March 2009 Death Notices - Paynesville Press, Paynesville, Minnesota
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Death Notices
Complete obituaries can be found in the Paynesville Press each week.

March 2009

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Jim Sonstegard, 60, Auberry, Calif.
James (Jim) Sonstegard, 60, of Auberry, Calif., died on Tuesday, March 24, at St. Agnes Hospital in Fresno.

Funeral services were held on Monday, March 30, at the Jay Chapel in Madera, Calif. Burial was in the Arbor Vitae Cemetery in Madera.

Jim Sonstegard was born on May 24, 1948, to Ole and Margaret Sonstegard in Decorah, Iowa.

Jim and his family moved to Paynesville in 1960. A member of the varsity debate team, he graduated with honors from Paynesville High School in 1966. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota, graduating with honors in economics and mathematics in 1972.

He married Kathy Barrett on June 12, 1982, in Clovis, Calif.

In California, Jim held positions with Pillsbury and Foster Farms, managing Far East exports for Foster Farms. As word for his talent at international agribusiness grew, he was hired away from Foster Farms by International Proteins Corporation in 1989, where he was named a corporate vice president in 1993.

Then, in 1998, Jim moved up the international agribusiness ladder again, becoming director of Asian markets for the Scoular Company. He was eventually named vice president of international development and risk management. He served in that capacity until his retirement in 2006.

Jim is survived by his wife, Kathy, of Auberry, Calif.; sons, Matthew and James II of Auberry; sisters, Judie (Harry) Buerman of Medford, Minn., twin sister Jean Wentzel of Florida, and Janet Sonstegard of Minneapolis; and nine nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Little Hope Primitive Baptist Church in Madera or The Valley Teen Ranch in Fresno, Calif.


Paul Naumann, 74, Long Prairie
Paul Naumann, 74, of Long Prairie died on Sunday, March 8.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 14, at Zion Lutheran Church in Browerville.

Paul "Buck" Naumann, Jr. was born on Oct. 8, 1934, to Paul and Francis (Brossard) Naumann in Paynesville. He spent most of his youth in Paynesville.

He served in the U.S. Air Force as a jet engine mechanic with the 74th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Maine and Greenland from 1951 to 1955.

He married Marlene Haase of Bertha, Minn., in 1956. From 1958 to 1984, they operated a plumbing and heating business in Browerville, where they raised their children, Valerie and Mark.

After selling their business in 1984, Buck and Marlene moved to Long Prairie.

Buck and Marlene were living in Long Prairie at the time of his illness and death.

Buck is survived by his wife, Marlene; children, Mark and Valerie; a grandson; and sisters, Ruth and Brenda.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul, Sr. and Francis; son, Kim; sister, Dorothy; and brother, Dale.


Adam Iesh, 34, Eden Prairie
Adam Thomas Iesh, 34, of Eden Prairie and formerly of Paynesville, died unexpectedly on Monday, March 30.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 4, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie. Burial was in Eden Prairie Cemetery.

Adam graduated from Eden Prairie High School.

Adam is survived by his daughter, Shyan; mother, Deanna Iesh; aunt and uncles; and many cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Larry.


Elvera Halvorson, 93, Fairmont
Elvera Halvorson, 93, of Fairmont died on Sunday, March 15, at the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 21, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Ceylon. Burial was in Lake Belt Township Cemetery.

Elvera H. (Thiesse) Halvorson was born on Aug. 18, 1915, to William and Amanda (Leiding) Thiesse in Ceylon.

Vera attended Ceylon public school until beginning work as a hired hand and nanny to help support her family. She then began working at Lockner Grocery in Ceylon.

Vera married Raymond Halvorson on June 11, 1950, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Ceylon. Two sons, Ken and Harry, were born to this union.

After they married, the couple purchased Lockner Grocery and renamed it Halvorson Grocery. It was during this time that she started to perfect her baking skills; butterhorn buns, later known as "Vera Buns," and caramel rolls were her specialty.

The couple shared 48 years of marriage before Raymond's death on March 17, 1999.

Vera resided at 700 Stearns Place in Paynesville from 2005 to 2006.

Vera is survived by her sons, Ken of Owatonna and Harry (Carol) of Paynesville; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters, Luella Beckendorf and Arleen Preston, both of Apple Valley; brothers, Sylvan Thiesse of Mankato, Marvin Thiesse of Emmetsburg, and Donald of Winona; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Amanda Thiesse; husband, Raymond; and siblings, Martha, Walt, Clarence, and Elmer.


Olivia Salzl, 74, Watkins
Olivia M. Salzl, 74 of Watkins, died on Wednesday, March 11, at the Hilltop Care Center in Watkins.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 14, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Watkins. Burial was in the church cemetery.

Olivia Salzl was born on Sept. 14, 1934, to Peter and Barbara (Mergen) Ludwig in Lake Henry.

She graduated from Paynesville High School and received her bachelor of science degree from St. Cloud State University.

Olivia was a dedicated teacher. She taught at Brookings County and Bruce in South Dakota, in Spring Hill, in St. Wendell and South Haven, and at St. Anthony Catholic School in Watkins for 23 years. She was also employed at Fingerhut in St. Cloud until her retirement about six years ago.

Olivia married Leander Salzl on June 8, 1959, at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Lake Henry. They resided in Waite Park before moving to Watkins in 1964.

Olivia is survived by her husband, Leander of Watkins; children, Dave of FairHaven and Dan (Beth) of Roseville; brothers and sisters, Loretta Wuertz of Waite Park, Br. Robert Ludwig, CSC of Notre Dame, Ind., Mike Ludwig of Melrose, Mary Ann Fasbender of Paynesville, Herb Ludwig of Montrose, Florence Graham of Hopkins, Florentine Zipko of Maplewood, and Anita Giuliani of Maplewood; and a brother-in-law and sisters-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister and brother; brothers and sisters, Celestine Ludwig, Peter A. Ludwig, Sr. Catherine Ludwig; two sisters-in-law; and a brother-in-law.


Marshall Walters, 85, Paynesville
 Marshall C. Walters, 85 of Paynesville died on Friday, March 6, at Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 10, at Paynesville Lutheran Church. Burial was held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Wednesday, March 11.

Marshall C. Walters was born on May 3, 1923, to Marvin and Emogene (Smith) Walters in Minneapolis. He grew up in Minneapolis, where he attended elementary school and Roosevelt High School.

In 1940, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he earned his GED and then became an electrician. Marshall served his country in the Pacific Fleet during WWII.

Marshall married Ethel Griepentrog on May 13, 1944, in Seattle, Wash. This union was blessed with three daughters and one son.

After Marshall returned from the war, he went to school at the Wahpeton State School of Science. He then went back to the Navy, where he served during the Korean War.

After the war, he worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad.  His job took him from Minneapolis to Dickinson, N.D., and then to Glendive, Mont.

In 1967, the family moved back to Minneapolis, where they lived at Ft. Snelling while Marshall worked at the VA Hospital.

Their union lasted for 34 years until Ethel's death on July 14, 1978.

After Ethel died, Marshall left the VA and became an independent heating/cooling contractor. 

In February 1980, he was united in marriage to Elaine Brack at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They lived in Minneapolis until Marshall retired. They then moved to Paynesville.

Marshall and Elaine shared 29 years of marriage.

  Marshall is survived by his wife, Elaine; children, Claudia Anderson of Glendive, Mont., Cathy Hauck of Coon Rapids, and Constance (Timothy) Carroll of Dillon, Mont.; 15 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law; sisters, Mary Schmelz of Edina and Glory Simon of Edina; and brother, Robert Walters of Waite Park.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Ethel; son, Marshall "Moe"; brother, William; and a son-in-law.


Virginia Rud, 89, Paynesville
 Virginia Rud, 89, of Paynesville died on Wednesday, March 4, at the Koronis Manor in Paynesville.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 16, at 11 a.m., at Calvary Baptist Church in Paynesville. Burial will be in the Paynesville Cemetery.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 15, from 4-8 p.m., at the Daniel-Anderson Funeral Home in Paynesville and will continue after 10 a.m. on Monday at the church.

Virginia Rud was born on May 16, 1919, to Benjamin and Florence (Schultz) Schroeder in Paynesville.

She married Philip Rud on May 28, 1938, in Paynesville. They farmed together until 1946.

In 1952, they bought and operated Phil's T.V. in Paynesville until 1977, when they retired.

Virginia is survived by her husband, Phil of Paynesville; sons, Steve (Bridget) Rud of Wahkon, Minn., and Dan (MeiMei) Rud of Mission, Texas; seven grandchildren; 16 great- grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy King of St. Paul and Audrey Lang of Baxter; and a sister-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Arthur Schroeder.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Gideons International.


Floyd Hess, 75, Lake Henry
 Floyd Hess, 75, of Lake Henry died on Wednesday, March 4, at his home, following an 11-month battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 7, at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Lake Henry. Burial was in St. Margaret's Parish Cemetery will full military honors.

Floyd E. Hess was born on Sept. 26, 1933, to Claude and Rose (Lenz) Hess in Lake Henry.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955.

He married Elaine Abraham on May 3, 1958, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sauk Rapids.

Floyd and Elaine moved to Minneapolis, where he worked for Swift, until moving to Regal in 1960, where he worked for Younkin Transfer.

In 1968, they moved to Lake Henry, where they owned and operated Hess Store and Oil Company. In 2004, he sold his business and continued to work for Paynesville Farmers Union Coop.

Their union lasted until Elaine's death in 1999.

Floyd is survived by his children, Cindy of Lake Henry, Dave (Barb) of Paynesville, Brenda (Rick) Terres of Spring Hill, and Dale (Linda) of Paynesville; nine grandchildren; and brothers and sisters, Delores Kampsen of Elrosa, Alyce Younkin of Paynesville, Jeanette Ramler of St. Cloud, Luverne Hess of South Haven, Allan Hess of Cold Spring, Joan Johnson of Pequot Lakes, and Dan Hess of St. Anna.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Elaine; and infant brother, LeRoy.


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