Harlan J. Easton, 84

Harlan Jerome Easton, age 84, of Blooming Prairie, died at Prairie Manor on Sunday, May 4, 2003.

He was born Oct. 10, 1918, in rural Freeborn County to Carl Edwin and Nellie (Peterson) Easton. He was baptized in the Lutheran faith and confirmed at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church.

Harlan married Ethel Anderson on Aug. 27, 1940. To this marriage two children were born, Carole and Robert. Ethel passed away on May 3, 1955. In 1960, Harlan married Marjorie Koster, and they were divorced in 1967. One child, Scott, was born to this marriage. On Dec. 14, 1968, he married Ruby Jeanne Anderson. Jeanne died Feb. 10, 1995.

Harlan spent his entire life working in Freeborn County. He farmed in Newry Township and worked at Queen Stove in Albert Lea for a short time. However, his lifelong passion was inventing. He started a company called Easton Manufacturing, which eventually evolved into Easton Products, where he enjoyed designing and making new farm products.

Harlan is survived by two sons and spouses, Robert and Jane Easton and Scott and Julie Easton of Blooming Prairie; step-daughters and spouses, Barbara and William Harken of Shell Rock, Iowa; Beverly and Dwane Hull of Austin; and Julia and Duane Masching of Hayfield; sister, Eunice Harris of Austin; seven grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; nieces and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Ethel; their daughter, Carole Stish; his third wife, Jeanne; and one grandson, Derek Easton.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 8, 2003, at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie. Interment is at Red Oak Grove Cemetery, south of Blooming Prairie. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home and at the church one hour before the service on Thursday. Memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church.

Gertrude E. Steinbach, 88

Gertrude "Gert" Emma Steinbach, 88, of Austin, died Sunday, May 4, 2003, at Sacred Heart Care Center, Austin.

She was born Sept. 30, 1914, to Julius and Anna (Boelk) Beckman near Waltham. She attended country school in the area.

On Dec. 2, 1937, she married Elger Steinbach at the Trinity Lutheran parsonage. They farmed in Udolpho Township for 62 years.

A member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Gert belonged to the Ladies Aid and enjoyed cooking, baking, canning, gardening and sewing.

She entered Burr Oak Manor in November 1999 and moved to Sacred Heart in August 2001.

Survivors include her husband, Elger Steinbach, Austin; daughter, Janet (Daryl) Gehlbach, Brooklyn Center; two grandchildren; brothers, Ray (Irene) Beckman, Austin; Donald Beckman, Waltham; sister, Viola Gilderhus, Waltham; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant daughter.

Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at the funeral home and Thursday at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Waltham, with the Rev. Jeffrey Kuddes officiating. Casket bearers will be Glenn Beckman, Ronald Beckman, Todd Beckman, Doug Novak, Scott Novak and David Ruhter.

Interment: Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

Funeral Home: Worlein Funeral Home, Austin.

Memorials: To Trinity Lutheran Church.

Elsie L. Gunneson, 89

Elsie Leora Gunneson, 89, of Dexter, died Sunday, May 4, 2003, at Prairie Manor Nursing Home, Blooming Prairie.

She was born Jan. 17, 1914, to Paul and Bessie (Poage) Geyer in Kingsbury County, S.D.

She graduated from nurses training in 1937 and worked as a nurse at St. Olaf Hospital in Austin for 10 years.

On Jan. 1, 1942, she married Dalen Gunneson in Watertown, S.D.

Elsie was a homemaker, member of the First Baptist Church in Brownsdale and served as Sunday School superintendent; belonged to Mothers Club and to Red Cross Sewing.

Survivors include her husband, Dalen Gunneson, Dexter; daughter, Beverly (Roger) Powers, Blooming Prairie; son, Paul (Stormy) Gunneson, Hayfield; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brothers, Rudy Geyer, Kimball, S.D.; Ernie (Beverly) Geyer, Bancroft, S.D.; sister, Louise (LaVerne) Strub, Hobbs, N.M.

She was preceded in death by her parents and four sisters.

Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at the funeral home and Thursday at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 2 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Brownsdale with Rev. Jerry Harris officiating.

Interment: Waltham Township Cemetery, rural Waltham.

Funeral Home: Czaplewski Family Funeral Home, Hayfield.

Clayton R. Swenson, 80

Clayton Robert Swenson, 80, of Blooming Prairie, died Saturday, May 3, 2003, at his home.

He was born Jan. 30, 1923, in Newry Township, to Carl S. and Rose (Wencl) Swenson. He attended school at District 1 in Newry Township.

On Oct. 27, 1946, he married Sylvia Williamson at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie. Clayton farmed in the Blooming Prairie area and was engaged in feed and seed sales. He enjoyed woodcrafts and time spent with family.

Survivors include his wife, Sylvia; sons, Thomas (Margaret) Swenson, Blooming Prairie; John (Sue) Swenson, Blooming Prairie; Mark Swenson, Winona; daughters, Sharlyn (Paul) Boyum, Utica; Shirley (Sam) Greeley, Brownsdale; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brothers, Joseph (Beverly) Swenson, Blooming Prairie; Carl (Diane) Swenson, Jr., Blooming Prairie; Hubert (Ardell), Austin; Allan (Nancy), Brownsdale; sister, Rosemary Dahl, Manly, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Gregory Robert.

Visitation: Was 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 5, 2003, at the funeral home and today at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 11 a.m. today at First Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie with the Revs. Richard Hegal and Heidi Heimgartner officiating. Casket bearers were Kari and Chris Goldsmith, Kristen and Mike Kelly, Shawn and Eric Johnson, Michael and Jennifer Swenson, Adam and Sadie Swenson, Rebecca Swenson, Lucas Swenson and Calla Swenson.

Interment: Blooming Prairie Cemetery.

Funeral Home: Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home.

Henrietta L. Grabau, 90

Henrietta Louise Grabau, 90, formerly of Spring Valley, died Sunday, May 4, 2003, at the Preston Good Samaritan Center.

She was born July 11, 1912, in Spring Valley, to Ernest and Ruth Horsman.

On Oct. 22, 1930, she married Howard Grabau. They farmed in the Wykoff/Spring Valley area until moving to Rochester in 1954 and then back to Spring Valley for retirement. Howard died in 1976 and Henrietta became a resident of the Preston Good Samaritan Center in 1992.

Survivors include daughters Gertrude Smock, Austin; Phyllis (Donald) Macklin, Murray, Ky.; daughter-in-law, Roberta Grabau, Whitter, Calif.; 16 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; three brothers.

She was preceded in death by a son, Gordon; sons-in-law, Franklin Smock and Charles Barth; two infant granddaughters; a great-grandson; three sisters and two brothers.

Visitation: 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, May 8, 2003, at the church.

Service: 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley with Dr. William Rowen officiating.

Interment: Forestville Cemetery, rural Wykoff.

Funeral Home: Thauwald Funeral Home, Spring Valley.