Obituaries from the week of August 3, 2005

Arnold Miller, 90

Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 30, 2005 for Arnold J. Miller at Sillerud Lutheran Church in Balaton, MN. Rev. Steven Quist officiated. Organist was Don Swanjord with Michelle Wood as soloist.

Casket bearers were Kenneth Miller, Einer Mattson, Marvin Mattson, Jacob Gernentz, Darrell Giles and Dustin Garrels.

Arnold John Miller was born December 21, 1914 to Anton and Anna (Mattson) Miller on the family farm in Murray County, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended Country School District #8. After his father’s death, he stayed on the family farm.

On June 7, 1947 Arnold married Viola Hansen at the Sillerud Lutheran Church. They made their home in Balaton, MN and owned and operated the Lakeside Service Station and Feed. He sold feed for Purina and also was a salesman for Erickson Livestock Buildings. In 1982 Arnold retired and sold the Lakeside business. Over the years he had been active in the Balaton Chamber of Commerce, Balaton Lions Club and the Balaton City Council.

Arnold was a member of the Sillerud Lutheran Church his whole life and had served on the church council many times. In the past he and his wife enjoyed dancing and traveling. He also enjoyed gardening, Twins baseball and reading newspapers to stay informed of the world around him, but what he truly loved was spending time with his children and grandchildren.

In October of 2004 Arnold became a resident of the Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall, MN. On Saturday, July 23, 2005 he was admitted into the Weiner Memorial Medical Center in Marshall where he died Wednesday, July 27, 2005 at the age of 90.

Arnold is survived by his one daughter, Juliann Miller and husband, Dan Dickey of Lakeville, MN; three sons, Rev. Dr. Brian and wife, Kristine of Boston, MA, Steven and wife, Linda of Balaton, MN and David and wife, LaDonna of Marshall, MN; nine grandchildren; four sisters, Harriett Hassert of Onamia, MN, Verlie Hassert of Marshall, MN, Doris Hokins of Marshall, MN and Irma Christianson of Shakopee, MN; one brother, Darrel of Mankato, MN; one special nephew, Dr. Donald Dahlstrom of Minneapolis, MN; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

His parents, wife, Viola, two sisters, Enid and Bernice and two brothers, Rueben and Willard preceded him in death.

Interment was in Sillerud Cemetery, Balaton, MN with the Almlie Funeral Home of Balaton handling the arrangements.

Keye M. Foster, 76

Graveside services were held on Sunday, July 31, 2005 at 11:30 a.m. at Willow Lake Cemetery for Keye Foster. Rev. Stephen Olson officiated. The Tracy American Legion Honor Squad provided the military rites.

Keye M. Foster was born November 21, 1928 to Josephine and Albert Foster. He attended country school in Murray County, MN. He later served in the Navy and the Army.

Keye married Leona Noethe in 1956 and together they had three daughters, Debra, Laurel and Teri. He raised his family in Seattle, WA but moved back to Tracy a few years after a divorce and retirement.

He married Betty Haugen in 1983 and happily shared his life with her until his death.

Keye passed away on Tuesday, July 26, 2005.

Keye’s survivors include his wife of 21 years, Betty Foster; three daughters, six step-children; 23 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his sisters Lucielle Carter of Tracy, Lorraine (Leo) Schultz of Seattle, and Lavonne (Cletus) Morin of Seattle.

He was preceded in death by his siblings Laverne, Rueben, Glen, and infant brother Albert; also granddaughter Mandy Haack.

Keye was a humble, quiet, hardworking handyman who loved to work on the house and in the yard. He enjoyed staying home and having family/friends visit and his happiest years were spent with Betty in their little house in Tracy.

The Tracy Area Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Vernon Martinson, 86

Mass of Christian Burial for Vernon Martinson, 86, was held on Saturday, July 30, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lamberton with burial at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Father Dennis Labat officiated.

Condolences may be sent via e-mail to www.sturmfh.com.

Arrangements were with Sturm Funeral Home in Lamberton.

Vernon Joseph Martinson was born December 11, 1918, in Austin, MN, the son of Hjelmer and Marie Martinson. In his youth, Vernon worked for the CCC and was united in marriage to Adelle Williamson on February 22, 1941, at St. Columba Catholic Church in St. Paul. Following marriage he worked at the Ford Motor Company in St. Paul until the plant was converted for assembly during World War II. While Adelle and the children lived in Tracy, Vernon worked on the Al-Can (Alaskan-Canadian) Highway operating a sawmill. The family then moved back to St. Paul where Vernon worked for Sentry Matthews Trucking. They moved to the farm near Lamberton in 1942 where Vernon farmed until retiring in 1989.

He was a former member of St. Columba Catholic Church and a barbershop quartet in Tracy known as the “Tracy Tones”. Vernon enjoyed singing, woodworking, golfing and fishing.

Vernon Joseph Martinson died Wednesday, July 27, 2005, at the Springfield Medical Center at the age of 86 years.

Survivors include wife, Adelle of Lamberton; children: DiAnne (Curt) Ramsbacher of San Antonio, TX, William Martinson of Lamberton, James (Diane) Martinson of San Antonio, Robert (Paula) Martinson of Gainesville, TX, Chuck (Sharyn) Martinson of Lamberton, and Rick (Sally) Martinson of Rockford, MN; 20 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; and best friend Harold Norman.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister Vivian Bush.

Peggy Sue Hahn, 46

Funeral services were held on Thursday, July 28, 2005 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Walnut Grove, MN for Peggy Hahn. Fr. Brian Mandel officiated. Maydra Maas was organist, with Kerry Knakmuhs as soloist.

Casket bearers were Larry Brands, Lambert Roles, Tom Hahn, Marvin Christianson, Lenny Wild and Steve Carter.

Peggy Sue (Zenker) Hahn was born July 29, 1958 in Valley City, ND to Edmund and Mary Ellen (Hale) Zenker. Peggy attended school in Almira, WA, Jamestown, ND and graduated from Westbrook, MN in 1976.

Peggy was united in marriage to Donald Hahn on October 15, 1978 in Westbrook. They moved to the family farm, south of Walnut Grove, where they still reside and farm. Peggy drove for Floyd Wild Trucking of Marshall for 20 years. She loved life! Her outgoing personality made her many friends - no one was a stranger, - she could talk to anyone!! She was a member of St. Paul’s CCW. Her passions in life were her family, trucking, flower gardening, cooking, church, antiques and her hats. Peggy was a history buff. She had traveled to every state in the nation and was planning a trip to China. She loved “themes” and dressed up using Renassiance and Viking themes.

Peggy Sue Hahn passed away July 23, 2005 at the Worthington Regional Hospital in Worthington, Minnesota at the age of 46 years, 11 months and 25 days.

She is survived by her husband Donald of Currie; two children Donovan (Kristi) Hahn of Sioux Falls, SD and Angela Hahn of Walnut Grove; mother Mary Ellen Zenker of Willmar; father Edmond (Millie) Zenker of Rapid City, SD; two sisters Jacqulyn Zenker (Dennis) of Willmar and Patricia Dworshak of Pennock; one brother Mark (Jennifer) of Colorado Springs, CO; many nieces and nephews, family and friends.

Interment was in Calvary Catholic Cemtery, Tracy, MN with the Walnut Grove Funeral Home handling the arrangements.

Orval Karstens, Jr, 44

Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 30, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at the Tracy United Methodist Church for Orval B. Karstens, Jr. Reverend Kaye Brandt officiated. Soloists was Tricia Metzger with Allen Pierson as organist. Pianist was Marilyn Donner.

Casket bearers were Keith Wendland, Matt McDermott, Donnie Adams, Butch Karstens, Daniel Lang and Gary Fischer.

Orval Bernard Karstens, Jr. was born January 21, 1961 to Orval and Arlene (Willaby) Karstens in Sleepy Eye, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Congregational Church in Sleepy Eye and raised in Springfield, MN. He attended Springfield Public Schools and graduated from Springfield High School. After high school he attended Mankato Vo-Tech for two years for auto mechanics. Orval then returned to the Springfield area.

On September 15, 1990 Orval married Kathy J. Peterson at the Faith United Methodist Church in Waseca, MN. They made their home in Waseca until 2002 when they moved to Tracy, MN. Orval worked for the Renzenberger Taxi Service where he was the lead driver for the DM&E Railroad.

He was a member of the Tracy United Methodist Church in Tracy and was active in Bible Study and an Adult Study Group. Throughout his life, Orval enjoyed drawing, hunting, fishing, bowling, golf, motorcycles, mechanics and horseback riding. He especially loved spending time with his brother and his family.

On Sunday, July 24, 2005 Orval died at his stepson’s home in Rogers, MN at the age of 44.

Orval is survived by his wife, Kathy of Tracy, MN; two stepsons, Anthony (Rebecca) Kennedy of Plymouth, MN and Adam Kennedy of Eden Prairie, MN; one grandson, Ayden Robert; two granddaughters, Azja and Alexa; one brother, Wayne H. (Linda) Karstens of Garvin, MN; many aunts, uncles, nephews and cousins.

His parents, father and mother-in-law, Arvid and Pearl Peterson and two sisters preceded him in death.

Arrangements were handled by the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy.