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March 2002

Wednesday, March 13, 2002
Earle, Emily

Tuesday, March 12, 2002
Stolson, Ernest

Saturday, March 9, 2002
Henderson, Ruth Louise

Wednesday, March 6, 2002
Vansteenburg, Hazel Pearl

Tuesday, March 5, 2002
Kiser, Albert Jacob

Saturday, March 2, 2002
Gjerness, Joan Elsie

Joan Elsie Gjerness

Joan Elsie Gjerness, 71, of Fergus Falls died Saturday, March 2, 2002 at her home.

She was born January 1, 1931 in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of Paul and Elsie (Christophersen) Larsen. From infancy through High School, she was an active member of the Second Evangelical Free Church of Brooklyn, NY. On December 17, 1949, she was united in marriage to Rev. Omar Gjerness, pastor of the nearby Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (now known as 59th St. Lutheran Church).

The couple served churches in Brooklyn, NY, Billings, MT and Pasadena, CA, before moving to Fergus Falls to serve the Seminary of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren in 1962. From the beginning, she was a model pastor’s wife, who taught Sunday School, played piano, sang in the choir and was active in all phases of the Lord’s work. She cultivated deep friendships from coast to coast and abroad. At one time, she served as the National President of the Women’s Missionary Fellowship of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren and in that capacity was listed in Who’s Who in Religion in America.

She worked for Esso Petroleum (now Exxon) at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, at Bullock’s Department Store in Pasadena, CA, and worked for 22 years in three different capacities in the Fergus Falls School District.

Her passion was to serve God and to serve people. She loved the Lord, loved her family, loved beauty, loved flowers, loved music, loved people and loved children. That love was returned by hundreds of friends throughout her life and was especially evident during her illness, when she was showered with greeting cards, phone calls, assurances of prayer and flowers from near and far. As a teacher’s aide in Fergus Falls she will be remembered fondly by many of the young people of Fergus, as well as by the people she worked with.

She was also known for her exquisite Norwegian hardanger needlework, an art handed down to her from her mother-in-law, Mollie. Her hardanger is proudly displayed from coast to coast, and will remind us for many years of her patience, her passion, her steadfastness and her kind loving spirit. Her passing leaves a hole in our hearts that can only be stitched together by the love of our Savior.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Sandra (Gleason) Archer of Deerfield, Ill. She is survived by her husband, Rev. Omar Gjerness; four children, David Gjerness of St. Louis Park, MN, Melinda (Dan) Gardner of Eau Claire, WI, Craig (Christine) Gjerness of Richfield, MN and Peter (Kimberley) Gjerness of Golden Valley, MN; three grandchildren, Katelyn Gardner, Kelsey Gardner and Bo Gjerness; a sister, Carolyn (Ken) Walker of Fullerton, CA as well as seven nephews and eight nieces.

Visitation: Monday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home and resuming one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Bethel Lutheran Church
Clergy: Revs. David Veum and William Colbeck
Burial: Oak Grove Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls
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Albert Jacob Kiser

Albert Jacob Kiser, age 85 of Maine Township, rural Battle Lake died Tuesday, March 5, 2002 at the Otter Tail Nursing Home.

He was born on June 28, 1916 in Valley City, ND, the son of Nicholas and Louisa (Becker) Kiser. He was baptized in the Catholic Church in Valley City and at the age of two years he moved with his family to rural Underwood where he was confirmed in the St. James Catholic Church in Maine Township.

Jacob Kiser and Agnes Brietenbauch were married on July 24, 1940 at the St. James Catholic Church. After their marriage, they lived and farmed on Agnes’ family farm in Amor Township. They moved to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin where they resided for a short time before returning to Minnesota where they farmed in Amor and Maine Townships and managed the Underwood Drayline for one year. Jacob and Agnes operated their dairy farm for over forty years. In his later years he enjoyed working with his herd of Hereford cattle. He retired in 1988. Along with his love for farming, he was an avid hunter, fisherman, great baseball fan, and enjoyed the outdoors. He also enjoyed visiting with fellow retired farmers, and going to auction sales.

He was a member of the St. James Catholic Church and had served on the school board with Rural School District 22 in Maine Township.

He is survived by: his wife Agnes; one daughter, Beverly (John) Needles of Sioux Falls, S.D.; four sons, Lawrence Kiser of Minneapolis, George "Joe" Kiser of Duluth, Michael (Susan) Kiser of Fargo, ND, and Greg (Cindy) Kiser of Echo; thirteen grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. He was preceded in death by: his parents; two sons, Mark and Robert Kiser; six sisters, Agnes in infancy, Margaret McCullough, Mary Schweiger, Tracy Kiser, Louisa Nelson, and Dorothy Washek; and three brothers, Bill, Frank, and Rob Kiser.

Visitation: Friday from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with parish prayers at 7:30 p.m. at the St. James Catholic Church and one hour before the service
Service: Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church in Maine Township
Clergy: Father Paul Folsom
Burial: St. James Catholic Church Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Battle Lake
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Hazel Pearl Vansteenburg

Hazel Pearl Vansteenburg, age 80, of Battle Lake, died Wednesday, March 6, 2002 at her home.

She was born May 4, 1921 in Manly, Iowa to William and Bertha (Cookman) Gallion. She went to school in the Manly Public School system and graduated Valedictorian of her class in 1939. She then attended Hamilton Business College in Mason City, Iowa, graduating in the top ten of her class.

She married Barton Vansteenburg of Jacobson, MN on September 2, 1943. They farmed in and around the Manly area until buying their farm south of Northwood, Iowa in 1956. Hazel worked as an accountant at various firms in the North Iowa area until moving to Wahpeton, ND in 1974. There she became head bookkeeper for Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative until her retirement in 1988.

She and Barton have enjoyed traveling to all 50 states and Europe. They have enjoyed their home on Silver Lake near Battle Lake, and their winter home in Bradenton, Florida. She liked to read and crochet. She made many beautiful afghans. She also wrote stories and poetry when she was younger and once won a prize for a poem she had written. She enjoyed visiting and having her grandchildren and great-grandchildren visit. She was a lifetime member of the Bethel United Methodist Church in Manly, Iowa, and attended the Ottertail United Methodist Church where she was active in the United Methodist Women’s Organization. She enjoyed making crafts for the church bazaar and other events. Her and Barton also enjoyed going to the Battle Lake Senior Citizens Center.

Her good meals and sense of humor will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.

She is survived by: her husband of 58 years, Barton; one son Jeffrey (Heidi) of Northwood, Iowa; two daughters, Katha (Michael) Neese of Breckenridge, and Raejean (Dan) Toledo of Clovis, New Mexico; nine grandchildren, Tracy & Jennifer Huizel; Krista Huizel; Jaime, David and Kaia Neese; Hannah & Jessica Vansteenburg; and Heather Bruner ; two great-grandchildren, Megan Huizel and Nichole Hobson; two sisters, Violet Vansteenburg and Edna Tietz both of Manly, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by: her parents; one infant son; her brother Roy Gallion; and two sisters, Mildred Fread and Lucille Hoyt.

Visitation: Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Nilson Funeral Home, Battle Lake, and Monday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Bethel United Methodist Church in Manly, Iowa
Services: Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Nilson Funeral Home, Battle Lake, and Monday at 11 a.m. at the Bethel United Methodist Church in Manly, Iowa
Clergy: Reverend Phil Schmidt and Reverend Cumings
Burial: Manly Cemetery, Iowa
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Battle Lake
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Ruth Louise (Houghtaling) Henderson

Ruth Louise (Houghtaling) Henderson, 91, of Underwood, died March 9, 2002 at Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls.

She was born in Foxhome to Willie V. and Anna Rose (Mussman) Houghtaling on March 18, 1910. Ruth was baptized in the Methodist Church in Foxhome, and also attended school there through the eleventh grade.

On August 27, 1927, Ruth was married to Michael Shannon. To this union a son, Robert V. Shannon, was born. Ruth worked at the State Hospital in Fergus Falls.

In April 1931, she married Leo (Blackie) Henderson. They were the parents of five children. She helped support her family by working in many homes helping wherever she was needed.

On August 28, 1946, Ruth married William (Bill) Henderson in Vergas, where she worked as a clerk in a grocery and small clothing store. In 1954, Ruth and Bill moved to Underwood where she was employed for many years at the Farmers Mercantile Store until her retirement in 1963. In 1993, Ruth moved into Tamarack Manor Apartments where she had many good friends and neighbors. Ruth loved to bake so there were plenty of "Goodies" to go around when she and her friends played cards.

She was a member of Royal Neighbors, Underwood Senior Citizens, and the Underwood Harvest Festival Committee, where she loved working on the floats each year. She enjoyed making crafts and crocheting.

She was a committed member of Sverdrup Lutheran Church. She was active as a Sunday School teacher, sat on the Church Council, and enjoyed the Ladies Circle.

Her favorite times were the times spent with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed doing housework in her "bare feet", and sending cards for every occasion and waiting for her tulips to bloom in the spring! She is survived by: four sons, Robert (Sonja) Shannon of Rapid City, SD, Weldon "Pug" (Ruby) Henderson and Ronald Henderson, both of Underwood, and Bernard "Fibber" (Joan) Henderson of Audubon; two daughters, Joyce (Robert) Lee and Leatrice Mohs both of Fargo, ND; one sister, Wilma Sanborn of Breckenridge; sister-in-law, Hazel Houghtaling of Fergus Falls; three stepdaughters, Norma (Norman) Davis of Breckenridge, D.I. "Sis" Henderson of Canada, and Shirlie (Merlyn) Valan of Comstock; twenty-one grandchildren; fifty-six great-grandchildren; fifteen great-great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by: her parents; two brothers, Joe and Sherman; two sisters, Alice (Tom) Willemssen and Alta Glander; brother-in-law Harvey Sanborn; her husbands Leo "Blackie" Henderson, and William "Bill" Henderson; son-in-law Alvin Mohs; two grandsons, Jim Lee and Jeffrey Henderson; and a great-grandson Paul Henderson.

Visitation: Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 4:30 p.m. at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls
Service: Thursday at 1 p.m. at Sverdrup Lutheran Church, Underwood
Clergy: Rev. Kerri McFarland and Rev. Ron Henley
Burial: Foxhome Community Cemetery, Foxhome
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls
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Emily Earle

Emily Earle, 87, of Fergus Falls died Wednesday, March 13, 2002 at the Knute Nelson Memorial Home in Alexandria.

She was born September 19, 1914 in Fergus Falls to Albert and Pauline (Lehn) Mandelke. She attended school in Elizabeth and St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church. She then moved with her family to Fergus Falls.

On September 5, 1942 she married Richard "Dick" Earle in Lawton, OK where he was stationed while serving in the U.S. Army. Following his military discharge they returned to Fergus Falls. She worked at Montgomery Ward, Park Region Bakery and Our Lady of Victory Catholic Schools along with other various jobs. Mr. Earle died in 1977. She continued to make her home in Fergus Falls until December of 2001 when she moved to Alexandria and entered the Knute Nelson Memorial Home.

She enjoyed gardening, flowers, crafts, going fishing and her family. She was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Circle and the VFW Auxiliary where she had been past president.

She is survived by two daughters, Linda Lorenz of Alexandria and Mary Earle of Fergus Falls; a son, Bill (Janet) Earle of Duluth; two grandchildren, Jessica Earle and Ricky Earle; three sisters, Gert Neubauer of Fargo, ND, Irene (Wally) Wyffels of Banning, CA and Helen Denbrook of Fergus Falls and a brother, Ed Mandelke of Banning, CA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; a grandson, Jamie Lorenz; sisters, Elizabeth Brendemuhl, Regina Hanson and Dorothy Neubauer and a brother, Joe Mandelke.

Visitation: Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service
Service: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church
Clergy: Father Robert Kieffer and Sister Joyce Leibly
Burial: St. Otto’s Catholic Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls
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Ernest Stolson

Ernest Stolson, 82, formerly of Underwood died Tuesday, March 12, 2002 at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in St. Cloud.

He was born May 19, 1919 in Underwood to Elmer and Mabel (Berge) Stolson. He grew up and attended school in the Underwood area. He entered the U.S. Army August 19, 1941 and served during WWII in New Guinea. Following his discharge from military service on February 12, 1944 he did construction work. He has been a resident of the Veterans Medical Center in St. Cloud for the past 28 years.

He is survived by a sister, Doris Bergeron of Milaca and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Viola.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service
Service: 2 p.m. Friday at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Rev. Kerri McFarland
Burial: Tingvold Lutheran Cemetery, Underwood
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls