MARCH 5, 2008 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 21
OBITUARIES Eldora Larson
Curtis L. Hanson
Eldora Larson, 80, died Feb. 18, 2008, at the Continuing Care Center of the BMC, after battling a rare autoimmune disorder for over a decade, and recently complicated by cancer. Eldora Larson was born March 14, 1927, to William and Elvira (Hegge) Thompson in Wood River Township. She was baptized July 31, 1927, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Grantsburg, by the Rev. O.A. Olson and confirmed by the Rev. H.P. Walker on Sept. 21, 1941. Eldora attended her elementary grades at Wood River and Grantsburg schools. She graduated from Grantsburg High School, the class of 1945. Upon graduating she was employed at a local pharmacy a short time. Eldora was a telephone operator for the Farmers Independent Telephone Company, employed by the North American Life Insurance Company in Minneapolis until September 1951, when her employment began at the First Bank of Grantsburg. She remained there until her retirement in the early ‘90s. On Feb. 14, 1976, Eldora married Orren Larson at Bethany Lutheran Church, Grantsburg. They enjoyed 11-1/2 years of marriage until Orren’s death in 1987. All her life Eldora was an active member at Bethany as a Sunday school teacher, choir member and in the Women of the ELCA, in her circle and holding various offices. Eldora was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by sisters, Helen Baker and Marlys (Lowell) Olson; nephew, Brad (Linda) Olson; niece, Julie (Curt) Lee; grand-nephew, Carter Lee and grandnieces, Marie and Amy Olson and Cassidy and Caitlyn Lee. Funeral services were held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Grantsburg, on Friday, Feb. 22, with Pastor Jay Ticknor officiating. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery. The Edling-Taylor Funeral Home of Grantsburg was entrusted with the arrangements.
Curtis L. Hanson, 80, of Robbinsdale, Minn., died Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008. Curtis was born and raised near Luck. Curtis worked for Honeywell as a tool and die maker for 43-plus years. He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Hanson; mother and stepfather, Carrie and Walter Baasch; sisters, Helen and Donna; brothers, Walter Jr. and William. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Janet; daughters, Cheryl and Kristen; sisters, Ardyce (Don) McCavic, LuAnne (Ken) Welsh, and Mary Mattson; brother, Ron (Kathy) Hanson; many more family and friends. Funeral services were Monday, March 3, at Brooklyn Park Evangelical Free Church, Brooklyn Park, Minn. Interment was at the Wolf Creek Cemetery.
Norma Jean Thompson Norma Jean Thompson, 65, died Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008, at her home in Trade Lake Township. She was born Feb. 25, 1943, in Luck, the daughter of Ruth and Wallace Thompson. She was baptized and confirmed in the Cushing Lutheran Church. She attended eight years of grade school at the Cushing Elementary School. She graduated from St. Croix High School in 1961. She worked at the Luck Yo-Yo plant earning money to attend the University of Wisconsin – River Falls, where she received a bachelor degree in physical education. She taught six months in an intermediate school in Port Huron, Mich. In the fall of 1968, she came back to Wisconsin and signed a contract to teach physical education, driver’s education and coach girls sports at Unity High School were she taught for 34 years before retiring in June of 2000. Norma coached girls in gymnastics, softball and basketball helping them achieve championships at conference, sectional and state levels. She evoked respect, tolerance and diligence from her students and athletes many of whom have kept in touch over the years following their graduation. Her love of both indoor and outdoor sports, especially golf, were sources of her enjoyment after she retired. She was an avid Green Bay Packer fan. Norma devoted time as a caregiver to her mom and anyone who was in need of special assistance. Norma is survived by her mom, Ruth Thompson; her brother, Gerald (Jan) Thompson; sisters, Constance (Roger) Johnson, Carolyn (Randy) Olson, Kathy (Willie) Loberg and Debby Thompson and many relatives and friends. Her father, Wallace Thompson; and her grandnephew, Luke Olson, preceded her in death. A funeral service was held March 1, 2008, at the Cushing Lutheran Church located in Cushing, with Pastor Amy Hessel officiating. Interment was at the Cushing Cemetery in Cushing. Memorials will be given in memory of Norma to the Cushing Lutheran Church, the Unity High School Scholarship Fund and the Humane Society of Burnett County. The Edling Funeral Home, St. Croix Falls, was entrusted with arrangements.
Frances J. Nielsen Frances Jeannette (Hansen) Nielsen, age 83, of Edina, Minn., died Feb. 22, 2008. Frances was born at the farm of her parents Jennie and Newell Hagen in Milltown, on May 14, 1924, weighing only 3.5 lbs. She was incubated on a woodfired oven door and was baptized the next day. She grew up at the family farm and attended school at Sunny View and Milltown High School. There she met her husband Harley, son of Martinus and Dorothy Nielsen, and they were married Dec. 21, 1941. Together, they farmed the Maple Hill Poultry Farm and Hatchery then moved to the Twin Cities in 1946 where Harley began his career as a meat manager with the National Tea Company. Harley and Frances made their home near Lake Harriet in southwest Minneapolis where they lived over 40 years, which was followed by 12 years of happy condo-life in Edina. Following Harley’s death in May 2007, Frances enjoyed a few months in assisted living at the Colony in Eden Prairie. Throughout their lives their hearts remained in Wisconsin, and in 1963 they purchased a cottage on the southwest shore of Bone Lake near their family homes. Frances was a charter member of Edina Community Lutheran Church. In these circles and so many others during their 65 years together, Frances and Harley made many cherished friendships which blessed them and continue to bless their family. She was preceded in death by beloved husband of 65 years, Harley Carl Nielsen, infant son, James Edward and son-in-law, Robert Dembeck. Frances is survived by sons, Lynn (Judy) and Bruce (Judy); daughter, Janet Dembeck; grandchildren, Susan (Rodney) Keller, Matthew Nielsen, Melissa Nielsen, Jason (Sara) Dembeck, Carey (Andrew) Erickson, Krista Dembeck and Jeffery Dembeck; great-grandchildren, Andrea and Colyn Erickson, Olivia and Chad Keller, Robbie and Abby Dembeck; and dear family friends Joe Leago, Mandy Buysman, John Heckert and Paulette Nielsen. Memorials to Edina Community Lutheran Church in Edina, Minn.
Jeannette Marie Lunsmann Jeannette Marie Lunsmann, 75, a resident of the village of Centuria died at the St. Croix Regional Medical Center on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008. Jeannette was born on Feb. 25, 1932, in Luck Township, to Adolph and Gertrude (Coen) Olesen. She married Morris Lunsmann on Nov. 12, 1949, in Center City, Minn. To this union three children were born, Scott, Jeffery and Penny. Jeannette worked at the Centuria Laundry for several years. She tended bar for awhile and also provided day care for a number of years, which she enjoyed. She and Morris enjoyed snowmobiling, their motor home and fishing. She and Morris spent many weekends and summers at Dairyland where they had a trailer next to the Tamarack River. After the death of her husband, she moved to the apartments in Centuria, where she enjoyed her friends and the continuing help and friendship of Cindy Dau and all of the people at the apartment building. Jeanette is survived by her children, Scott (Lavonne) Lunsmann of Milltown, Penny (Jerry) Neely of Baldwin; six grandchildren, Mark (fiancée Jennifer Hill) Neely of Baldwin, Chad (Kim) Lunsmann of Chicago; Jesse Neely of Woodville, Jeremiah (significant other Kari) Lunsmann, Brian Neely of Hudson, Autumn (Ryan) Hyden of Milltown; seven great-grandchildren; brothers, Charles (Elizabeth) Olesen, Eugene Olesen, Royce (Betty) Olesen; sisters, Virginia Lunsmann, Bonnie Ellefson, Charlotte (Jerry) Johnson and Dixie Keenen. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Jeffrey; and sister; Connie and other in-laws. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 5, at the Kolstad Family Funeral Home in Centuria. Pastor Paul Foulke of the Holy Trinity United Methodist Church officiated. Interment was at St. John’s Cemetery in rural Centuria following the funeral service. The Kolstad Family Funeral Home, Centuria, was entrusted with arrangements.