Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880

Obituaries from the week of December 1, 1999

Roy E. Syverson, 88

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999 for Roy E. Syverson at United Methodist Church in Walnut Grove, MN. Officiant was Pastor Michael Smith. Casket bearers were Burton Foster, Bart Foster, Kenneth Foster, Doug Foster, Stephen Syverson, Tom Syverson.

Roy was born on January 16, 1911 on the family farm in Springdale Township, Redwood Co., MN the son of Gilbert and Anna Corthea (Larson) Syverson. He receivedhis formal education in rural school and graduated from Tracy High School in 1929. He farmed with his father for five years then he and his brother Ira, bought the Gambles Store in Rock Rapids, IA and later bought the Gambles Store in Blue Earth, MN.

Roy was united in marriage to Bertha Brann at the Belgrade Ave. Methodist Church in North Mankato on November 10, 1937 by Bertha's Father, The Rev. W.E. Brann. The couple lived in Blue Earth for awhile, then moved to Walnut Grove where they farmed and have lived since.

Roy passed away at his home on Saturday, November 27, 1999 at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife, Bertha, of Walnut Grove; three children, Roy Earl and Wife Delores of Tracy, MN; Robert G. and wife Annie of Walnut Grove; daughter Mrs. Henry (Bonnie Jean) Kor of Mitchel, SD; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Ira Syverson of Blue Earth, MN; two sisters Violet Fitzgerald of Minneapolis, MN and Opal Soderholm of Slayton, MN.

Lilly P. Peterson, 92

Funeral services were held for Lilly P. Peterson, age 92, at Lake Sarah Baptist Church, rural Slayton, on Tuesday, November 30, 1999. Rev. John Kramer officiated, pianist was Jim Smith. Special music was provided by Glenn Peterson. Her grandchildren served as pallbearers. Interment was held at Lake Sarah Baptist Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were handled by Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton.

Lilly Peterson was born on July 31, 1907 on a farm in Mason Township, Murray County, MN to August and Hannah Lenberg Anderson. She grew up on the family farm north of Slayton and attended Slayton High School. Before her marriage Lilly worked as a nurse's aid and cook at the Worthington Hospital then worked in St. Paul as a domestic maid. On October 31, 1938, she and Elis Peterson were married at the Lake Sarah Baptist parsonage. Following their marriage they lived in St. Paul, MN for two years. In 1940 they moved to a farm in Lake Sarah Township where they lived until their retirement in 1973. They moved from the home farm to the lake farm at that time. Elis died on June 4, 1988 and Lilly continued living on the farm until she moved to slayton in 1997. In 1998 Lilly became a resident of Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy and passed away there on November 26, 1999 at the age of 92.

Survivors include her four sons and their wives: John Peterson and his friend Mary of Clarkfield, MN; Glenn and Erna Peterson of Duluth, MN; Dale and Sherill Peterson of rural Garvin, MN and Don and Penny Peterson of rural Garvin, MN; nine grandchildren and former daughter-in-law, Nancy Peterson. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters: Hulda Widboom and Tera Anderson and brothers: Walter, Oscar and Elder Anderson.

Vivian Stewart, 69

Funeral services were held for Vivian Stewart, age 68, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton on Tuesday, November 30, 1999. Pastor Steven Quist officiated and Lisa Lustfield was organist. The Trinity Lutheran Church choir provided special music. Interment was held at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetary with Utoft-Johansen Funeral and Cremation of Tyler in charge of arrangements.

Vivian Elaine Stewart was born March 22, 1930 to Evert and Gladys (Johnson) Johnson in Tyler, MN. She graduated from Balaton High School in 1947 and from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD i 1951, majoring in music. Vivian married Gordon Stewart at Zion Lutheran Church on June 11, 1951. After living in Alabama for a brief time, the couple returned to Balaton. They owned and operated the Stewart Concrete Company for 30 years. Vivian also taught piano lessons, played piano and organ for church and volunteered her time and talents in service to others. Vivian died Friday, November 26, 1999 at her home in Balaton, following a brief illness, at the age of 69.

Vivian is survived by her mother, Gladys of Balaton; three daughters: Vickie (Ron) Tuvey of Olympia, WA; Claryce (John) Miler of Tracy, MN and Patti Stewart (Robert Follmann) of Eugene, OR; one son, Dan (Becky) Stewart of Marshall, MN; eleven grandchildren, two brothers, Everette (Mavis) Johnson and Darvin (Beverly) Johnson, both of Balaton, MN; nieces, nephews and many friends. She was preceded in death by her father and husband.

Minnie V. Johnson, 90

Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 30, 1999, for Minnie V. Johnson at Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy, MN. Minister was Rev. Homer Dobson with Anna Jeanne Flesner as organist and Bruce Flesner as soloist. Honorary bearers were Ted Flesner, Donald West, Harold Deal and the Tracy Nursing Home Staff. Casket Bearers were Bert Momsen, David Abernethy, Adam Momsen, David Hippe, Michael Kettenacker and Mark Kettenacker.

Minnie V. Johnson was born July 31, 1909 in Gales Township, Walnut Grove, MN to Algot and Grace (Herschberger) West. Minnie made her home in Tracy for many years and most recently was a resident of the Tracy Nursing Home. She died on Friday, November 26, 1999, at the Immanuel-St. Joseph Hospital in Mankato, MN. She is survived by three daughters, JoAnn Momsen of Plant City, FL.; Betty Abernethy of Apple Valley, MN and Ilona Klemenisch of Minneapolis, MN; one son, Richard W. Johnson of Tracy, MN; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson, nieces and nephews.

Her parents, one son, two sisters and one grandson preceded her in death. Blessed by her memory. The family requests memorials be given to the Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church of Walnut Grove or the donor's choice. Interment was held at North Hero Cemetery in Walnut Grove, MN. Almlie Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.