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October 2001

Tuesday, October 30, 2001
Lillemoen, Ruth
Merz, Henry

Thursday, October 25, 2001
Hanneman, Ann Marie

Thursday, October 18, 2001
Herrmann, Adella

Tuesday, October 16, 2001
Herness, Gladys
Tofte, Clara

Wednesday, October 10, 2001
Johnson, Beverly Ann

Beverly Ann Johnson

Beverly Ann Johnson, 69, of Fergus Falls died Wednesday, October 10, 2001 at Lake Region Hospital.

She was born July 27, 1932 in Pelican Rapids to Clifford and Hattie (Velo) Toso. She was baptized and confirmed at Bagstevold Lutheran Church and grew up in Maplewood Township. She graduated from the Pelican Rapids High School.

On March 18, 1951 she married Arnold Johnson at Bagstevold Lutheran Church. While her husband was in the military service, she lived with her parents in Maplewood Township. After his return they lived in Iowa for a short time and then moved back to Fergus Falls. They moved to California and then to Portland, Oregon where she worked as a dietitian. She returned to Fergus Falls in 1994. Mr. Johnson died in 1975.

She enjoyed watching soap operas.

She is survived by a daughter, Debra Johnson of Portland, OR; two sons, Donovan L. (Lorna) Johnson of Fergus Falls and Daniel Johnson of Klamath Falls, OR; four grandchildren, Dawn LaRay Johnson, Heather Johnson, Amy Johnson and Brian Thomas and a brother, Virgil (Beverly) Toso of Fergus Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Arnold.

Visitation: Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 2 p.m. Monday at Grace Lutheran Church in Erhard
Clergy: Rev. Mark E. Brickzin
Burial: Bagstevold Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Johnson-Nelson & Nilson of Fergus Falls
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Gladys Herness

Gladys Herness, 83, of Fergus Falls died Tuesday, October 16, 2001 at Lake Region Hospital.

She was born December 26, 1917 in Eagle Lake Township, rural Battle Lake, to Ole and Salvevold. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church and attended rural School District 6 in Eagle Lake Township. She helped take care of her mother until she passed away.

She married Lester E. Herness. They farmed one year in Eagle Lake Township and then purchased a farm in St. Olaf Township where they lived and farmed until Mr. Herness died on September 13, 1957. She then moved to Fergus Falls and worked at Lake Region Hospital until retiring.

She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by four children, LeWayne (LaVaye) Herness of Ashby, Lester (Karen) Herness of Dalton, Barbara (Phil) Barry of Fergus Falls and Forrest Herness of Moorhead; ten grandchildren, Alan (Karen) Barry, Todd (Lori) Barry, Trevor (Connie) Barry, Brent (Tara) Barry, Stephanie Barry, Tami (Ricky) Leitch, Nichole (Ollie) Johnson, Sheila (Lalin) Perera, LeAnn (Robin) Walters and Lori (Jon) Davis and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lester; sister, Edna Evans; brother, Archie Salvevold and a granddaughter, Kim Barry.

Visitation: Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls and one hour prior to the service
Service: 2 p.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church
Clergy: Rev. Marv Abrahamson Burial: 4 p.m. Saturday at Bethel Lutheran Cemetery, rural Ashby
Funeral Home: Glende-Johnson-Nelson & Nilson of Fergus Falls
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Clara M. Tofte

Clara M. Tofte, 92, of Fergus Falls died Tuesday, October 16, 2001 at the Pioneer Retirement Community.

She was born January 16, 1909 in Haugesund, Norway to Lars and Elizabeth (Hinderaker) Moldeseter. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. At the age of 21 her mother packed her suitcase to go to Canada for a better life. She had planned to return to Norway but did not make it back to visit until after her husband’s death.

On September 7, 1938 she married Ingvald Tofte in Winnipeg, Canada. They lived in Grand Forks, ND for 26 years. In 1964 they moved to Fergus Falls. Mr. Tofte died October 30, 1969. She worked for the Foster Grandparents program from 1973 to 1983.

She enjoyed knitting and painting pictures. She loved nature and being outdoors. Occasionally she would take the train by herself to the West Coast just to see the ocean and put her feet in the water. It reminded her of her homeland, Norway.

She is survived by three sons, Otto (Pat) Tofte and Lloyd (Esther) Tofte both of Fargo, ND and John (Mary) Tofte of Preston, MN; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; three brothers and two sisters.

Visitation: Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service.
Service: 10 a.m. Saturday at the Pioneer Retirement Community Chapel
Clergy: Rev. Harry Olson
Burial: Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Johnson-Nelson & Nilson of Fergus Falls
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Adella Herrmann

Adella Herrmann, 89, of Fergus Falls died Thursday, October 18, 2001, at the Pioneer Retirement Community.

She was born October 16, 1912, near Boyd, MN, to Carl and Adelheid (Eckhardt) Ferber. She was baptized October 27, 1912, at the Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church, Boyd, MN, and confirmed March 28, 1926, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Elizabeth by Rev. George Grabarkewitz. She graduated from Fergus Falls High School and attended Moorhead State Teachers College for one year. She then taught five years in three different rural Otter Tail County schools. She later received a BS Degree from St. Cloud University and taught 19 more years in various elementary schools near Brainerd and Lakefield, MN.

On June 8, 1941, she married E.C. Herrmann at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Elizabeth. The couple lived at Fergus Falls, Lakefield, Atwater, Brainerd and in 1975 they returned to Fergus Falls.

She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League where she held offices at local and zone levels, and Circle. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Wednesday Release Classes. She was also a member of the Trinity Church Council two different terms. She was a member of Readers’ Club in Fergus Falls, and of a Bridge Group, and she volunteered at Lake Region Hospital.

She is survived by a daughter, Gwynethe (Gary) Miller of Colorado Springs, CO; a son, Dr. Paul (Kathy) Herrmann of Hamel, MN; granddaughter, Gillian Whitlock of Los Angeles, CA; sister, Alta Froelich of Ortonville; three brothers, David (Elaine) Ferber of Dalton, Ramonus (Georgene) Ferber and Calvin (Marcia) Ferber both of Fergus Falls; two sisters-in-law, Emma Ferber of Fergus Falls and Connie Ferber of Thief River Falls; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, E.C. Herrmann, on October 23, 1992; parents; two brothers, Reuben and Erwin Ferber; two sisters, Arletta Gertrude Beneke and Rosita Lunde; one nephew, one niece and a brother-in-law, Ed Froelich.

Visitation: Sunday from 4 to 8 P.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church and one hour prior to the service
Service: 1 P.M. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church
Clergy: Revs. David Knuth and Roger Lange
Burial: Knollwood Memorial Gardens
Funeral Home: Glende-Johnson-Nelson & Nilson of Fergus Falls
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Ann Marie Hanneman

Ann Marie Hanneman, 81, of Erhard went to be with her Lord on Thursday, October 25, 2001 at Merit Care Hospital in Fargo, ND.

She was born August 27, 1920 in Bay City, WI to Henry and Olive (Perdue) Decker. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended school in Bay City. She worked as a maid in the Bay City area and then moved to the St. Paul area where she worked in a meat processing company. Three of her children were born there.

She married Edward Pourrier in 1938, Bud Hoffmann in 1948, Ray Thompson in 1970 and Lester Hanneman on May 23, 1980. She and Bud had a child, Bernadine. In 1944 she moved to Maplewood Township on Eddy Lake where she has lived all of her married life. She worked for 27 years at West Central Turkey in Pelican Rapids until retiring in 1997.

She was a member of Maplewood Lutheran Church. She enjoyed fishing, hunting, nature and dancing to old time music. She loved sports, especially the Vikings. She also enjoyed her family and grandchildren and loved people.

She is survived by her husband, Lester of Erhard; daughter, Roberta A. Franks of Underwood; son, Robert (Violet) Pourrier of Erhard; three step-children, Vern (Lynn) Kinnamen of Lester Prairie, Rosalie (Lloyd) Peasley of Erhard and Pat (Randy) Erickson of Pelican Rapids; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and a sister, Mary Joann (Bill) Drogus of Water Vliet, Mich. She was preceded in death by her parents; three husbands, Edward Pourrier, Bud Hoffman and Raymond Thompson; two daughters, Rose Marie Johnson and Bernadine Lee Dreschel; a step-son, Rueben Kinnamen; two sisters, Ethel Johnson and Muriel Devine.

Visitation: Sunday 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
Service: 2 p.m. Monday at Maplewood Lutheran Church
Clergy: Rev. Erwin Toso
Burial: Maplewood Presbyterian Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Johnson-Nelson & Nilson of Fergus Falls
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Ruth Lillemoen

Ruth Lillemoen, 87, of Wendell died Tuesday, October 30, 2001 at the Broen Menorial Home in Fergus Falls.

She was born June 24, 1914 on a farm near Avon, SD the daughter of William and Jessie VanGerpen. The family moved to the Windom, MN area while Ruth was a youngster. She received her education in South Dakota and Minnesota schools. In 1950 she moved to California and made her home in Oakland. She worked for several years for the Glen Godman Co. as a stock control clerk.

In 1954 she married Russell Lillemoen. They made their home in Burlingame, CA for the next 26 years. They were members of The Good Sheperd Lutheran Church of Burlingame, charter members of the Sons of Norway Lodge of San Mateo, and members of Guide Dogs of the Blind of San Rafael, CA. After retirement they returned to Minnesota and made their home in Wendell. They were members of the Rock Prairie Lutheran Church and she was a member of the Ladies Aid Society.

Preceding her in death were her parents; three brothers, Ralph, Fred and William, Jr. and four sisters, Lillian K. Dikkers, Eleanor Junker, Leona M. Holt and Gladys E Wulf. She is survived by her loving husband, Russell; her step-son, Roger (Ellen) Lillemoen; her adopted son, Kenneth Lillemoen and foster-son, Bruce (Donna) Balsan; sisters, Dorothy Flaskegaard of Sheldon, IA and Mesa, AZ, Grace Hagerman of Bellingham, WA and Esther Junker of Windom; numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service
Service: 11 a.m. Saturday at Rock Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Elbow Lake
Clergy: Rev. Dan Cole
Burial: Church Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Johnson-Nelson & Nilson of Fergus Falls
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Henry Merz

Henry Merz, 87, of Fergus Falls died Tuesday, October 30, 2001 at his home.

He was born August 9, 1914 in Elizabeth Township, rural Fergus Falls, to George and Martha (Knackendoffel) Merz. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls and attended country school in Elizabeth Township.

On June 22, 1946 he married Florence M. Lyngstad at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls. He worked for Northwestern Sash and Door in Fergus Falls for about eight years. He then started Merz Cabinet Shop which he operated until retiring. He was known as an excellent cabinet maker and craftsman.

He enjoyed collecting miniature antique cars and also his collection of beer cans. He was a great lover of animals and birds and was a devoted husband and father.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Florence (Flo); daughter, Val (special friend Joan Moerke) Merz of Fergus Falls; son, Perry Merz of Minneapolis; sister-in-law, Irene Merz of Fergus Falls; many nieces and nephews; granddogs, Dodi, Dara, Hannah and Lilly the cat. He was preceded in death be his parents; brothers, Lawrence, Elroy, Alvin and infant brother, Albert.

Memorials are preferred to Lakeland Hospice or family’s choice.

Visitation: Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH and one hour prior to the service
Service: 11 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church
Clergy: Rev. Saul Stensvaag
Burial: First Lutheran Cemetery North
Funeral Home: Glende-Johnson-Nelson & Nilson of Fergus Falls