Current Obituaries - (Obituaries are posted for one week)
Marcella May Joseph, 58, of Crookston, Minnesota, died at her
home, Thursday evening, September 2, 2010. Marcella was born on April 29, 1952,
at Crookston, the youngest of nine daughters from the union of Charles and Rose
(McShea) Walsh. She was raised
in Crookston and graduated from the Mount St.
Benedict School in 1970. Marcella worked for many years at the Villa St.
Vincent Nursing Home in Crookston. She loved to cook, especially for special
occasions. Marcella enjoyed spending time with her family, or just sitting
quietly reading a book or watching television. She also liked going to the
lake, or out for car rides. Marcella will be sadly missed and lovingly
remembered by her family and many friends.
Loving family members include three sons, Ty (Sandy) Gruhot of Crookston, MN,
Allen (Brenda) Joseph of Deer River, MN, and Charles (Charridy) Joseph of
Crookston; grandchildren, Heath Simmons of Crookston, Steven Litzinger of
Kindred, MN, Heidi Solem of Grand Forks, ND, Tony Litzinger of Middle River, MN,
Benjamin Litzinger of Minot, ND, Andrea Vickerman, Samantha Vickerman, Christina
Solberg and Brendan Solberg, all of Deer River; great-grandson, Brayden Solem;
sisters, Ellen (Keith) Langhurst of Barnum, MN, Ann Johnson of Carlton, MN,
Darlene Highness of Crookston, Melody Jasicki of Minneapolis, MN, Mary Lou (Dan)
Schmitz of Red Lake Falls, MN, Colleen (Marv) Bartz of Barnum, and Pat (Dave)
LaCoursiere of Crookston; brother-in-law, Ron Stinar of Fargo, ND; and many
nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Marcella was preceded in death by her
parents, Charles and Rose Walsh; sister, Rose Stinar; brother-in-law, Curt
Highness; and a grandson, Thomas John Litzinger.
The memorial mass for Marcella May Joseph will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday,
September 7, 2010 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston.
Visitation with the family will be from 12:00 noon-2:00 pm before the funeral.
Arrangements are with the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home.
****
Kenneth C. Wavra,
age 76, of Crookston, MN, died unexpectedly early Monday morning, August 30,
2010, at the RiverView Hospital in Crookston. Kenny was born in Warren, MN
on February 26, 1934, to Cyril and Bertha (Goosen) Wavra. He grew up on the
family farm near Dorothy, MN, was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith,
and attended school in Dorothy. Kenny entered the U.S. Army on September 23,
1954 and was stationed in Germany for fourteen months. He received his honorable
discharge on September 6, 1956 and returned home.
Kenny was united in marriage
to Helen J. Casavan on August 24, 1957. The couple made their home in Red Lake
Falls for a year before moving to Crookston. Together they raised eight
children- Debbie, Mark, Tim, Vicki, Brenda, Denise, Barry, and Tammy. Very
sadly, Brenda Joy, who had moved to Ojai, CA, died in a traffic accident near
Ventura, CA, on February 1, 1988. Kenny first worked in sales for the Ebert
Coffee Company, then as a driver for Wang Trucking. In 1962 he became employed
as a driver and route salesman for the American Linen Supply Company. At this
time he also purchased farmland in Louisville Township of Red Lake County, where
he grew small grains. Managing two careers at the same time kept Kenny very busy
for over 35 years until he retired from both in 1997. In semi-retirement he
worked for MinnDak Asphalt and Crookston Valley Co-op for a few years. He was
a long time member of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Crookston
Eagles Aerie #873. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus. Ken loved
spending time with his children and their families, and nothing compared to
Grandpa Kenny's hugs. They were the best! Many precious memories were built
around going camping, taking fishing trips to Lake of the Woods, and playing
cards with family and friends. He looked forward to days spent at his farm,
where he enjoyed hunting, and the special times he and Helen would share as they
tended their garden. Kenny will be very lovingly missed by all who were a part
of his life.
Family members include his wife of 53 years, Helen; seven children, Debbie
(Mark) Engebretson of Crookston, MN, Mark Wavra & Ali Hohmann of Grand Forks,
ND, Tim (Laurie) Wavra of Crookston, Vicki (Chuck) Henre of Crookston, Denise
(Tim) Eggebraaten of Detroit Lakes, MN, Barry (Niki) Wavra of Duluth, MN, and
Tammy (Dave) Wild of Fargo, ND; twenty-four grandchildren and one
great-granddaughter. Kenny also leaves two sisters, Lois Proulx of Crookston,
and Kathie (Jack) Peterson of Erskine, MN; several sisters-in-law and
brothers-in-law, Ray (Gloria) Delorme of Red Lake Falls, MN, Jessie (Diane)
Casavan of Red Lake Falls, Larry (Carol) Fontaine of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Larry
Casavan of Plummer, MN, Ed Casavan of Red Lake Falls, and John (Janet) Casavan
of Roseau, MN; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives. In
addition to his daughter, Brenda Joy; he was preceded in death by his parents,
Cyril and Bertha; his father-in-law, Jesse Casavan Sr.; brother-in-law, Paul
Proulx; sister-in-law, Marlene Casavan; and infant sister, Maryagnes. May God
bless Kenny’s memory.
The funeral service for Kenneth Wavra will be held at 10:30 am, Thursday,
September 2, 2010, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston,
with The Very Rev. Bob Schreiner, officiating. Visitation will be at the
Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home on Wednesday from 5-7:00 pm, with a 7:00 pm prayer
service, and also at the Cathedral for one hour prior to the funeral. Interment
will be in St. Dorothy’s Cemetery, rural Red Lake Falls at 1:00 pm, Thursday,
with Military Honors provided by the Minnesota National Guard Honors Unit.
****
LeRoy A. Morvig, 84, rural Winger, MN, died on Wednesday, August 25,
2010, at the Riverview Hospital Crookston, MN.
LeRoy was born August 23, 1926, in rural Fertile, MN, to Lloyd and Amy (Lundby)
Morvig. LeRoy was baptized at Maple Lake Lutheran Church and later confirmed at
Little Norway Lutheran Church. He grew up and attended rural school and then
Fertile High School. During his senior year in high school, LeRoy was drafted
into the U. S Army. He served in the Pacific, Philippine Islands. After being
discharged from the Army, LeRoy drove truck. He also worked at Serger
Refrigeration Company in St. Paul, MN. He later returned home to the family farm
in Garfield Township to farm. On June 16, 1951, LeRoy was united in marriage to
Elaine Solie in Fertile. In 1959, they purchased a farm in Garden Township near
Winger, MN, and have lived there since. Along with farming LeRoy was a
self-employed trucker hauling milk to the Rindal Creamery for 23 years. He
retired from farming in 1996, but continued to help on the farm. LeRoy was a
lifelong member of Little Norway Lutheran Church and served on the Church
Council. He served on the Garden Township board for 34 years; he was a member of
the American Legion for 52 years. LeRoy enjoyed gardening with Elaine, watching
the Twins and Nascar Racing, spending time with his family and his dog,
George. LeRoy is survived by his wife, Elaine, Winger, MN, four children, Eileen
(Dennis) Martin, Ottertail, MN, Alton (Kathy) Morvig, Fertile, MN, Mark (Susan)
Morvig, Winger, MN, DeAnn (Todd) Bruggeman, Crookston, MN, seven grandchildren,
seven great grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and couins. He is
preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Iva Sether.
Funeral services will be on Monday, August 30, 2010, at 11 AM in the Little
Norway Lutheran Church, Fertile, MN. Visitation will be on Sunday, August 29,
2010, from 5-7 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM in Erikson-Vik Funeral Home,
Fertile, MN. Burial will be in Little Norway Lutheran Cemetery, Fertile, MN.
Arrangements are with Erikson-Vik Funeral Home, Fertile, MN.
****
Edwin John “Ed” Sylvester, 73, of Crookston, Minnesota, died Tuesday
evening, August 24, 2010, at the Valley Eldercare Center in Grand Forks, North
Dakota. Ed was born on January 21, 1937, at Crookston, the son of Edwin A. and
Mary (Berry) Sylvester. He was raised in Crookston and graduated from the
Cathedral High School. Ed enlisted in the U.S. Army and served stateside from
January of 1960, until his honorable discharge in 1962. He worked for a short
while in the Minneapolis area, but returned to Crookston later. Ed was employed
at the Crookston Daily Times newspaper, where he worked for many years before
retiring at the age of 62. He was a long-time member of American Legion Post
#20. Blessed be the memory of Ed Sylvester.
Loving family members include two sisters, Arlette Wollin of Coon Rapids, MN,
and Carol Provost of Richfield, MN; and many nieces, nephews, and other
relatives. Ed was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Dale.
The funeral service for Edwin J. Sylvester will be held at the Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception in Crookston, MN at 10:30 am, on Saturday, August 28,
2010. Visitation will be for one hour before the funeral. Military honors will
be provided by the Crookston Veterans Council. Interment will be in the Calvary
Cemetery in Crookston. Arrangements are with the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home.
****
Long time Crookston resident,
Gertrude Dykstra, age 102, passed away Friday, August 20, 2010, at the Riverview
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With a dream of
becoming a nurse, Gertrude attended a nursing school in
Gertrude married Ivan Dykstra on January 1, 1945, and the couple farmed
for a number of years northeast of Crookston, at which time she worked at
Broadway Grocery and the Woolworth store. During
this period a number of young boys found a loving home through Gertrude and
Ivan’s work with the
A strong and uniform
thread woven into Gertrude’s long life of service to her family and others was
her membership in the Christian Reformed Church. She had been a member since
arriving in Crookston, regularly attending services until into her late
nineties. A strong Christian faith guided Gertrude throughout her life, and her
sweet smile, nonjudgmental attitude, sense of humor and wit made her a delight
to all who knew her.
One of eight children, Gertrude was preceded in death by her parents, her
husband Ivan, brothers Albert,
Benjamin, Stephen, and Jacob, and sisters, Myrtle, Elizabeth, and Trenis. Gertrude leaves
nieces, Carol Knutson,
The funeral service for Gertrude Dykstra will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, August
27, 2010, in the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home, Crookston, with The Rev. Bill
Reck officiating. Visitation will
be for one hour before the service. Internment will be in the Oakdale
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