Kathleen Hedtke, 81
Kathleen Hedtke, 81 years old, passed away, Tuesday,
June 3, 2008 at Sioux Valley Hospital, Sioux Falls,
SD.
She is survived by her four children: Michael, Clearbrook,
MN, Christine (Cletus) Schons, Tracy, MN, Peter,
Vadnais Heights, MN, and Paul, of Anchorage, Alaska.
Three Grandchildren: Lukus and Matthew Schons of
Tracy, MN and Megan Schons of Phoenix, AZ. Her sister
Elizabeth Moe of Faribault, MN, and nephews Bradley
(Cindy) Moe of Plymouth, MN and Steven Moe of Minneapolis,
MN
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband
and brother-in-law Olaus Moe.
Kathleen Ruth Traeger, the daughter of Dr. Carl
and Ruth (Hertzler) Traeger, was born February 1,
1927 in Faribault, MN, Rice County. She graduated
from Faribault High School, and Hamline University
in St. Paul. She received a Master’s Degree
in social work from the University of Minnesota.
Kathleen taught English and Speech in the Jackson,
MN high school, and social work for ten years at
the University of MN, Duluth and University of WI,
Superior.
On June 11, 1949, she became the wife of Reuel Eugene
Hedtke. They lived in Jackson for 31 years. She
ran the Red Cross Blood Program in Jackson for a
number of years. Twelve and one half years were
spent as a social worker for Jackson County. During
her social work career, she assisted in writing
the MN Patient’s Bill of Rights for the Mentally
Ill, and state advocacy policy for social services
clients, and taught advocacy for clients for the
State Department of Welfare. The Hedtkes operated
Camp Ink-Pa-Duta campground, in Jackson, for thirteen
years.
In 1979, she and Reuel moved to Duluth, MN, then
to Utah in 1993, where Reuel died, July 19, 1997.
Kathleen returned to Duluth, where she lived for
two years. In 1999 she moved to Bishop, CA in the
Eastern Sierra Mountains. She worked for the Forest
Service Inyo National Forest in Mammoth Lakes, and
Bishop, CA for eight years. In April 2002, she was
awarded a “Chief’s Volunteers Program
National Award” based upon her work done on
behalf of the Inyo National Forest.
Kathleen loved to read, camp, hike and embroider.
She very much enjoyed meeting and making new friends.
According to Kathleen’s wishes, her body will
be cremated. No public service will be held. By
her request Kathleen’s ashes will be scattered
in the places she loved and most felt at home: with
her parents in Faribault, the Eastern Sierra Mountains,
Duluth, Jackson and in the shade of a Silver Maple.
Condolences may be mailed to: Chris Schons, 536
Emory St., Tracy MN 56175, or email condolences
to: tracyareafuneralhome.com.
Walter Buzzell, 82
August 17, 1925 - May 26, 2008 Salem, Oregon
- Walt went to be with his Lord and Savior at the
age of 82 on May 26th, six days after suffering
a stroke. Born to Mark and Minnie Buzzell in Tracy,
MN, he was the tenth of twelve children. He
graduated from West Bend High School (IA) and then
joined the U.S. Army to serve as a paratrooper in
Europe during WWII (80th Battalion, 82nd Airborne
Division).
After the war, Walt returned to Tracy and married
Ruth Olson in 1951, and they moved to Minneapolis
in 1957. Walt worked for Midland Co-op/Land
O’ Lakes until retiring in 1985. The
couple relocated to Salem in 1994.
Walt was a Co-Scoutmaster for 18 years for the Boy
Scout Troop at First Covenant Church in Minneapolis.
He served on church boards, ushered and managed
the church’s parking lot. He also served
at Salem Alliance Church, working with the parking
crew and participating in several missions-related
construction projects.
Walt is survived by his loving wife, Ruth; daughter
Janet of Portland, OR; sons, Doug (Irene) and Craig
of Mellen, WI, and Scott (Mary) of Salem; eight
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; brothers,
Lee of Bettendorf, IA and Wayne of Davenport, IA,
and Don of St. Cloud, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is planned to be held in August
2008 in Tracy.
