JULY 15, 2009 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 27
OBITUARIES
Jason R. Whittier
Ewald Jerome (Jerry) Johnson
Ada M. Toombs
Jason R. Whittier of St. Croix Falls died Friday, July 10, 2009, at St. Croix Regional Medical Center at the age of 38. Jason was born Sept. 12, 1970, at St. Croix Falls to David and Roberta Whittier. He graduated from Taylors Falls High School in 1989. He attended law enforcement school at Century College and Chippewa Valley Technical College. On April 20, 1991, he married Tiffany Nelson at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Taylors Falls, Minn. He worked as a police officer in several Polk County communities and as a deputy sheriff with Polk County. Jason was a member of the Balsam Lake Knights of Columbus and had been on the Taylors Falls Fire Department while living there. He enjoyed hunting big game, fishing, camping, listening to and playing music and especially his family. Jason was preceded in death by grandparents, Hal and Sue Whittier and Philip Larson. He is survived by wife, Tiffany; daughter, Brittany; son, Cody; parents, David and Roberta Whittier; grandmother, Evelyn Larson; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday, July 14, at Our Lady of the Lakes Church in Balsam Lake, by Fr. Thomas Thompson and the Very Rev. John Drummy. Interment was in St. Croix Falls Cemetery. The Grandstrand Funeral Home, Osceola, was entrusted with arrangements.
Ewald Jerome “Jerry” Johnson, 96, Ashland, died Monday, June 22, 2009, at Northern Lights Health Care Center in Washburn. He was born Jan. 14, 1913, in Webster, the son of Olof and Martha (Engebretson) Johnson. He was born, raised and worked on the family farm in Webster. His passion was his three horses, Molly, Kit and Meg. Jerry graduated from Webster High School in 1932. He met Ruth A. G. Johnson in Lake Geneva, where he worked as a greenskeeper. They were married in Chicago on Oct. 1, 1938. Jerry owned and operated his own concrete business in Chicago for over 25 years. He semi-retired and moved to Ashland in 1971 and did various construction jobs in the Ashland area. He was a lifelong member of the First Covenant Church of Ashland. He is survived by three children, Caryl (Arthur) VanBerschot of Owasso, Okla., Craig (Sharon) Johnson of Bayfield and Connie (Gale Trombley) Johnson of Ashland; six grandchildren, Barton VanBerschot, Chad VanBerschot, David (Billie Jo) Johnson, Jessica (Steve) Howe, Jennifer (James) Turmure and Billie (Craig) Hoopman; 12 great-grandchildren, Derek, Mitchell and Julia VanBerschot, Andrew, Abigail and Amelia Johnson, Ryan and Olivia Howe, Margaret Turmure, Emily, Ellie and Wyatt Hoopman; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth on Aug. 25, 2006; two brothers, Harold and Donald; and two sisters, Louise and Catherine. A funeral service was held on Thursday, June 25, at the Frost Home for Funerals in Ashland with the Rev. Ernest Bliss officiating. Interment was in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Ashland. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund will be established.
Ada M. Toombs, 88, Coon Rapids, Minn., formerly of Spooner, died July 3, 2009, at Park River Estate Care Center in Coon Rapids, Minn. She was born May 10, 1921, in Burnett County, to Byron and Mary (Mewforter) Lawrence. She was married March 4, 1938, to Harold Sheehan who preceded her in death in 1963. Ada married Elwood Toombs in St. Paul on Nov. 11, 1961, and he preceded her in death in 1984. She was also preceded in death by son Scott; granddaughter Dawn; grandson Larry; stepdaughter Irene; stepson Ronald; brothers Clarence, George, William, Harry and Edgar; and sisters Nellie, Beatrice, Abigail and Annabell. She is survived by daughter LuluBelle (William) Gorr, Blaine, Minn.; sons Lester (Beverly) Sheehan, Cumberland, Chester Sheehan, St. Paul, Minn., and Harold D. Sheehan, Amery; stepdaughter Shirley Toombs, St. Paul, Minn.; 15 grandchildren; 17 greatgrandchildren; seven step-grandchildren and 14 stepgreat-grandchildren. Funeral services was held July 10 at Skinner Funeral Home, Shell Lake, with the Rev. Carol Ann McArdell officiating. Burial was in Greendale Cemetery, Spooner. Pallbearers were Chester Sheehan, Lester Sheehan, Lester Sheehan Jr., Jeff Wolters, Ron Reinking and Bill Gorr. The Skinner Funeral Home, Shell Lake, was entrusted with arrangements.
Rodney Pagh
Bonnie Curry Wolf died July 11, 2009, at the St. Croix Regional Medical Center. She was 82 years old. Bonnie was born Feb. 17, 1927, to Zella and Edna Curry in St. Paul, Minn. Bonnie was married to John (Jack) Wolf on April 23, 1949. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; son, Gary; two brothers and two sisters. Bonnie is survived by son, Paul (Carrie) Wolf; daughter, Janet (Darrell) Otto; daughter, Lynn (Tom) Kieger; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. The Cremation Society of Wisconsin was entrusted with arrangements.
A memorial service is being held for Rodney Pagh on Saturday, July 25, 2009. The service will be held at 11 a.m., at the Bethesda Lutheran Church, Dresser, at Sand Lake.
Nellie (Smith) Martinsen Nellie (Smith) Martinsen, 100, resident of Milltown, died Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at St. Croix Regional Medical Center in St. Croix Falls. Nellie was born to Nels and Ellen Smith on March 28, 1909, in the village of Milltown. She was baptized and confirmed at Milltown Lutheran Church. Nellie was Circle chairman for many years, and was also a past vice president and president of the Women of the Church. She is also a charter member of the Milltown Senior Citizen Center, where she has served as president, treasurer and director for many years. Nellie was united in marriage to Louie Martinsen on July 14, 1928. To this union, seven children were born with six surviving: son, James (Marilyn) Martinsen of Luck; five daughters, Donna Mae (Bob) Hoyt of Auburn, Wash., Mary (Herbert) Fagnan of New Richmond, Carolyn (Jim) Nelson of Centuria, Linda Martinsen of Milltown and Norma Lundgren of St. Croix Falls; 23 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; 24 great-great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Louie; son, Robert; one grandson; her parents; and five brothers, Harry, Clifford, Donald, Ray and Ross. Funeral services were held at Milltown Lutheran Church in Milltown, on Saturday, July 11, with Pastor Danny Wheeler officiating. Music was provided by organist Cheryl Peper; a trio by Brenda Marek, Sharon Moore and Velma Broome; and a duet by Pastor Danny Wheeler and Clayton Johnson. Pallbearers were Bobby Martinsen, Barry Martinsen, Charles Fagnan, Jeff Fagnan, Mike Martinsen and Tommy Nelson. Honorary pallbearers were Randy Freer, Randy and Teresa Vollrath, Arlo and Dorothy Miller, Dick Westerman, Cary Dean and Bonnie Eastvold, Brian Eder and Rose Sheperd and Curt and Jo Bille. Interment followed the service at Milltown Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Milltown Lutheran Church. Rowe Funeral Home of Luck was entrusted with arrangements.
Bonnie Curry Wolf
Joseph G. Hudalla Joseph G. Hudalla, 86, St. Croix Falls, formerly of Cumberland, died July 4, 2009. Joseph was a longtime Cumberland businessman. He is survived by his children, Diane Hudalla, Mary Jo (Jim) Hofer, Karen (Fred) Hanson; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. Funeral Mass was held Tuesday, July 7, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Cumberland, with Fr. David Lusson officiating. Casket bearers were Joseph’s grandchildren. Interment followed the service at Lakeside Cemtery in Cumberland. The Edling Funeral Home, St. Croix Falls, was entrusted with arrangements.
Susann (Sue) M. Blair Susann (Sue) M. Blair, age 82, a resident of Danbury, died July 9, 2009, at Spooner Health System. Sue was born on April 14, 1927, in Berwyn, Ill., to Kenneth and Margaret MacGill. She married Ben Blair on Oct. 26, 1946, in Columbia, Mo. Sue was a past Lioness member and was an election official for Union Township. She was also an active volunteer coordinator for Forts Folle Avoine. Sue was preceded in death by her husband Ben Sr.; parents; brother, Kenneth; and sister, Marjorie. Sue is survived by her children, Sandy (Mark) Ridgway of Stillwater, Minn., Debbie (Ryan) Hoss of Fargo, N.D., Ben Blair of Osceola and Greg (Liz) Blair of Maple Grove, Minn.; grandchildren, Allison (Mike) Cossetta, Eric Bender, Matt (Tanya) Hoss and Katie (Chad) Nielson; great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Emily Cossetta and Madelyn and Noah Hoss; brother, Robert (Dorothy) MacGill; as well as special friend, Nancy Merle. Sue will be remembered for her love of family and nature, especially her birds and flowers. A private celebration of Sue’s life will be held at a later date. Memorials are preferred to Forts Folle Avoine. The Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster, was entrusted with arrangements.
Rosella Dversdall-Alhgren A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 21, for Rosella Dversdall-Alhgren at the Clam Falls Lutheran Church. Service will be at 11 a.m. with fellowship and lunch to follow. All friends are invited to attend.
Blanche R. (Kuhn) Nelson Blanche R. Nelson, age 96, of Amery, formerly of Clear Lake, died on Friday, July 3, 2009, at the Golden Age Manor Nursing Home in Amery. Blanche Rachel Nelson was born on May 1, 1913, in New Haven Township, Dunn County, the daughter of Arthur and Sara (Ryder) Lee. She grew up in New Haven Township, attending Bolen Country School and Downing High School. Blanche was married to Frank R. Kuhn at the Methodist Church in Emerald on May 8, 1931. Together they farmed in the Clear Lake area and raised five children, Carmalita, Arthur “Peter,” Cordelia, Rebecca and Myrna. After Frank’s death in 1972, Blanche lived on their farm in Clear Lake until she married Harold Nelson on Sept. 17, 1976. For the next ten years, she and Harold made their home in Woodville. After his death in 1986, Blanche returned to South Manor in Clear Lake. Over the years she was active in the Methodist Church Ladies Aid, the Homemakers Club, the Band Mothers Club and was a Girl Scout Leader. Blanche also assisted Dr. Campbell with deliveries and cared for the mothers and their babies in her home. She also enjoyed sewing, baking and doing crafts. Blanche had been a resident of Judy’s Cottage at the Golden Age Manor since 2005. She is preceded in death by her husbands, Frank Kuhn and Harold Nelson; daughter, Rebecca Yurik; son, Arthur “Peter” Kuhn; grandson, Timothy Weier; great grandson, Bryce Weier; parents, Arthur and Sara Lee; sons-in-law, William Martin and Ciro Alfaro; daughter-in-law, Ginger Kuhn; brothers, Richard (Alaine) Lee, Arnold (Helen) Lee and James (Dorothy) Lee; sister, Inez (Ray) Brophy; and brother-in-law, Robert Swenby. She is survived daughters, Carmalita Martin of Ramsey, Minn., Cordelia Alfaro of Nagog Woods, Mass., Myrna (William) Cress of Hastings, Minn.; son-in-law, Michael Yurik of Spooner; 17 grandchildren, Shawn, Kelly and Jennifer Martin, Daniel, Jane, David and Kristin Weier, Michele and Shannon Yurik, Philip and Sheila Kuhn, Chad, Jason and Stacy Cress, Jeanine and Jeff Kuhn; 23 great-grandchildren and two greatgreat-grandchildren; sister, Violet Swenby of Boyceville; many relatives, family and friends. Funeral service was at the United Covenant Church, Clear Lake, on Saturday, July 11, 2009. The Rev. Jayneann Gagner officiated. Music was provided by Jaette Carpenter. Interment was at Clear Lake Cemetery in Clear Lake. Casket bearers were Jason Cress, Shawn Martin, Stacy Cress, Phillip Kuhn, David Weier, Michele Heffner and Sheila Wolff. Scheuermann-Hammer Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Clear Lake was entrusted with arrangements.