Rock County Obituaries
Au-Ay
In memory of Holger Oscar Ausen:
Holger Ausen, 79, lifelong Jasper-area resident, died Saturday, June 12, 1999 at
the McKennan Hospice Unit in Sioux Falls, SD, where he had been admitted earlier
that day. Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 16 at Rose Dell Trinity
Lutheran Church, Jasper, MN with the Revs. Gene Lilienthal and Norman Madson
officiating; music was provided by organist Veva Baden and soloist Gina
Rogosienski. Interment followed in the church cemetery, with Jim Thode, Larry
Wilske, Larry Swenson, James Ausen, Bob Erickson and Cal Weatherly serving as
pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Marvin and Pat Meyer, Don Mogck, Fred and
Reva Finch, Jim and Peggy Monk, Stanley and Barb Brower, Dean Haraldson, and
Lyle and Carol Walkington. He was born to Oscar and Helen (Norvold) Ausen on
June 25, 1919 on the family farm in Rose Dell Township of Rock County, MN, where
he grew up and attended country school. He was baptized and confirmed at Rose
Dell Trinity Lutheran Church in Jasper. He attended high school first in Jasper;
during his senior year, he lived in Mankato and attended Bethany Lutheran High
School. Following his graduation in 1936 he returned home and helped his father
farm; he continued to do so following his father's death in 1938. On June 20,
1943 he married Opal Opheim in Fertile, MN. After their marriage, they lived and
farmed on the family farm. During this time, he also sold feed and seed corn. In
1967 he started the Tri-State Silo Company, which he owned and operated until
his retirement. On Sept. 20, 1972 his mother Helen died and a week later on
Sept. 27, 1972 his wife Opal prededed him in death. Following their deaths, he
built a home in Jasper. On Aug. 7, 1976 he married Grace Duncan in Jasper, where
they resided following their marriage. He retired in 1984, and then kept busy
selling antiques, refinishing and repairing antique furniture, and working at
Monk's Secondhand Store in Pipestone. On April 28, 1999 he was admitted to the
Pipestone County Medical Center in Pipestone, where he remained a patient until
May 8th. On May 10th he was re-admitted to the PCMC, after which he was
transferred to McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Holger was a lifelong member of
Rose Dell Trinity Lutheran Church in Jasper, where he served as sunday school
superintendant and a teacher, as well as an elder and a trustee. He served for
12 years on the Boarad of Regents at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato and
also served on the Rose Dell Township Board and the Creamery Board. In addition
to his wife Grace Ausen of Jasper, he is survived by two sons, David (Mary)
Ausen, Alexandria, and Orrin (Leslee) Ausen, Reedsburg, WI; five daughters,
JoAnne (Richard) Hackbarth, St. Joseph, MO, Jan (Tony) Stadler, Fairmont, MN,
Carol (Roland) Klindworth, Lake City, MN, Marily (John) Laulainen, Waconia, MN
and Eileen (Paul) Karow, Madison, WI, seven step-children, Sandy Masgai, Mpls,
Gary (Pat) Duncan, Flandreau, SD, Deon Jensen, Trent, SD, Vicki (Bob) Peschon,
Eden Valley, MN, Paula (Tim) Kokel, Oakwood, TX, Rod (Dawn) Duncan, Jackson, MN,
and Grant (Kara) Duncan, Sherman, SD; 32 grandchildren; seven
great-grandchildren; and a brother, Walter (Lillian) Ausen, Ruthton, MN. In
addition to his first wife Opal, he was preceded in death by three
grandchildren; and a sister, Edna Hanson.
Contributed by family member
obit Brainerddispatch.com Tuesday, July 11,
2000
STEEN -- Jay Florin Aykens, 83, Steen, died Sunday, July 9, 2000, at Palisade
Manor Nursing Home of Garretson, S.D.
He was born Dec. 27, 1916, in George, Iowa, to Peter Dirk and Cena (Van Voorst)
Aykens.
His family operated the Aykens Grocery Store in George, Iowa, before moving to
Steen. He graduated from Hills High School in 1934. He worked as a carpenter in
Steen. He joined the Army on Feb. 13, 1942, at Fort Snelling. He served overseas
with the 119th and 131st Infantry at Rhineland, Normandy, northern France,
Ardennes and central Europe. He was discharged Dec. 15, 1944, having attained
the rank of First Sergeant. He received many medals and citations that included
the Good Conduct Medal, Silver Star, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, five
Overseas Bars and four Purple Hearts. He returned to Steen and built a new home
for his parents.
He married Betty Jean Roberts on April 18, 1948, in Pipestone. They lived in
Steen. They purchased the Aykens Grocery Store from his father and operated it
until 1957. He became the postmaster of Steen in 1956. He retired in 1986 and
continued living in Steen. His wife died on July 3, 1999.
He was a resident of the Tuff Memorial Home of Hills before moving to Palisade
Manor in Garretson, S.D. He was a member of the Reformed Church of Steen. He
also belonged to the Luverne VFW, Hills American Legion Post No. 399 (past
commander), National Postmasters Association and had been treasurer of the Steen
Senior Citizens. He played with the Steen softball team.
Survivors include three daughters, Judy Fankhanel, Audubon, Cathy Aykens,
Crosby, and Nancy Hartz, Luverne; and six grandchildren.
His wife and a brother, Richard, died earlier.
Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Reformed Church of Steen with the Rev.
Daniel Ramaker officiating. Burial will be in Eastside Cemetery of Steen.
Friends may call from 2-8 p.m. today at Engebretson Funeral Home of Luverne,
with the family present from 6-8 p.m., and an hour before services Wednesday at
the church.
The Initiator (Magnolia Newspaper) says in part of the death of Mrs. Ayers, of Magnolia as follows;
"Mrs. Lulu Edith Ayers, wife of E. E. Ayers, died on Tuesday, September 27, at 7 o'clock p.m., aged twenty five years, one month, and sixteen days. At 4 o'clock p.m., an infant boy came to gladden their home, but three hours later the sad news of her death cast a gloom over our village. The friends and neighbors showed their sympathy by doing all within their power to comfort the bereaved relatives, but at such an hour words cannot express the commiseration that would be bestowed upon those whose hearts are broken asunder by the untimely death of a loved one. One of the most eloquent and appropriate funeral sermons ever listened to in Magnolia, was delivered by Rev. W. J. Johnson of Luverne, at the M.E. church. The remains, accompanied by the bereaved husband and the two oldest children, W.W. Pickett wife and children, were taken to Hersey, Wisconsin, the home of her parents, for internment.
Rock County News
Oct 5, 1898