Rock County Obituaries

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DIED HANS STOLTENBERG venerable Kanaranzi township farmer succumbed to dropsy Sunday morning at the home of his son William with whom he was residing.
Funeral services will be held at Ebenezer church on the Minnesota Iowa state line a short distance west of the Stoltenberg home.
Deceased had reached the age of 81 years. He was a resident of this community for more than a quarter of a century. He is survived by the following William, of west of Ellsworth, Francis, Swan Valley, Idaho and Henry and Herbert of near Kenneth Minnesota.

Mrs. Clarence (Gladys) Schimel

Funeral services were held for Mrs. Clarence Schimel Monday, with burial in Maplewood cemetery, the Rev. Frank McQuoid offciating. Mrs. Schimel was born as Gladys Loretta Snover April 1, 1899, in Kanaranzi. She graduated from the Luverne High School and moved with her parents to Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 1924, she moved to Chicago, Ill, where she lived until she married Clarence Schimel February 1, 1932. After their marriage they moved to Kanaranzi where Mrs. Schimel lived until her death. Mrs. Schimel was the mother of one child, a daughter, Loretta, who is a student at South Dakota State College, Brookings, S. D. She was a member of the First Baptist church and was secretary of the Rock County Historical Society. Other survivors, besides her husband, include a sister, Mrs. Harry (Sevena) LaDassor, of Estherville, Iowa. A sister preceded her in death. Pallbearers were Edward Rust, Milton Goembel, Wesley Winkler, Arno Mueller, Robert Eberlein and Harry Leech. The Engebretson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

 Contributed by Loretta Wulf

.George S. Snover

Original owner of Kanaranzi Town site Fatally stricken at his home. George S. Snover, widely known owner of the present town site of Kanaranzi, was fatally stricken Friday at his home at the edge of that village, while out in the yard. During the past winter he had suffered from heart trouble and his health had been failing for the last two years. Mr. Snover, who came to this county fourty four years ago, reached his 73^rd birthday in February.
Rev. N. L. Haney, pastor of the Luverne Baptist church, officiated at funeral services, which were held Monday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at the Snover home. The remains were brought here for internment in Maplewood cemetery. Thorwald Hansen, Louis Bush Sr., Robert Curry, Harry Curry, Geo. Shurr, and Jos. Lamb were the pallbearers.
Born in Clayton county, Iowa, on February 26, 1864. Mr. Snover spent his boyhood and acquired his early education in that locality. His marriage to Miss Loretta Elizabeth Rulon, was performed at Elkport, Iowa on February 24, 1886. The Snover family lived at Edgewood, Iowa for three years before coming to Rock county in 1893. Continuously since that time they have made their home on a farm adjoining the Kanaranzi community. The premises are located on the southeast quarter of section 3, Kanaranzi township. That village is located on the same quarter section, and besides having originally owned that site, Mr. Snover was owner of many of the extra lots in the town. He was actively engaged in farming until two years ago, when his health commenced to fail.
Mr. Snover is survived by his bereaved wife, two daughters, Mrs. Servena LaDassor of Estherville, Iowa, and Mrs. Gladys L. Schimel, of Chicago and one grandson, Alby Snover LaDassor. A son passed away in infancy and a daughter, Ethel, died at the age of four years. Another son, George Snover Jr., died on October 8, 1918, while in training at Ft. Snelling during the World War.
 Mr. Snover’s life’s work , as a farmer and community builder, was a fine exemplification of sound, logical thinking and energetic application of the old fashioned theory that not a great deal of progress can be made without hard work and close attention to details. He possessed, to a marked degree, a faculty of doing his own thinking, and was never swayed by popular opinion. Those who knew his best, and his friends were legion, held him in the highest esteem in recognition of his staunch integrity and always dependable character.

Rock County Herald: May 28, 1937

Contributed by Loretta Wulf

Loretta Snover

Funeral services for Mrs. Loretta E. Snover, 90, were held at 2:30 p.m. Monday afternoon at the First Baptist church, Rev. Russell Wood officiating. Burial was in Maplewood cemetery.Mrs. Snover died at McKennan hospital in Sioux Falls last Friday afternoon. She had been in ill health for the past several months.
She was born in Clayton county, Iowa, August 17, 1861. She was married to George S. Snover February 24, 1886. He preceeded her in death May 21, 1937.They came to Rock county March 17, 1889. She leaves two daughters, Mrs. Harry La Dassor, Estherville, Iowa, and Mrs. Clarence Schimel, Kanaranzi. Two sons and a daughter preceded her in death. She was a member of the First Baptist church of Luverne.
Pallbearer’s at the funeral were A. W. Wiese, Fred Nowka, Earl Wellendorf, Eddie Hanson, Morris Yotter and Wes Winkler. Funeral arrangements were in charge of the Smith Funeral Home.

Contributed by Loretta Wulf

Mrs J.B. Shurr

Many from this vicinity were in attendance at the funeral services at the Methodist Episcopal church at Luverne, Minn., to pay their last respects to one of Lyon county's real pioneers, Mrs J. B. Shurr. Services were held at 2;30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon and burial was made in the Luverne cemetery.

Harriet Cackett was born in England April 14, 1846. When but a little girl she came to America with her parents and for a time lived in New York state. The family then moved to Wisconsin, where they remained for several years before going back to New York to make their home and where Harriet Cackett grew to womanhood.

She was married to John B. Shurr in 1865, and came to Lyon county in 1870. They located shortly after their arrival in the middle west, on a school section in Iowa on what has been known for many years as the "Lone Tree Farm". Their trip to this country was made with an ox team, having to ford rivers, creeks and sloughs this side of the Blue Earth river. The first home was only a dugout in the shadow of a huge cottonwood tree, which has been a landmark to many for over fifty years. The only neighbors of the Shurrs for a long time were the Indians, who seldom proved troublesome, except to beg for bread and other food.

Mrs. Shurr was left along with the children considerably, for in the earliest days provisions could only be procurred from Sioux City and LeMars, and these trips caused much dread and anxiety to the brave little mother. She knew the dangers of the long trips by ox team over the prairies, which Mr Shurr was occasionally forced to make. Not only were the Indians a menace but with the winter came the blizzards and with the warm weather came the prairie fires and grasshoppers or other pests.
It took a strong spirit to withstand the ordeals of the early day and Mrs Shurr seemed to be possessed with such. She was a wonderful Christian woman, never losing her faith in the Supreme Being, even thru her deepest trials. She was always ready to help those in distress, often acting as doctor or nurse for those who later settled near her, and at times, when a minister could not be present, acted in that capacity in time of death.
She and Mr Shurr were charter members of the Congregational churches of both Ash Creek and Ellsworth, and were also instrumental in the organization of the first Sunday school in Rock county.
To Mr and Mrs Shurr were born nine children, all of whom are living but a daughter, Lillian, who died when a small child.
Mr and Mrs Shurr lived on Lone Tree Farm until 1903, when they moved to Sioux Falls. Fourteen years later they moved to Luverne, Minn., which was their home until time of death. Mr Shurr passed away March 7, 1918. Mrs Shurr and a daughter, Nettie, continued to make Luverne their home after the death of Mr Shurr. Mrs Shurr was taken ill with the flu some days before death and on account of her advanced years was not able to withstand the diesease. She passed away Sunday, Sept 30, at about 1:30 a.m.
She is survived by her children; Agnes Carpenter, of New York; Carl Shurr of Berthold, ND.; Nettie Shurr, of Luverne, Minn.; Fred Shurr, of Lansford, ND.; George Shurr, of Ellsworth, Minn.; Frank B. Shurr, of Luverne, Minn.; Edward Shurr, of Chinook, Mont.; and Grace Parish, of Clear Lake, SD., and 17 grandchildren.

Those who knew Mrs. Shurr can only praise her in the highest terms. Her good deeds have been scattered far and wide over this vicinity and she will ever be remembered as one of the real pioneers of Lyon county who never thought of selfish gain or comfort but who helped to make the surrounding community what it is today.

Rock Rapids Review
Oct 4, 1928

Albert Elija Snow

PIONEER MINNESOTAN DIES AT AGE OF 77

 Hills, Minn., May 13--Funeral services for Albert Elija Snow, one of Rock County's earliest settlers, were held here from the J. H. Finke home and from the Baptist church in Luverne.  Rev. Dimmock of Luverne conducted the services.  Mr. Snow died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. H. Finke on May 6 at the age of 77 years.
Albert Elija Snow was born near Fall River, Wis., where he grew to manhood.  In 1872 he came to Rock County and homesteaded near Beaver Creek.  On May 16, 1875, he united in marriage with Mary E. Ferguson to which union four children were born.  In October 1926 Mr. Snow and his wife moved to Hills because of failing health and the made their home with their daughter there. Early in November Mr. Snow was confined to his bed and from that time until his death was a patient sufferer.
While a young man he united with the Baptist church in Wisconsin and later became a charter member of the Baptist church in Luverne of which church he was a member at the time of his death.
He is survived by his widow and four children, Orson H. Snow and Clarence A. Snow, both of Sibley, Iowa; Victor Snow of Waubay, S. D., and Mrs. J. H. Finke of Hills.

("Aberdeen Daily News" 5-13-1927)

HERMAN D. SKOVGAARD

 Herman Daniel Skovgaard died Sunday, March 17, at a Portland hospital.  Burial is today, March 21, at the Skyline Memorial Cenetery in Portland.
He was born Feb. 7, 1900, in Hills, Minn. and had lived in Portland since 1944.  He was a machinist.
He is survived by his wife, Agnes; two daughters, Mrs. Stanley Smith and Janet Carol Skovgaard, both of Portland; a son, Dale, of Portland; five sisters, Mrs. Nels Sandager and Mrs. Earl Nelson, both of Hills; Mrs. Pete Sandager and Mrs. Dick Sandager, both of Tyler, Minn., and Mrs. Stanley McKay, Byron, Minn.

(Abstract "Portland Oregonian" 3-21-1957)

MRS. Fred Shaw

 The funeral of Mrs. Fred G. Shaw, 34, who died at her home at 705 S. Detroit Ave. at 5:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, will be held Thursday afternoon at the home.  Her mother, Mrs. Turnball,  will arrive from Jasper, Minn., Thursday.
Mrs. Shaw was ill only a short time, her death resulting fom pneumonia.  She was born in Jasper, Minn., and came to Tulsa thirteen years ago and has been a resident since that time.  Her death, which came suddenly, was a shock to her many friends, as all who knew her loved her.
She is survived by the husband, Fred G. Shaw; one sister, Mrs. Carrie Putnam, who made her home with her, one brother, Dr. Fred Adams of Byron, and three children, Madaline, 13, Marcelle, 10, and Fred, jr., 17 months.
Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.

("Tulsa World" 5-31-1918)

CHESTER SPEASE, COUNTY BOARD MEMBER, BUSINESS MAN, DIES:
COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHESTER SPEASE DIED AT THE LUVERNE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SATURDAY MORNING AFTER A LINGERING ILLNESS. HE WAS 69.
FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD AT GRACE LUTHERN CHURCH TUESDAY AFTERNOON, THE REV. STAN LUGINBILL, PASTOR OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, OF LUVERNE, OFFICIATING. BURIAL WAS IN MAPLEWOOD CEMETERY.
ACTIVE PALLBEARERS WERE ARNOLD THONE, DONALD HANSON, WILLIAM McCORMICK, WILLIAM DOHERTY, ELMER HOSKINS AND CHARLES BRAA. HONORARY PALLBEARERS WERE MILTON GOEMBEL, THEODORE SCHOON, LEONARD LIEN, RAY FRICK AND JESS SEARLES. ARRANGEMENTS WERE BY HOLM FUNERAL HOME.
BORN AT ROCK RAPIDS, IOWA SEPT. 12, 1902, MR SPEASE MOVED WITH HIS FAMILY TO WHITE, S.D. AS A SMALL BOY. IN 1909, THE FAMILY MOVED TO TABOR, ALBERTA, CANADA, AND FROM THERE, MOVED TO LUVERNE IN 1920. HE WORKED AT VARIOUS POSITIONS, UNTIL GOING INTO BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF, WHEN HE FOUNDED THE SPEASE TIRE SHOP. HE OWNED AND MANAGED IT FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL HE SOLD IT SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO HIS SON, DONALD.
HE WAS MARRIED TO ETHEL WYN COON AT ROCK RAPIDS, JULY 23, 1927. THEY BECAME THE PARENTS OF 3 CHILDREN. DR. LOREN SPEASE, BROOKINGS, S.D. DONALD SPEASE, LUVERNE, AND DOUGLAS WHO DIED IN INFANCY. (THIS PART IS MISSING FROM MY COPY).
MR. SPEASE HAD ALWAYS BEEN ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT. HE HAD SERVED ON THE LUVERNE CITY COUNCIL, AND AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, WAS IN HIS SECOND FOUR-YEAR TERM A COUNTY COMMISSIONER FROM THE CITY OF LUVERNE. HE WAS TREASURER OF THE ROCK COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
HE WAS A MEMBER OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, AND AT THE PRESENT TIME WAS SERVING ON THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. HE WAS A MEMBER OF BEN FRANKLIN LODGE No. 114 A.F. AND A.M. OF LUVERNE COMMANDERY KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, OF THE ROYAL ARCH CONSISTORY AT WORTHINGTON AND EL RIAD SHRINE OF SIOUX FALLS. HE WAS A MEMBER AND PAST WORTHY PATRON OF LUVERNE CHAPTER No. 47, ORDER OF EASTERN STAR.
BESIDES HIS WIFE AND INFANT SON, HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS PARENTS AND 3 SISTERS, FERN BOWMAN, ERMA EARHART, AND LINDA TUFTELAND
(AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH HE WAS SURVIVED BY HIS SONS, DR. LOREN AND HIS WIFE, DARLENE {BRAA} OF BROOKINGS, S.D., DONALD AND HIS WIFE, MYRNA {FUNCK} OF LUVERNE, MINN; 1 BROTHER, RAY AND HIS WIFE, WILMA {PETERSON/LOWE} OF LUVERNE, MINN AND 2 SISTERS; PEARL PRITCHARD AND HER HUSBAND, HARRY OF LUVERNE, MINN; LILA TOBIAS OF LUVERNE, MINN. AND BY 9 GRANDCHILDREN).
 

Newspaper Unknown

WM. SPEASE

LATE RITES ARE HELD FOR WM. SPEASE
FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD FOR WILLIAM J. SPEASE, 91. MONDAY IN THE HOLM FUNERAL HOME, THE REV. WESLEY DRUMMOND OFFICIATING.
HE WAS BORN IN STITZER, WIS. NOVEMBER 6, 1869 AND CAME TO THE ROK RAPIDS, IOWA COMMUNITY AS A YOUNG MAN. HE MOVED FROM ROCK RAPIDS TO CANADA, WHERE HE LIVED FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS AND THEN CAME TO ROCK COUNTY WHERE HE FARMED UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT FROM FARMING ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.
MR. SPEASE MARRIED THE FORMER ANNA WINKLER IN SIOUX CITY, IOWA, FEBRUARY 14, 1895. THEY BECAME THE PARENTS OF 7 CHILDREN, FIVE OF WHOM SURVIVE, MRS. SPEASE DIED OCTOBER 25, 1951.
AS A YOUNG MAN MR. SPEASE PLAYED BASEBALL AND WAS AN ENTHUSUASTIC FAN IN LATER YEARS, ATTENDING LUVERNE TEAM GAMES FAITHFULLY WHENEVER HIS HEALTH PERMITTED. HE WAS ALSO AN ACCOMPLISHED HORSE SHOE PITCHER, CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST IN THE AREA.
AFTER MOVING TO LUVERNE FROM THE FARM, MR. SPEASE WORKED AT VARIOUS ODD JOBS HERE.
HIS CHILDREN ARE MRS. HARRY (PEARL) PRITCHARD, LUVERNE, MN; MRS. LILA SKOLUND, LUVERNE, MINN; MRS. FERN BOWMAN, AMARILLO, TEXAS; RAY SPEASE, LUVERNE, MINN; AND CHESTER SPEASE, LUVERNE, MINN. THERE ARE 8 GRANDCHILDREN AND 20 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY 2 DAUGHTERS, MRS. HENRY (LINDA) TUFTELAND AND MRS. ERMA EARHART.
OTHER SURVIVORS INCLUDE A BROTHER, WESLEY OF STITZER, WIS.
PALLBEARERS WERE MILO LOWE, ROBERT KEY, LOREN SPEASE, DONALD SPEASE, ROGER SPEASE AND HAROLD FORD.

Newspaper Unknown

Tillie Smook

Funeral Services for Mrs Henry Smook, 85, were conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Burial was in Maplewood cemetery.
The Rev. Solomon Gruneich officiated at the services. (Pallbearers names not listed for privacy reasons)
Holm Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs Smook died Aug 20 at the Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne.
Tillie Van Essen was born Dec 12, 1890 in Iowa. She married Henry Smook, Feb 14. 1907, in Sioux Falls. They farmed in Rock County for many years before retiring in Luverne in the early 1930's. For the past four years Mrs. Smook has made her home at the Mary Jane Brown Home.
Mrs Smook is survived by two sons, Harm, Luverne and Harold, Magnolia; five daughters, Matilda, Mrs. Clinton Bowen, Edna, Mrs Harold Tripp, Worthington; Anna, Mrs Andy Hagemann, Luverne; Genevieve, Mrs John McClure, Luverne; and Henrietta, Mrs. Leonard Ferguson, Sioux Falls; 24 grandchildren and 28 great grand children and one sister, Gertie, Mrs. Robert Claggen, Fridley.
She was preceded in death by her husband who died in March of 1970, her parents, two sisters, two sons, and one grandson.
Mrs Smook was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Luverne.

Aug 27, 1975
Newspaper Unknown
 

Nils Anton Larsen Skjellebak

Obit: Nils Anton Larsen Skjellebak was born January 14, 1829 in Norway.  He died April 15, 1908 in Rose Dell Township and is buried in the Rose Dell Township Cemetery.  In 1854, Ole Peter Skjellebak , Nils Anton Larsen Skjellebak , Maren Lovise Larsen Skjellebak , and Karl Martin Gulbrandsen , half brother of Ole, Nils and Maren, left Nittedal, Norway, by ship, for America. While at sea Ole Peter and his half brother, Karl Martin contacted cholera. After landing in America, they proceeded to Allamakee County, IA. Ole Peter died August 1, 1854, and Karl Martin died August 10, 1854. Ole Peter, Karl Martin and their mother, Anna Marie Skjellebak are buried along side each other in the Old East Paint Creek Church Cemetery, in Allamakee County, IA. Anton settled in Allamakee County, and took the name: Nels Anton Larson. In March 1873, Anton, Susanne (Schroeder)Larson and family, along with others, left Allamakee County by oxen wagon train. They arrived in Gregory Township, Rock County, MN on May 10, 1873. The Wagon Train included: Nels Anton Larson , Susanne Larson , Ludvig Larson , Johann Larson , Peter Larson , Albert Larson , Emma Larson , and Carl Larson . Lars Hauger, Josephine Hauger , Caroline Hauger , Carl Hauger , and Alice Hauger . Hans Anderson and Ole Karterude.

Contributed by Paul Everett