce) Holdt of Clitherall; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, Ted (Sara Mapelli) Holdt of Washougal, WA, Matthew (Su) Macheledt and Kaitlyn of New Richmond, WI, Timothy (Julie) Macheledt and Ryan Hemenway of Champlin, Peter (Susan) Macheledt, Marshall and Ava of New Brighton, Marnie (Darrell) Franze, Erika and Ethan, and Melissa (Lars) Rowe, Jacob and Nathan all of Battle Lake; a sister, Charlotte Bakken of Fergus Falls; many dear nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Annie Lind; her husband, Harry on October 11, 1963; a brother, Hilmer Lind and a sister, Lois Henry.

Visitation: Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. at Esther’s home, 108 W Summit, Battle Lake, and one hour prior to the service at the church

Service: 1 p.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church, Battle Lake

Clergy: Rev. George Dahl

Burial: Amor Cemetery, rural Battle Lake

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Battle Lake
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Mary Jensen

Mary Jensen, 53, of Ashby died Tuesday, December 31, 2002 at Lake Region Hospital after an 11 year battle with cancer.

She was born February 28, 1949 to Enoch and Tilda (Tobiason) Evavold of Ashby. She was delivered by Dr. Mason Randall in his car near Pebble Lake Golf Course in Fergus Falls. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church of Ashby and graduated from Ashby High School in 1967. She then attended Alexandria Area Technical School graduating in 1968.

On June 20, 1970 she married Jerry Jensen at Trinity Lutheran Church of Ashby. She was employed at the Fergus Falls Medical Group for nearly 30 years, eventually becoming Business Office Manager.. She retired in 2000 because of health reasons.

She was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church of Ashby where she was a choir member and served as Sunday School Superintendent and Treasurer. She also served on the Ashby Apartment Association Board since its beginning. She loved to bake and was a loyal Vikings fan. For 14 years she and Jerry operated a concession stand that they took to fairs and other activities. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who loved family gatherings and had many, many friends.

She is survived by her sons, Matthew (Megan) Jensen and Michael Jensen and special friend, Nicole Olson, all of Ashby; a granddaughter, Sydney Jensen; sister, LaVonne (Larry) Greenquist of Fergus Falls; brothers, Calvin (Barbara) Evavold of Boulder, CO, Richard (Judy) Evavold of Apache Junction, AZ, James (Bonita) Evavold of Ashby and Daniel (Georgene) Evavold of Moorhead; 13 nieces and nephews; mother and father-in-law, Reuben and Grace Jensen and brother-in-law, Gene (Lynn) Jensen all of Ashby. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry on July 7, 1996 and her parents.

Visitation: Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Service: 2 p.m. Saturday at Peace Lutheran Church in Ashby

Clergy: Revs. Carol Olson and Barb Spaulding

Burial: Pelican Lake Cemetery, Ashby

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Ashby