May 2010 Death Notices - Paynesville Press, Paynesville, Minnesota
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Death Notices
Complete obituaries can be found in the Paynesville Press each week.

May 2010

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Obituary Archives

Melanie Mills, 43, Benson
Melanie Mills, 43, of Benson died on Sunday, May 30, at the Willmar Commons Nursing Home.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, June 3, at the Evangelical Free Church in Benson.

Melanie G. Mills was born on Dec. 11, 1966, to Lester and Bernice Mills in Paynesville.

Melanie graduated from Eden Valley High School. She lived in Eden Valley, St. Paul, Paynesville, and Benson.

She is survived by her siblings, Cleo (Ron) Theis of Montevideo, Laurel (Mike) McManus of St. Paul, Darcy (Paulette) Mills of Eden Valley, and Anthony Mills of St. Cloud; her nieces and nephews; and aunts,uncles, cousins, and very dear and loyal friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Bernice.


Alma Mathison, 85, Roswell, N.M.
Alma Mathison, 85, of Roswell, N.M., and formerly of Belgrade, died on Friday, May 14, at her home under hospice care.

Burial was held in Roswell Community Cemetery with a graveside ceremony.

Alma Mathison was born on April 17, 1925.

She married Norman Mathison on Dec. 28, 1946. Their union lasted until NormanŐs death in 2008.

While in Belgrade, Alma was a homemaker, raising six children, and was active in many community groups, her church, and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Alma and Norman had retired to Roswell 27 years ago. They traveled for five years in their motorhome, touring many states, from Alabama to Maine and to Florida.

Alma is survived by her four children, Robert (Sande) of Belgrade, Rick of Roswell, Janet of Roswell, and Barry (Kendra) of Roswell; seven grandchildren; brother, Ben, of Fergus Falls; three sisters, Marcella Kollman of Sauk Centre, Irene Hemmesch of Paynesville, and Mary Ann Mikret of St. Cloud; and many other relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Mary Schmitz of Roscoe; husband, Norman; five brothers; one sister; son, Donald; and daughter, Sharon.


Thomas Cowell, 69, Eden Valley
Thomas P. Cowell, 69, of Eden Valley (Rice Lake) died on Saturday, May 29, at the Paynesville Area Hospital.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 3, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. Burial will be held in parish cemetery with military honors.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 2, from 4-8 p.m., and after 10 a.m., on Thursday at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville.

Tom Cowell was born on May 1, 1941, to Thomas and Margaret (Connors) Cowell in Pittston, Penn.

He married Catherine Homa on Dec. 29, 1962, in Ashley, Penn. They shared nearly 48 years of marriage.

Tom served in the United States Army and worked in the insurance industry throughout his life, retiring as an executive manager in 2002.

Tom is survived by his wife, Kay; children, Anne (Gregg) Felber of Big Lake, Tim (Anne) of Filley, Neb., and Michael (Heidi) of Mound; five grandchildren; and brothers, Jim and John.

He was preceded in death by his parents.


Foster Hudson, 94, Hawick
Foster Hudson, 94, of Hawick died on Saturday, May 15, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, May 19, at Hawick Methodist Church. Burial was in the Roseville Cemetery in Hawick.

Foster Hudson was born on Oct. 23, 1915, to Burr and Jean (Smithson) Hudson in New London Township.

When he was about seven, they moved to their new farm on Long Lake, near Hawick. Although he was an only child, Burr and Jean also raised Lola (Smithson) Barron, JeanŐs niece, who lost her mother in child birth.

Foster graduated from Paynesville High School. He then graduated from Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis.

He took his first job with Glen L. Martin Aircraft in Baltimore. Ollie (Solbrack) joined him, and they were married in 1941. When WWII broke out, they returned to the farm in Hawick, where they built a home next to Burr and Jean, where they have resided since. They raised two sons, Foster A. and Lyle.

After WWII, Foster taught for one year at Dunwoody. He farmed with his father for many years but also worked several jobs building homes in the area. When the REA built a power plant across the road, he got a job as a plant operator for several years. He then started his own cabinet business and built his shop on the farm. He also drove school bus in New London for 25 years.

Although he retired from most of his jobs, Foster never quit working.

Foster is survived by his wife, Ollie; two sons, Foster A. (Karen) and Lyle (Cheryl); five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and cousin, Lola.


Merle Nacey, 72, Paynesville
Merle J. Nacey, 72, of Paynesville died on Sunday, May 16, at the Paynesville Area Hospital.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, May 20, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. Burial was in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Waite Park.

Merle James Nacey was born on Feb. 19, 1938, to James and Mary (Barlage) Nacey in Wadena.

When he was seven, his family moved to Waite Park, where he attended grade school. Merle went on to graduate from St. Cloud Tech High School.

On April 10, 1956, he married Grace Nelson in Waite Park. Three sons and a daughter were born to this union.

After they married, Merle and Grace lived in Waite Park for a short time before they moved to Bloomington, where Merle worked as a mechanic for Hopkins Transfer. They moved to Tracy, where Merle worked for Borner Ford, then to Eden Valley, where he worked for Bischof Ford.

In 1965, the family moved to Paynesville, where Merle worked for Paynesville Motor & Transfer before opening the family business, J & M Auto Services and Towing, in 1967.

Merle and Grace shared in 54 years of marriage.

Merle never officially retired; he drove wrecker for the business as a hobby whenever he had time.

Merle is survived by his wife, Grace; children, Dennis of Paynesville, Larry of Owatonna, Roger of Waite Park, and Julann (Dan) Krupke of Sauk Rapids; eight grandchildren; and two great- grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant grandson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.


Eleanor Deadrick, 72, Esko
Eleanor "Ellie" M. Deadrick, 72, of Esko died on Monday, May 10, due to complications of MSA/Parkinsons.

A memorial mass was held on Friday, May 14, at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Cloquet.Inurnment was in in New Calvary Cemetery in Cloquet.

Ellie Deadrick was born on Jan. 15, 1938, to Ted and Edith Thomsen in Dalton, Neb.

She graduated in 1955 from Paynesville High School and then graduated as a registered nurse from Swedish Hospital in 1959. Ellie continued to work in nursing until her retirement in 2000.

In April 1962, she married her best friend, Robert ŇBobÓ Deadrick. Together, they shared 48 years of marriage and raised their four children.

Ellie is survived by her husband, Bob of Esko; four children, Shane (Lynne) Deadrick of Esko; Troy (Stacy) Deadrick of Esko; Chris (Anna) Deadrick of Ely; and KellieAnn (Tom) Whalen of Chaska; mother, Edith Thomsen of Paynesville; nine grandchildren; three sisters, Irene Bjerke of Bloomington, Denise Holte of Cheyenne, Wy., and Trudy Quill of New Richmond, Wis.; brother, Lyle Thomsen of Paynesville; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ted Thomsen, and her father-and-mother-in-law, Bud and Pearl Deadrick.

Memorials may be made to the Parkinsons Foundation.


Alois Bertram, 83, Greenwald
Alois M. "Al" Bertram, 83, of Greenwald died on Monday, May 10, after a courageous battle with leukemia at his home in Greenwald.

Funeral services were held on Friday, May 14, at St. AndrewŐs Catholic Church in Greenwald. Burial was in the parish cemetery.

Alois Mickael Bertram was born on July 9, 1926, to Joseph and Katherine (Hemmesch) Bertram in Spring Hill Township.

On May 10, 1949, he married Leona Haider at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Elrosa. Together, they operated a second generation dairy farm in Spring Hill until 1989.

He was a district manager for Renk Seed Company for many years. He stayed active his entire life by continuing to help on the family farm and by working part-time as a semi-truck driver for Kalthoff and Veissman Trucking in Paynesville.

Al is survived by his wife, Leona Bertram of Greenwald; children, Ronnie (Erma) Bertram of Freeport, Donnie (Carol) Bertram of Elrosa, Kathy, (Kenny) Leukam of Sauk Centre, Jim (Maribel) Bertram of St. Cloud, Diane Bertram of San Ramon, Calif., and Randy (Sherry) Bertram of Spring Hill; 18 grandchildren; nine great-grandsons; two step grandchildren; sisters, Mary Lieser of Paynesville, Ann Hinnenkamp of Sauk Centre, Loretta Lieser Lake Henry, Aurelia Sunderman of Melrose, and Catherine Lieser of Paynesville; and brother, Clarence Bertram of Spring Hill.

Al was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Mary Bertram; sister, Theresa Bertram; and brothers, Leo and Nick Bertram.


Gerald Thorson, 76, Paynesville
Gerald Thorson, 76, of Paynesville died on Tuesday, May 11, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Private memorial services with full military honors were held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Gerald Thorson was born on Nov. 6, 1933, Arnold and Anna (Thorp) Thorson in Hawick.

He was a United States Air Force veteran of the Korean War.

Gerald married Frances V. Larsen on Sept. 4, 1954, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hawick.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Frances; children, Vicki (Edward) Nelson, Gerald Jr. (Shelly), Jeffrey (Teresa), Connie (Rennis) Buchner, Judi (Shane) Chapman and Daniel; 19 grandchildren; and 13 great- grandchildren.


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