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January 2003

Sunday, January 19, 2003
Gilles, James R.
Facio, Tami Rae

Thursday, January 2, 2003
Anderson, Hazel Julianna
Berg, Donald
Engen, Georgine L.

Wednesday, January 1, 2003
Peterson, Craig

Craig Peterson

Craig L. Peterson, 45, of Fergus Falls died Wednesday, January 1, 2003 near Fergus Falls as the result of a car accident.

He was born February 5, 1957 in Mason City, Iowa to Jack and Betty (Knull) Peterson. He lived in Minneapolis until age 12, then moved to Ottertail and graduated from the Henning High School in 1976.

He met Cherlynne Koeppe in 1977 while attending NDSCS and they were married on August 26, 1978 in Lidgerwood, ND. They moved to Fergus Falls in 1979 where he began working at Mr. Steak as Kitchen Manager. After hard work and dedication he became sole proprietor of Mr. C’s Family Dining. He was a well respected businessman in Fergus Falls.

He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was also involved in many other business and real estate ventures. He was very devoted to his family and his grandson, Trey. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, loyalty and love for family and friends. He was known by many and loved by all.

He is survived by his wife, Cherlynne of Fergus Falls; daughter, Tasha Marie of Fergus Falls; son, Corey (Megan) Peterson of Lancaster, CA; grandson, Trey; mother, Betty Peterson of Battle Lake; sister, Julie (Rick) Stulz of Farmington; brothers, Scott (Connie) Peterson of Moorhead, Jack (Chris) Peterson of Coon Rapids and Brian (Janelle) Peterson of Becker. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Peterson and his grandparents.

Visitation: Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls and one hour prior to the service at the church

Service: 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls

Clergy: Rev. Saul Stensvaag

Burial: First Lutheran Cemetery

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls
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Hazel Julianna Anderson

Hazel Julianna Anderson was born May 13, 1910 at the home of her grandparents, Knute and Helga Engen, in Sanford Township, Grant County, the oldest of four children, to John T. and Christina (Engen) Pederson. She attended rural School Districts 9 and 13. She was baptized and confirmed in Norwegian at Erdahl Lutheran Church and was the last member of her confirmation class of 1924. In the 1930's Hazel did child care in Waubay, SD and housework on Summit Avenue in St. Paul.

On March 25, 1939 Hazel married Elmer A. Anderson in Elbow Lake. For a short time following their marriage they lived on the Anderson family farm in Pelican Lake Township together with Herbert and Amanda Anderson and boys. In April of 1939 they moved to his farm in Pomme de Terre Township which was her home for the next 57 years.

Hazel helped with farm activities such as milking cows and gardening for about 70 years. She also did sewing for herself and close relatives and friends for about 80 years. She was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid. She also sewed quilts and was a Circle treasurer for about 20 years. She entered the nursing home in 1996 until entering the Midwest Health Care in Fergus Falls recently.

On Thursday, January 2, 2003, Hazel passed away at Midwest Health Care in Fergus Falls at the age of 92 years.

She is survived by a son, Elroy Anderson of Elbow Lake; several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer in 1972; her parents; brother, Truman Pederson; sisters, Lydia Carter and Ellen Quernemoen; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and three great nieces and nephews.
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Georgine L. Engen

Georgine L. Engen, 92, a resident of Pioneer Retirement Community in Fergus Falls, died Thursday, January 2, 2003, at the Pioneer Home.

She was born on February 2, 1910 in Vining, MN, the daughter of Tom and Laura (Edwards) Wilson. She attended school in Vining. She was Baptized and Confirmed in the Lutheran Faith.

On October 1930 she married Lloyd Engen. After their marriage, the couple resided in Fergus Falls. Later moving to Dwight North Dakota for three years. They then returned to Fergus Falls until 1964 when they retired to a small farm north of Vining. Georgine entered the Pioneer Retirement Community in 2000.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Lloyd; step-son, Levenne,; three sisters, Olive, Lillian and Ruby; and four brothers, Joe, Roy, Ellsworth and Lloyd.

Survivors include son, Melane (Karen) of Battle Lake; daughter-in-law, Dorothy Engen of Fergus Falls; five grandchildren, Bonnie (Greg) Larson, Donald Engen, Douglas (Debrah) Engen, Miles (Chris) Engen and Scott Engen; eight great-grandchildren, Heather (Randy) Bitzen, Sean Greenie, Dana, David, Damian, Danielle, Ashley and Lisa Engen; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service: Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the Pioneer Retirement Community Chapel, Fergus Falls

Clergy: Rev. Harry Olson

Burial: Folden Cemetery, rural Vining

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls
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Donald Berg

Donald Berg, 69, of Fergus Falls died Thursday, January 2, 2003 at the Broen Memorial Home.

He was born July 4, 1933 in Fergus Falls to Clarence and Selma (Knutson) Berg. He was baptized and confirmed at Augustana Lutheran Church and graduated from the Fergus Falls High School in 1951. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served his basic training at San Antonio, TX and then attended Radio School in Biloxi, MS. He then served with the 15th Radio Squadron Mobile in Kobe, Japan. After he returned from military service he attended NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND. He worked at M & R Sign Company and then the Burlington Northern Railroad.

On May 20, 1961 he married Ethyl Obright at Augustana Lutheran Church. He worked for Otter Tail Power Company for 34 years retiring in 1998.

He was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church, Elks and R.O.M.E.O. Club (Retired Old Men Eating Out). He was also an active member of the VFW where he served as Commander twice, was District VFW Commander, was on the VFW Color Guard and Rifle Squad and the VFW Heritage Group and was a member of the VFW Slopeheads. He was VFW State Hockey Chairman for over 20 years and decorated area cemeteries for Memorial Day for 20 years. He enjoyed camping with his family, woodworking, auto mechanics and both playing and watching golf. He used his graphic arts training making cards for family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Ethyl of Fergus Falls; sons, Richard (Jennifer) Berg and Micheal (Vicki) Berg both of Big Lake, MN; two grandchildren, Carson and Kendra Berg; a sister, Donna (DeLos) Keech of Denver, CO; sisters-in-law, Ruth Berg of Florence,AZ and Noel, his family dog. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Stacie Ann; sister, Carol Liedl and a brother, Kenneth Berg.

Visitation: Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church

Service: 2 p.m. Monday at Augustana Lutheran Church

Clergy: Rev. Paul Hadland

Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery with military rites by Memorial Color Guard and Rifle Squad, Harold T. Swenson VFW Post 612.

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls
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James R. Gilles

James R. Gilles, 79, of Fergus Falls died Sunday at Villa Maria Nursing Home in Fargo.

He was born December 31, 1923 in Wahpeton, N.D. to Joseph and Magdelen (Goerger) Gilles. He grew up in the Barney, N.D. area where he attended rural school and later worked with his dad on the farm prior to going into the Army. He served in Germany during his service time. After the service, he returned to the Battle Lake area and farmed in Amor Township.

On August 3, 1951, he married LaDonna Fuder in Breckenridge. They lived in South Dakota and then Fargo, N.D. where he worked for Fargo Foundry and Adams Inc. In 1961 they moved to Maine Township where he farmed until 1984. He continued to live on the farm until 1996 when he moved to Fergus Falls where he has lived.

He enjoyed playing cards, jigsaw puzzles, western movies and books. He was a member of St. James Catholic Church in rural Underwood.

He is survived by his daughter, Marilyn (Kent) Harris of West Fargo; three sons, James (Velma) of Manhein, PA, Kym of Huntington Beach, CA and Larry (Jodi) of Fergus Falls; four sisters, Rosemary Dahlgren of Wahpeton, N.D., Magdelen (Carl) Eckman of Grand Forks, N.D., Vivian (Jack) Joyce of Aurora, CO and Elizabeth Fay of Algonquian, IL; one brother, Peter (Angela) Gilles of Underwood; seven grandchildren; one step-grandchild; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife LaDonna on December 28, 1986; his son Kevin; and one brother, Bernard.

Visitation: Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at the St. James Catholic Church, rural Underwood

Service: Friday at 10:30 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church, rural Underwood

Clergy: Father Paul Folsom

Burial: St. James Catholic Cemetery, rural Underwood

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls
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Tami Rae Facio

Tami Rae Facio, 40, of Fergus Falls died Sunday, January 19, 2003 at Innovis Hospital in Fargo, ND as the result of a car accident.

She was born December 13, 1962 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Minneapolis to Bud and Norma (Bardwell) Sims and older brother, Randy. She started kindergarten at Morris Bye in Coon Rapids. From there she moved with her family to Clearbrook where she attended school for six years. In 1975 the family moved to Bagley where she graduated from High School in 1981. In the fall of 1981 she studied at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth for Radiology and completed her studies in two years. Her first job in radiology was at St. Ansgar Hospital in Moorhead.and it was there she met and married Victor Facio on November 7, 1987. They have two children, Samantha and Dominic.

She furthered her studies in Ultrasound on her own, and completed the last of the five licenses in the summer of 2002. She started employment at Lake Region Hospital in June of 1995 as a diagnostic medical sonographer. She was the only sonographer in the states of Minnesota and North Dakota registered in the following five areas of Ultrasound: abdomen, ob/gyn/ breast imaging, adult eclectrocardiography and vascular technology. She was the founder and inspiration to the organizing of the Red River Valley Vascular Society which she founded in 1990. While at Lake Region Hospital she remained an active member of the RRVVS,

She loved and will always love her family, her jobs at Merit Care in Fargo and Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls. She enjoyed interior decorating, reading, oil and water painting and yard work. She loved the lake and spending time in the summers at their cabin at Swan Lake. She was a member of Federated Church and also volunteered at Center for the Arts.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Ernest and Jennie Bardwell; paternal grandparents, Elmer and Eunice Sims and her mother-in-law, Maria Facio. She is survived by her husband, Victor of Fergus Falls; children, Samantha and Dominic of Fergus Falls; parents, Bud and Norma Sims of Fergus Falls; brother, Randy Sims of Morris; step-daughters, Victoria Roach of Fargo, ND and Kristen Francis of Moorhead and step-grandchildren, Kylie and Isaiah.

Visitation: Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Service: 1 p.m. Friday at Federated Church

Clergy: Rev. Myles Alexander

Burial: Pelican Lake Cemetery, Ashby

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls