Obituaries from the week of January 18, 2006

Ethel E. Prouty, 85

Funeral services were held on Monday, January 16, 2006 for Ethel E. Prouty at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy. Pastor Homer Dobson officiated. Special music was by Virgil Spears and organist was Eleanor Hewitt.

Casket bearers were Lewis Rowell, Bill Rowell, Art Prouty, Donald Rowell, Allen Prouty and John Johnson.

Ethel E. “Effie” (Rowell) Prouty was born January 13, 1920 to Lewis and Maggie (Montgomery) Rowell on a farm in Amiret Township, Lyon County, MN. She attended Country School District #96 in Amiret Township and later graduated from Tracy High School in 1938.

On December 28, 1938 Effie married Alton Prouty in Algona, IA. They made their home on the Prouty farm until 1949 when they moved to Tracy, MN for a year. In 1950 they moved to a farm north of Tracy where Alton farmed with his brother, Louis until his brother’s death. They then moved back on to the Prouty farm in 1967 where Ethel lived until 2004 when she moved to an apartment in Tracy.

She enjoyed gardening, planting flowers and trees, many craft projects, sewing, traveling and playing cards. Effie was a charter member of the Amiret Extension Club, later renamed Town and Country Club. Over the years she was active in several card clubs.

In June of 2005 Effie moved to Springside Assisted Living where she died Thursday, January 12, 2006 at the age of 85.

Ethel is survived by one twin sister, Evelyn Hanson of Calimesa, CA; one brother Earl “Swede” of Tempe, AZ; two sisters-in-law, Ruth Prouty and Marcia Rowell both of Tracy, MN; a great many nieces, nephews and special friends.

Her parents, husband, Alton, five brothers, Harold, Donald, Mark, Lester, and Chan, three sisters, Patience, Lucille and Margaret preceded her in death.

Interment was at Tracy City Cemetery with the Almlie Funeral Home of Tracy handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be given to Hospice of Murray County.

Alicia J. Phelan, 82

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thurs., Jan. 12, 2006 for Alicia Phelan. Fr. Bob Horihan officiated. Organist was Patty LeClaire. Song leader was LoAnn Hansen with special music by Marian Johnson.

Pallbearers were Francis Phelan, Charles Ricketts, Ryan Ricketts, Michael Ricketts, Stephen Langdon, and Andrew Langdon.

Alicia Phelan was born on May 16, 1923 in San Rizal, Manila, Philippines to Jose and Josefina Guanzon Gloria. Alicia grew up in Manila, graduated from Holy Ghost High School in 1941 and then completed secretarial school. She worked for a time at the military base in Manila. She enjoyed writing letters and had many pen pals. She met Vincent Phelan, her husband that way.

They were married on March 29, 1952 in Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada. They farmed with the Phelan brothers on the family farm near Currie where they raised their six children. She wrote a column for the Minneapolis Star when she was younger and she reported the Currie news for several years. They retired and moved to Tracy. Vincent died on August 14, 2002.

Alicia passed away on January 8, 2006 at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 82.

She was a member of IHM Church in Currie and served as Regent and held several offices in the Catholic Daughters. She belonged to a garden club. Alicia was an avid reader, enjoyed knitting, having made afghans for all in her family, photography, many of which were entered in the Murray County Fair, music, playing the piano in her younger years, and spending time with her family and friends. She also spoke three languages, Spanish, Tagalog and English.

Survivors include her son, five daughters and their spouses: Gloria (Gina) and David Mensing of Zumbrota, MN, Francis and Linda Phelan of Savage, MN, Myra and Charles Ricketts of Wabasso, MN, Josephine and Robert Langdon of Dallas, TX, Alice (Alise) Phelan of Los Angeles, CA, Leila and Kim Heffern of Woodbury, MN; 13 grandchildren: Rebecca (Chad) Steinlage, Jonathan, Melissa and Katherine Mensing, Ryan (Brandy), Alissa, and Michael Ricketts, Stephen and Andrew Langdon, Duncan Phelan, and Alec, Marisa and Jake Heffern; two nieces, Consuelo and Angelica and nephew, Joselito and a host of other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Vincent, a brother, Jose V. Gloria Jr. and sister, Lydia Gloria, who is presumed dead.

Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Currie, MN with arrangements made by Totzke Funeral Home.