from The Paynesville Press
May 1998

Frances Weicherding
Frances W. Weicherding, 92, of Richmond and formerly of Sleepy Eye, died on Saturday, May 30, 1998, in Paynesville.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, June 3, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, with Father John Richter officiating. Interment was at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Sleepy Eye.

Frances was bron on Oct. 8, 1905, in rural Sleepy Eye, the daughter of John and Frances (Kuelbs) Steffl. She lived with her parents on a farm near Sleepy Eye, attending and graduating from St. Mary's High School in Sleepy Eye.

She married Peter A. Weicherding on Dec. 30, 1924, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. The couple made their home in Sleepy Eye for many years. In 1966 they retired and moved to their lake home on Horseshoe Lake near Richmond.

Frances was a member of the St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in Richmond, the Sleepy Eye Christian Mothers, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Sleepy Eye Senior Citizens Club.

Frances is survived by her children, Yvonne (Wallace) Strommen of Tuscon, Ariz., Colleen (Gerald) Johnson of Blooomington, Simone (Raymond) Hengel of Sleepy Eye, and Gary of Richmond; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Veronica Weicherding of Sleepy Eye; and brother, Leo Steffl of Neligh, Neb.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Peter, in 1981; sisters, Margaret Rusch and Agnes Soukup; and brothers, Sylvester, Matthew and Harold.

Gerald Jaeger
Gerald P. Jaeger, 63, of Richmond and formerly of Lake Henry, died Thursday, May 28, at the V.A. Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 1998, at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Lake Henry, with the Rev. Leo Leisen officiating. Burial was in St. Margaret's Parish Cemetery in Lake Henry, with full military honors provided by the Othmar Braun Lake Henry American Legion Post 612.

Gerry was born on Jan. 11, 1935, in Lake Henry Township to John and Gertrude (Hopfer) Jaeger. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1956 during the Korean Conflict. He returned to work on the family farm in Lake Henry where he and his then-wife Florence raised their six children. He retired from the farm in 1978. Gerry also worked for the Cold Spring Granite Company, Hardrives Construction, Trinity Steel in New London, St. Martin Co-op and as a sugar beet trucker.

He was a member of the Othmar Braun Lake Henry American Legion Post 612, St. Louis Council Knights of Columbus #3820, the Catholic Order of Foresters, Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1400 and St. Margaret's Catholic Church.

Gerry is survived by his children, Nancy (Wayne) Lindmeyer of Osceola, Wisc., Dan (Jan) of Maple Grove, Joseph of Bloomington, Roger (Jean) of South Minneapolis, and Virginia (William) Lacey of Alexandria, Virg.; seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; and sisters, Rosie Bertram of Spring Hill and Viola Illies of Elrose.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one daughter, Kathy Jaeger.

Cyril Ampe
Cyril Ampe, 76, of Paynesville, died Monday, May 25, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville, with the Rev. Richard Leisen officiating. Burial was in the St. Louis Parish Cemetery in Paynesville, with full military honors provded by the Paynesville American Legion Post 271.

Cyril was born on Aug. 6, 1921, in Paynesville Township to Celeste and Cornelia (Moorse) Ampe. He graduated from Paynesville High School in 1940. He farmed on his parent's farm until joining the U.S. Army, where he served from 1944 to 1946 in the Pacific Theatre of war.

He married Genevieve Jost on Sept. 29, 1947, in Little Falls. They returned to farm in the Paynesville area the rest of their lives. He was the Paynesville Township treasurer until 1992. He served as a member of the Cenex Farmers Union Co-op Board of Directors. He was a member and Post Commander of the Paynesville American Legion and V.F.W. He was a lifetime member of St. Louis Catholic Church and the St. Louis Knights of Columbus #3820.

Cyril is survived by his children, Patricia (Jim) Barnes of Valley Springs, Calif., Jeffrey (Vicky) of Paynesville, Edward of Brooklyn Park, and Timothy (Tamara) of San Diego, Calif.; six granddaughters; and brothers, John of Watkins, Henry of Paynesville, and Charles (Peggy) of Paynesville.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife on Dec. 18, 1991; and brothers, Peter, Matt, Celeste, Jr., and Joseph.

Evelin McCann
Evelin M. McCann, 57, of Eden Valley, passed away Monday, May 25, at Hilltop Good Samaritan Home in Watkins after an extended illness.

The Mass of Christian Burial was held Thursday, May 28, at the Church of Our Lady in Manannah, with Father Francis officiating. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Evelin Mary McCann was born near Watkins in Meeker County on April 16, 1941, to John and Caroline (Schreiner) Boyer. Evelin attended Eden Valley High School.

On Sept. 29, 1958, she married Richard McCann at the Church of Our Lady in Manannah. Together they farmed near Manannah until she entered the Hilltop Good Samaritan Home in Watkins in October of 1985.

Evelin is survived by her husband, Richard McCann of Eden Valley; children, Deb (Allan) Lang of Eden Valley, John (Jackie) of Grove City, Julann (Barry) Albright of Paynesville, Joe (Jolene) of Grove City, Barb (Rick) Laidlaw of Grove City, Richard (Connie Moser) of Eden Valley, Mary (Tim Phillipp) of Eden Valley, and Bill of Eden Valley; 21 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; several nieces and nephews; siblings, which include Richard (Rosala) Boyer of Litchfield, Ralph (Mary) Boyer of Litchfield, Jerry (Cindy) Boyer of Staples, Clara (Richard) Jones of Cottage Grove, Marge (Jerry) Anderson of Minnetonka, Millie (Richard) of Minnetonka, Shirley (John) Garvey of Paynesville, Grace (Terry) Struthers of Litchfield, Darlene Boyer of Wisconsin, Leo (Betty) Asfeld of Sauk Centre, Judy of Eden Valley, and Rose Weldon of Le Center.

Evelin was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Blanche; a sister-in-law, and two brothers-in-law.

Marcella Stenger
Marcella Stenger, 76, of Watkins, died on Thursday, May 21, 1998, at Meeker County Memorial Hospital in Litchfield.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 23, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Watkins. Interment was in the parish cemetery.

Marcella was born in Brooten on Aug. 28, 1921, to Edward and Anna (Mertens) Heofer. She married Leo Stenger on Sept. 1, 1942, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Richmond. They farmed at Kimball for a short time before moving to Watkins. She was a Head Start teacher for eight years before becoming a homemaker.

She was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church and was active with the Council of Catholic Women. She was also a member of the Watkins Senior Citizens and was a member and leader of 4-H.

Marcella is survived by her husband, Leo; children and their spouses, Patricia and Charles, Jr. Shaw of Elk River, DeWayne "Chuck" of St. Cloud, Mary of Litchfield, Carelle and Chuck Steinhofer of Paynesville, Timothy of Kimball; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Beverly of Cold Spring; brothers and sisters and their spouses, Edward Lechner of St. Cloud, Lucille and Bernard Hoefer of Annandale, LeRoy Hoefer of St. Joseph, Donna and Gerry Tschumperlin of Ramsey; and sister-in-law, Anita Hoefer of Kimball.

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents; son, Leo "Jim" Jr.; daughter, Barbara in infancy; daughter-in-law, Susan; and brother, Ambrose "Mickey" Hoefer.

Kathryn Paulson
Kathryn A. Paulson, 81, of Hawick, died Monday, May 18, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 22, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. The Rev. Richard Leisen officiated. Burial was in the St. Louis parish cemetery in Paynesville.

Kathryn was born on Aptil 15, 1917, in St. Joseph to Gabriel and Alouisa (Himsl) Karnitsching (Karn). Katie grew up in St. Joseph, where she attended St. Benedict's High School. She moved to Hawick in 1940, where she ran Gil's Store with her sister, Betty Quarfot. She married Harold Paulson on Feb. 7, 1956, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville.

Harold and Katie have owned and operated Gil's Store since 1967. She also served as postmistress in Hawick for 43 years. She was instrumental in organizing Santa Claus Day in Hawick, which has been held for over 50 years. She was a member of the National League of Postmasters and St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville.

Katie is survived by her husband, Harold of Hawick; daughter, Linda of Iowa City, Iowa; three grandchildren; and a brother, Lawrence Karn of Columbia Heights.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Gary on April 23, 1978; and siblings, Betty Quorfot, Frank Karn, Gabe Karn and Vick Karn.

Madge Savage
Madge A. Savage, 95, died Monday, May 18, at the Koronis Manor in Paynesville.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, at the Church of God in Eden Valley. Burial was in the Old Eden Valley Lake Cemetery in Eden Lake Township.

Madge A. Savage was born in Eden Valley to William and Ruth (Wilson) Hoskins. She married Thomas M. Savage on June 16, 1931, in Eden Valley. She attended St. Cloud State College and the Univeristy of Minnesota, where she received her elementary education and music degrees. She taught in Grand Meadow, Fergus Falls, St. Cloud and Clearwater. She lived most of her life in Waite Park.

She was a member of the Church of God in Eden Valley and a former member of the Church of God in St. Cloud.

Survivors include her daughter and son, Sara See of Paynesville and William Savage of Maple Grove; sisters, Shala Hamilton of Eden Valley and Iva Smith of Easley, S.C.; 11 gradnchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas, on Nov. 13, 1966; daughter, Ruth; son, Thomas, Jr.; brother, Glen; and sisters, Orpha Ferrell and Noma Beleveau.

Don Schmidt
Don K. Schmidt, 42, of Paynesville, died from a sudden heart attack on Saturday, May 9, 1998, near Paynesville.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 12, at Grace United Methodist Church in Paynesville. The Rev. Ric Koehn officiated. Interment was in the Paynesville Cemetery.

Don Kimberly Schmidt was born March 6, 1956, in St. Cloud. He was the son of Donald "Red" and Sharon (Schultz) Schmidt of Paynesville. Don grew up in Paynesville, where he graduated from high school in 1974. Don lived his whole life in Paynesville. For the past 24 years he worked as a heavy equipment operator for several contractors, including Johnson Brothers of Litchfield.

Don was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Paynesville, the Operating Engineers Local 49, and the Paynesville Sportsmen's Club.

Don is survived by his parents, Donald "Red" and Sharon Schmidt of Paynesville; sister, Cindy (Steve) Gray of Faribault; brothers, Dean (Bonita) of Paynesville and (Tanya) of Cold Spring; grandmothers, Olivia Schmidt and Ardis Schultz, both of Paynesville; nieces Tara and Hanna Schmidt of Paynesville; and nephews, Brandon and Alyssa Gray of Faribault.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Earl Schmidt and Henry Schultz.

Arlis Person
Arlis A. Person, 63, of Paynesville, died Friday, May 1, 1998, at St. Cloud Hospital.

Funeral services were held on Monday, May 5, at 11 a.m. at Paynesville Lutheran Church. The Rev. David Glesne officiated. Interment was at the Paynesville Cemetery.

Arlis (Larson) Person, the daughter of Lewis and Olga (Langseth) Larson, was born on Sept. 27, 1934, in Burbank Township, Kandiyohi County. She grew up in New London until 1945, when her family moved to Hawick. Arlis and her family moved to Paynesville after she graduated from New London High School in 1952. She was baptized on Dec. 6, 1934, and later confirmed on April 10, 1949, at the Mission Covenant Church in New London.

On May 28, 1955, Arlis was united in marriage to Alan Person at Redeemer Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. Together they made their home in St. Cloud until 1956, when they moved back to Paynesville, where they have lived since. Arlis worked for North Central Gas for 20 years as a bookkeeper, retiring in 1980.

She is survived by her husband, Alan, of Paynesville; her sons, Kyle, Lee (Cheryl), and Scott (Beth), all of Paynesville; seven grandchildren; her mother, Olga Larson of Paynesville; and her brother and sisters, Genore (Norman) Bork of Paynesville, Harvey (Lois) Larson of Backus, Norma (Harold) Mathison of Park Rapids, and Pat (Mike) Sorenson of Sunburg.

She was preceded in death by her father, Lewis, and one sister, Lenore.


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