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

November 2009

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Obituary Archives

Gilbert Tritabaugh, 85, Paynesville
Gilbert C. Tritabaugh, 85, of Paynesville died on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at the Koronis Manor in Paynesville.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, Nov. 28, at Grace United Methodist Church in Paynesville. Burial was in the Paynesville Cemetery.

Gilbert Charles Tritabaugh was born on Feb. 13, 1924, to Jacob and Ruth (Schoeppler) Tritabaugh in Fairhaven. He grew up in Fairhaven and attended school there.

On May 11, 1946, Gilbert was united in marriage to Lois Shultz in South Haven. Two daughters were born to this union. The couple shared 63 years of marriage.

In 1946, the family moved to Paynesville. Gilbert drove a gas truck, working for North Central Public Inc., for the majority of his career. In his later years, he also drove for Cenex.

Gilbert is survived by his wife, Lois of Paynesville; daughters, Diane Halstead of Oak Grove and Doris (Larry) Langford of Ruidoso, N.M.; two grandchildren; sisters, Marie Rutherford of Waite Park, Roberta Hinz of Fair Haven, and Janette (Alfred) Hentges of St. Michael; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Adeline Filbert; and twin brother, Hilburn.


Mildred Wagner, 88, Paynesville
Mildred D. Wagner, 88, of Paynesville died on Friday, Nov. 27, at Birchwood Health Care Center in Forest Lake.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Nov. 30, at Paynesville Lutheran Church. Burial was in Ebenezer Cemetery in rural Paynesville.

Mildred Wagner was born on Aug. 26, 1921, to O. Fred and Mabel (Solbrekken) Olson in Swift County, Minn.

Mildred is survived by her daughter, Carole (Thomas) Schmidt; son, Steven (JoAnne) Simonson; stepson, Gary Wagner (Charlotte Whitmore); two grandchildren; and three great-granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Carl; infant daughter, Cynthia Simonson; and brothers, Maurice and DeWayne Olson. Memorials are preferred.


Gayle Wendroth, 41, Watkins
Gayle Wendroth, 41, of Watkins died on Thursday, Nov. 26, at Hilltop Care Center in Watkins.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m., at the Church of God in Eden Valley. Burial will be in Old Eden Lake Cemetery in Eden Valley.

A visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Gayle Wendroth was born on Sept. 8, 1968, to Leland and Karen (Greeley) Wendroth in Litchfield. She lived most of her life in the Watkins area.

Gayle is survived by her father, Leland of Richmond; brothers, Daryl (Yvonne) of Eden Valley and Gerald of Richmond; sister, Debra (Greg) Ramey of Summerfield, N.C.; maternal grandmother; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Karen; paternal grandparents; and maternal grandfather.


Kathleen Belanger, 90, Waite Park
Kathleen Margaret Kelly Belanger, 90, of Waite Park died on Saturday, Nov. 21, at Sterling Park in Waite Park.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at St. Mary's Cathedral Crypt in St. Cloud. Burial was in St. Louis Catholic Cemetery in Paynesville.

Kathleen Belanger was born on Dec. 17, 1918, to Fred J. and Molly (O'Brien) Kelly in Havre, Mont. She grew up in Billings, Mont., and graduated from Cathedral High School in St. Cloud.

Kathleen worked in collections at Sears in Minneapolis.

She married Kenneth O. Belanger on May 17, 1943, in Minneapolis. They moved to South Dakota and then to California. Kathleen was a homemaker.

They lived in Robbinsdale, Minn., from 1953 to 1986, and after Kenneth's retirement, they moved to Kimball. Their union lasted until Kenneth's death in 2003.

Kathleen is survived by her children, Kenneth O. Belanger, Jr. of Maple Grove, Mary Kay Belanger of New York City, N.Y., Kelly Belanger of Minneapolis, and Stephen Belanger of Eagan; sister, Patricia K. Witte of St. Cloud; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; son, Brien; brothers, Fred, Rev. Robert, and Donald Kelly; and sister, Mary Louise O'Ryan.


Francis Reller, 75, Grand Forks, N.D.
Francis B. Reller, 75, of Grand Forks, N.D., died on Sunday, Nov. 15.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, Nov. 19, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Grand Forks. Burial was in Memorial Park South Cemetery in Grand Forks.

Francis B. Reller was born on Dec. 7, 1933, to Stephen and Anna Reller in Faribault, Minn. At a young age, the family moved to Paynesville, where he attended elementary school and graduated from high school in 1952.

He attended St. John's University for a time and, in 1954, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. His overseas assignments included Guam, Iceland, Vietnam, and Christmas Island. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star.

He married Marian Kurtz in 1959 at Patrick AFB in Florida. The couple shared 50 years of marriage.

Upon retiring from the U.S. Air Force, while stationed at Columbus AFB, Miss., in 1974, the family moved to Grand Forks, N.D.

Francis was employed by the U.S. Postal Service until retiring in 1997. Upon retiring, he worked part-time for the Alerus Center.

Francis is survived by his wife, Marian; children, Stephen (Judy), Monica (Don), and Joel (Tristi), all of Grand Forks, and Jerome (Tami) of Bellevue, Wash.; and 11 grandchildren.

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

In lieu of gifts and flowers, donations to Altru Hospice are preferred.


Judy Tollefson, 71, Hawick
Judy A. Tollefson, 71, of Hawick died on Friday, Nov. 13, at her home in rural Hawick.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m., at Nordland Lutheran Church in rural Paynesville. A private burial will be at the church cemetery.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the church.

Judith Anne Tollefson was born on May 17, 1938, to Carleton and Frances (Sager) Dewey in Minneapolis.

Judy was baptized and later confirmed into the Christian faith at Diamond Lake Lutheran Church in Minneapolis.

She grew up in Richfield, where she graduated from Richfield High School in 1956. After high school, she went on to the University of Minnesota, where she graduated with a bachelor degree in nursing.

She married Doug Tollefson on Feb. 18, 1961, at Wooddale Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. This union was blessed with two boys and two girls. The couple shared 48 years of marriage.

The family made their home in Benson, where Judy worked as a public health nurse.

In 1971, they moved to Hawick. After moving, Judy began working as a RN for the Willmar Regional Treatment Center.

Judy is survived by her husband, Doug; children, John (Becky) of Moline, Ill., Robert (Amy) of Maple Lake, Sharon (Mark) Teague of Sherman, Texas, and Laura (Josh) Wangen of Hawick; 13 grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

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


Marie Leyendecker, 87, Paynesville
Marie (Gruber) Leyendecker, 87, of Paynesville died on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at GlenOaks Care Center in New London.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, Nov. 14, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. Burial was in the parish cemetery.

Marie Leyendecker was born on May 27, 1922, to John and Maria (Meyer) Gruber in Lake Henry.

She married Harold Wendlandt in 1949. They farmed in the Paynesville area for 22 years. She also worked as a clerk at the Paynesville Corner Drug for many years.

Harold died in 1969, and she moved to town.

She married Norman Leyendecker in 1972. Norman died in 1999.

Marie is survived by her brother, Frank (Helen) Gruber of Lake Henry; two sister-in-laws; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Harold and Norman; and brothers and sisters, James "Jake," Loretta, Leonard, Sally Rousslang, and Mike.


Mary Ann Fleischhacker, 78, Paynesville
Mary Ann Fleischhacker, 78, of Paynesville died on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Koronis Manor in Paynesville.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m., at St. Louis Catholic Church. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Wednesday after 10 a.m. at the church.

Mary Ann Fleischhacker was born on Feb. 23, 1931, to Bernard and Otillia (Jacobs) Kalthoff in St. Martin.

She married Lawrence Fleischhacker on Sept. 26, 1950, in St. Martin's Catholic Church in St. Martin. Mary Ann raised her family and farmed with her husband most of her life in the St. Martin area.

In 1990, they moved to the Paynesville area. Mary Ann and Lawrence were able to share 59 years of marriage.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband, Lawrence; children, Ervin (Sharon) of Paynesville, Jerry (JoAnn) of Albany, Doris (Ron) Frericks of Grey Eagle, Marilyn (Dick) Schoenberg of Cold Spring, Fred (Sheila) of Paynesville, Sharon (John) Schulzetenberg of Spring Hill, Larry (Karen) of St. Martin, JoAnn (Ike) Euteneuer of St. Martin, Pauline (Ron) Hommerding of Cold Spring, Deb (Rick) Doll of St. Martin, Glen (Terri) of St. Martin, and Wayne (James Bonine) of New London; 44 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and brothers and sisters, Leander, Clem, Ralph, and Roman Kalthoff, Clara Statz, Catherine Wehsler, and Lillian Hagen.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sons, Dean and Joseph; one infant child; a granddaughter; and a brother-in-law.


Roman Koetter, 79, St. Cloud
Roman A. Koetter, 79, of St. Cloud died on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Country Manor Nursing Home in Sartell.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in St. Cloud. Burial will be at the Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery near Little Falls.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 4 to 8 p.m., at the Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in St. Cloud and after 9:30 a.m., on Wednesday at the church.

Roman Koetter was born on March 30, 1930, to Herman and Carolyn (Meyer) Koetter in Roscoe.

He served his country in the United States Air Force and in the army guard and reserve.

He served on the St. Cloud Police Department for 26 years, retiring as a captain in 1985.

Roman is survived by his children, Mark of Brooten, Mike (Cathy) of Spicer, David (Norma) of Avon, and Karen Koetter of Sauk Rapids; brothers and sisters, Othmar of Richmond, Irene Rausch of Cold Spring, Herbert of Roscoe, Veronica Janssen of Farming, and John of Richmond; 12 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Luella Seifermann; brother, Ervin; and a grandson.


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