Obituaries from the week of May 2, 2012
Gordon Blanchette, 82
Sophie Buysse, 90
Floyd Larson, 78
Orville Ruppert, 82
Leo St. Pierre, 60
Gordon Albert “Gordy”
Blanchette age 82 of rural Tracy, formerly of Amiret and Ashton, IA, passed
away peacefully on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at his home. Mass of Christian
Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 3, 2012 at St. Mary’s
Catholic Church in Tracy. Visitation is 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday
at the Tracy Area Funeral Home. A CCW Rosary service will be at 5:00 p.m.
and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. with a 3rd degree Knights of
Columbus Rosary to follow. Visitation will then continue one hour prior
to services at the church on Thursday. Interment is in Calvary Catholic
Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral
Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Gordon Albert Blanchette was
born May 30, 1929 on the family farm near Green Valley, MN, to Archie and
Cordella (Dandurand) Blanchette. He received the Sacraments at St.
Clotilde Catholic Church in Green Valley. Gordy graduated from Marshall
High School in 1947. On August 30, 1949 he was united in marriage to Mary
Ann Kack at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Together they
lived in Amiret for a year before moving to Ashton, Iowa. In 1956 they
moved back to Minnesota, north of Tracy, where they’ve resided since.
Gordy also worked at the locker plant in Garvin for many years. He was a
member of the Knights of Columbus serving as Treasurer, District Deputy for 6
years, and State Church Chair for a year. Gordy was also a member of the
Holy Name Society and the Gales Township Board from 1988 to the present,
serving as Treasurer for 27 years. He was also the Treasurer of Golden
Age in Tracy. Gordy enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, dancing, and
playing cards, especially Pinochle. He loved spending time with friends
and family, especially the grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Gordy is survived by his wife
of 62 years, Mary Ann; children: Joan (Roy) Woodford of Garvin, Jeff (Anita) of
Albuquerque, NM, Robin (Randy) Hudson of Luverne, Kevin (Donna) of Richmond,
Kerry (Shawn) Bonk of Appleton, Kristine (Randy) Tietz of Walnut Grove, and
Rebecca (Dean) Fredericks of Mankato; grandchildren: Jennifer (Terry) Tucek,
Sherry (Brad) Ilse, Jason Woodford, Jami (Shaun) Wahl, Sara and Andrew
Blanchette, Jill (Josh) Arnold, Brad (Lisa) Bonk, Laura (Tim) Peterson, Dustin
(Darci) Tietz, Darren (Nicole) Tietz, Denise Tietz, Ian and Derek Fredericks;
great grandchildren: Ashley Johnson, Amber Hammer, Adryen, Landry K., Hayden
and Quintin Tietz, Oakley Wahl, Isaiah Arnold, Sydney Bonk, Dawson and Jacey
Ilse. He is also survived by his sisters Beatrice Apger and Alice (Jim)
Bjorklund, both of Gold Canyon, AZ; and many other relatives and friends.
He is preceded in death by his
parents.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April
30, 2012 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy for Sophie L. Buysse, age 90,
of Tracy. Interment was in
the Calvary Cemetery in Tracy, with a luncheon served immediately following in
the church social hall. The Almlie
Family Funeral Homes of Tracy, Balaton and Westbrook is handling the
arrangements. Online condolences may be placed at www.almliefh.com
Sophie Julia Buysse was born
September 26, 1921 to August and Rose (DePope) Labat in Milroy, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the
Christian faith and attended country schools near Cottonwood and Marshall, MN.
On
February 12, 1941 Sophie married Cyril Buysse at St. Clotilde Catholic Church
in Green Valley, MN and they enjoyed 67 years of marriage before Cyril’s
death. They farmed near Minneota,
Marshall and Tracy, MN, and in 1978 they retired into the City of Tracy.
Sophie was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a past president
of Catholic Christian Workers. In
April of 2000 she was awarded the Bishop’s Medal of Service for her work as a
welcome person for the parish, a member of the church restoration committee,
her ministry to the shut-ins and elderly of the parish, a council of Catholic
Women president and Guild chairperson. She was also president of the Tracy Senior Citizens Golden Age Club and
a 4-H leader.
Sophie
died on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy at
the age of 90.
Sophie is survived by her children, Kathleen (Ken) Garrett of
Wilmington, NC, Carole (Bill) Craig of Dassel, MN, Dan (Deb) Buysse of Tracy,
MN, Bev (Myron) Kovash of Livingston, MT and Cheryl (Mike) Eischens of
Minnetonka, MN; one daughter-in-law, Sue Buysse of Tracy, MN; 15 grandchildren;
15 great-grandchildren; one sister, Mary Buysse of Minneota, MN; two
sisters-in-law, Julia Labat of Minneota, MN and Rosie Labat of Marshall, MN;
nieces, nephews and friends.
Her husband, Cyril, son David, infant son Roger, grandson Brian, her parents, two brothers, Peter and Henry and one brother-in-law, Harry Buysse, preceded her in death.
Floyd Larson, age 78 of
Redwood Falls, formerly of Marshall, passed away Saturday, April 28, 2012 at
his home, following complications from a fall. Funeral services were held
at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls.
Interment was in the Tracy City Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent
at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral
Service - Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Floyd Larson was born July 25,
1933 in Tyler, Minnesota to Pontus and Bessie (Roberts) Larson. He was
baptized July 8, 1934 and confirmed April 25, 1948, both at Bethany Lutheran
Church in Arco, Minnesota. Floyd attended country school District 18 in Lincoln
County near Arco. On October 28, 1962, Floyd married Mary Lou Hook at the
Tracy United Methodist Church. The couple made their home in Marshall,
Minnesota for 11 years. In 1973, Floyd and Mary Lou moved to Redwood
Falls where they became members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and Floyd served
as an usher. Floyd worked for Central Bi Products as a truck driver,
retiring in 1998. He enjoyed fishing and spending time at their lake home
on Lake Shetek. Floyd loved gardening both vegetables and flowers, and
always kept a large flower garden at the lake home. He was a very loving
and caring person, enjoyed spending time with his family, and was a very proud
Grandpa. Floyd was quiet and reserved, but was known for his well-timed,
witty remarks.
Floyd is survived by his wife
of nearly 50 years, Mary Lou of Redwood Falls; daughter Susan Jean (Dominic)
Ehman of New Richmond, WI; grandchildren Gabriella and Matthew Ehman;
brother-in-law Eugene Hook of Tracy; nieces and nephews: Tom (Shannon) Hook of
Tracy, Patti Hook (Arden Virnig) of Onamia, MN; many other nieces, nephews,
other relatives and friends.
Floyd is preceded in death by
his parents, sisters: Rachel Gislason, Florence Possail, and Arlene Peterson,
brother Alvin Larson, sister-in-law Mary Alice Hook, niece Mary Catherine
Virnig, and parents-in-law Bert and Agnes Hook.
Orville Vincent Ruppert was
born on August 12, 1929, in Currie, Minnesota the son of Valentine and
Catherine (Potthoff) Ruppert. He
graduated from Currie High School in 1947. Orville served his country from 1951-1953 in the United
States Army during the Korean Conflict.
On September 16, 1954 Orville
was united in marriage to Judith Keeler in Pipestone, MN. To this union nine children were
born. The Ruppert family
lived in Currie where Orville farmed until 1967 when he bought a Coast to Coast
Hardware Store in Tracy, Minnesota. In 1975, the family moved to Fergus Falls where he sold farm products
and in 1986, Orville had to semi-retire due to a farm accident. Orville and Judy moved to Holmes City
where they bought a hobby farm. During this time he worked part time for Fleet Farm in Alexandria and as
caretaker of St. Mary’s Cemetery for several years.
Mr. Ruppert was a member of
the Knights of Columbus and American Legion while living in Currie and was
President of Kiwanis in Tracy, MN. Orville was also involved in League Bowling all his adult life. He enjoyed a game of scrabble, poker, pool, horseshoes. He loved time out on the water fishing
and in his retirement years he enjoyed writing stories and poetry.
Orville cherished time spent
with family whether it was holiday gatherings or a road trip with his wife,
Judy. He was a great man who will
be truly missed.
Orville died on Sunday, April
29, 2012 at his home surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Judith; five sons: Dennis of
Sauk Centre, MN, Dean of Spearfish, SD, Bill of Fergus Falls, Brian of
Alexandria, Joe & fiance’ , Jamie Regier of Omaha, NE, four daughters: Lynn
Solberg of Alexandria, Jane (Carl)
Burton of Fergus Falls, MN, Hope (Benet) Schulz of Hoffman, MN, Tammy Ruppert
& significant other, Brandt Johnson of Alexandria; twenty two
grandchildren, three great grandchildren, brother, Herb Ruppert of Currie, MN;
sisters: Leota Silver of Tracy, MN, Marcella Cummiskey of Currie, MN.
He is preceded in death by his
parents, brothers: Harold, Raymond, Louis; sisters Lillian Busch, Julia
Peltola, Irma Carlson; two sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law.
Mass of Christian Burial was
held on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in
Alexandria. Honorary Casket
Bearers were his grandchildren and Casket Bearers were Dennis Ruppert, Dean
Ruppert, Bill Ruppert, Brian Ruppert, Joseph Ruppert, Carl Burton. Military Honors were by the American
Legion Post 87, VFW Post 936 and the MN National Guard Honors. Arrangements were with the
Anderson Funeral Home. www.andersonfuneral.net
Leo H. St. Pierre age 60 of
Tracy, MN died Sunday, April 29, 2012 at the Sanford-Tracy Area Medical
Center. Services will be 2:00 PM
Friday, May 4, 2012 at the Tracy United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00
PM Thursday, May 3, 2012 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy, with a prayer
service at 7:00 PM and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church
on Friday. Interment will be in
the Tracy City Cemetery, with a luncheon served immediately afterward in the
church social hall. The Almlie
Family Funeral Homes of Balaton, Tracy and Westbrook is handling the
arrangements. Online condolences
may be placed at www.almliefh.com
Leo Henry St. Pierre was born
January 22, 1952 to Lawrence and Florence (Blomquist) St. Pierre in Tracy, MN,
Lyon County. He was baptized and
confirmed in the Christian faith and attended both Tracy and Walnut Grove Public
Schools, graduating from Walnut Grove High School in 1970.
On September 22, 1973 Leo
married Joyce Rykhus at the Tracy United Methodist Church and they made their
home in Tracy. He entered the
National Guard in the fall 1973 and served 21 years before his retirement in
1994. Leo worked for Tracy
Bottling Company, Viking Coke and Speedy Delivery Service of Marshall prior to
in the Maintenance Department at Southwest Minnesota State University where he
worked for sixteen years until his health required him to take a leave of
absence in June of 2011.
Leo was a member of the Tracy
United Methodist Church. He was a
member of the AFSCME Union and a past member of the Tracy Eagles Aerie
#3918. He enjoyed caring for his
vehicles and his home, both inside and out, especially lawn work. He also enjoyed western movies and was
Clint Eastwoods biggest fan, collecting books, movies and memorabilia, which
included a signed photograph that he received from his granddaughter, Shelby,
who sent a letter requesting the picture, on the day he received the call on his
lung transplant. He and Joyce
loved to travel and vacation together and he loved spending time with his
family, friends and especially time with his grandchildren.
On Sunday, April 29, 2012 Leo
died, surrounded by his loving family, at the Sanford-Tracy Medical Center at
the age of 60.
Leo is survived by the love of
his life, his wife, Joyce St. Pierre of Tracy, MN; two sons, Travis (Amy) St.
Pierre of Cottonwood, MN and Cory (Stacey) St. Pierre of St. Joseph, MN; six
grandchildren, Shelby, Taylor, Ayden, Ethan, Ashton, and Mylah; one brother,
Marvin (Patty) Wigton of Bloomington, MN; three sisters, Janet (Dennis)
Schoeberl in Richland Center, WI, Mary (Jim) LeClaire of Lake Benton, MN and
Leola (Rich Jones) St. Pierre of Spirit Lake, IA; one aunt, Joan St. Pierre of
Richfield, MN; one sister-in-law, Jennie (David Ziemke) Bruss of Tracy, MN;
five brothers-in-law, David (Linda), Harvey (Ina), and Rick (Dawn) Rykhus all
of Tracy, MN, Jeff (friend, Donna) Rykhus of Brookings, SD, and Todd (Kelly)
Kopischke of Vernon Center, MN; many nieces, nephews and friends.
His parents, Lawrence and
Florence and one nephew, Larry Eggen preceded him in death.
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