Obituaries from the week of March 7, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Harry Bakken, 84
Funeral services were held on Monday, Mar. 5, 2001 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church for Harry J. Bakken of Walnut Grove, MN. Pastor Terry Skildum officiated.
Honorary pallbearers were his grandchildren, Tamara Vesey, Theresa Herder, Tanya Herder-Davis, Angela Hotzler, Amy Koblegard and Derek Bakken.
Pall bearers were Dennis Bakken, John Bakken, Ronald Bakken, Lee Bakken, Kim Bakken, Robert Heggerston, Harris Heggerston and Robert Osland.
Harry was born on February 26, 1917 the son of John T. and Helga M. Nordsiden Bakken on the family farm in Ann Township, Cottonwood Co., MN. He attended rural school District #42. He was baptized as an infant and later confirmed at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church.
Harry farmed with his father and brothers and later with his son Al. After his marriage to Margie Fern Nackerud on November 23, 1946 they made their home on the family farm until 1977 when they moved into Walnut Grove.
He enjoyed hunting, trap shooting and fishing, but the love of his life was farming and spending time with family.
Harry was active in church and community activities, he was on the church council, Ann Township board and the Creamery Board.
Harry passed away Friday, March 2, 2001 at his home in Walnut Grove.
He is survived by his wife Margie of Walnut Grove and three children: Mrs. David (Nancy) Herder of Renville, MN, Mrs. Mark (Kay) Koblegard, Walnut Grove, Al and his wife (Jane) Bakken of Walnut Grove; six grandchildren, Tamara Vesey, Theresa Herder, Tanya Herder-Davis, Angela Hotzler, Amy Koblegard, Derek Bakken; nine great-grandchildren, Ryan Vesey, Meghan Vesey, Matthew Webber, Marshall Garbe, Mason Garbe, Jarett Herder, Jerome Davis, Logan Hotzler, Samantha Hotzler; one brother Lenor Bakken of Walnut Grove, many nieces and nephews.
His parents, one brother and one sister preceded him in death.
Interment was at the St. Olaf Cemetery with Jacobson Funeral Service of Walnut Grove handling arrangements.
Jane Unger, 78
Jane Unger, age 78 of Balaton, MN, died Monday, March 5, 2001 at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2001 in the Almlie Funeral Home, Balaton, MN. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 8, 2001 with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
Arrangements are being handled by the Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton.
Helga Van Acker, 84
Memorial services for Helga C. Van Acker will be held May 3, 2001 at 2 p.m. at Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be May 4, 2001 at 1 p.m. at Ft. Snelling Ntl. Cemetery in Minneapolis with full military honors.
Helga C. VanAcker was born October 16, 1916 to Niels Frederick and Jorene (Sorensen) Petersen in Tyler, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler and graduated from Tyler High School. After graduation she worked as an aide in the Tyler hospital for 3 years. She then joined the Navy and served for three years as a nurse where she received her nurses training. After her service in the Navy she returned to this area and worked at the hospitals in Tyler and Tracy.
She was united in marriage to Walter Van Acker on June 28, 1952 in Ghent, MN. They made their home in Marshall. She worked for Weiner Memorial Hospital for many years as a nurse and later for Dr. Taintor until she retired. Her husband died in 1997. She enjoyed birds, music and flowers and reading.
She is survived by her sisters Victoria Petersen of San Francisco, CA, Emma Powell of Vancouver, WA and her husband Norman Powell; brothers Jerome Petersen of San Francisco, CA and Harald Petersen of Tyler; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three sisters and one brother.
Tyler Area Funeral Home/Kulow Funeral Service is handling arrangements.
Ronald Dale Thompson, 60
Ronald Dale Thompson was born November 26, 1940 to Ellert and Roxie (Stewart) Thompson in Madison, South Dakota. As a young boy his family moved to Ruthton, Minnesota where he attended school and graduated from Ruthton High School. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith.
After graduation Ron worked in agricultural construction. On August 14, 1965 Ron married Shirley Gravley at the Russell Baptist Church in Russell, MN and in the fall of that year took a position with the water department in Tracy, Minnesota where the couple was now residing.
In 1966 Ron was drafted into the U.S. Army and went overseas to Korea. Upon his discharge in 1967 Ron returned to his job and family in Tracy.
Ron was a member of the Tracy VFW and enjoyed collecting coins, hunting for artifacts, and interesting historical material of local interest. One of his favorite hobbies was fishing with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; one daughter, Jodi (Michael) Wood; six grandchildren; four sisters and many nieces, nephews and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents and five brothers.