Phyllis A. Gerhart, 80

Phyllis Ardell Gerhart, 80 of Austin, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, at St. Mark's Lutheran Home, Austin.

She was born Oct. 16, 1921, to Elmer and Jennie (Opsal) Fretty in Swea City, Iowa. She grew up in Armstrong, Iowa and was baptized and confirmed at Nazareth Lutheran Church. The family moved to Minnesota in 1937, where Phyllis graduated from Ellendale High School in 1939. She attended cosmetology school for two years and became a licensed beautician, worked in Adams and later owned a beauty shop in Austin.

On Feb. 7, 1953, she married Matthew Gerhart at St. Augustine Catholic Church. The last few years she lived at the Cedars. Matt died Nov. 22, 2000.

Phyllis enjoyed playing golf and doing needlework. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Survivors include sister, Muryne Bonnes, Austin; brother, Kenneth (Norma) Fretty, Grand Meadow; nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Lowell and Verle; and sister, Beverly.

Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m., today, Oct. 1, 2002, at the funeral home and Wednesday at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Austin with the Rev. David Schierenbeck officiating.

Interment: Calvary Cemetery.

Funeral Home: Worlein Funeral Home, Austin.

Emily F. Schwerr, 88

Emily Force Schwerr, 88, of Mankato, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2002, at Oaklawn Health Care Center, Mankato.

She was born Oct. 28, 1913, in Mankato, to William and Agnes (Moen) Force.

She graduated from Mankato High School in 1931 and Mankato State University with a B.E. degree in 1936.

On Oct. 23, 1952, she married Harold H. Schwerr in Osage, Iowa.

She taught elementary school for 36 years, 28 of them in Austin, retiring in 1975. On April 25, 1981, she moved back to Mankato.

She was a member of Local, State and National Education Associations, Austin YWCA, a life member of the Blue Earth, Brown and Nicollet Counties Historical Societies. In retirement she had memberships in the Austin and Mankato Retired Teachers groups and was a life member of REAM (Retired Educators Association Minnesota). She also belonged to Friends of the Library, Mankato.

Survivors include husband, Harold, Mankato; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Fanny, Pensacola, Fla.; Thomas and Pat, Sheridan, Wyo.; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nieces and nephew.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, William and Donald; sisters, Helen Spitzack and Della Jackson; brothers-in-law, Melvin Spitzack and Ray Jackson.

Visitation: Was one hour before the service

Service: Was 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 30, 2002, at the funeral home with Chaplain Jim Dye officiating.

Interment: Woodland Hills Memorial Park.

Funeral Home: Woodland Hills Funeral Home, Mankato.

Olaf B. Lunde, 79

Olaf Berthold Lunde, 79, of rural Austin, died Sept. 28, 2002, at Castle Ridge Care Center, Eden Prairie.

He was born Jan. 25, 1923, to Peter and Emma (Stoa) Lunde in Moscow Township.

He graduated from Austin High School in 1942. He worked on the family farm, raising championship Chesterwhite hogs.

On June 9, 1951, he married Lois Skophammer at Central Freeborn Lutheran parsonage.

A lifetime member of Moscow Lutheran Church, he was involved in a number of church activities and 4-H club. He enjoyed speaking Norwegian, visiting with family and friends, gardening, all sports and reading the Bible.

In 1998 Olaf and Lois moved to Eden Prairie to be near their daughters. Lois died Sept. 1, 2000.

Survivors include daughters, Jean Lunde, St. Paul; Ruth Lunde, Chanhassen; Barbara Lunde-Kvale (Thomas), Toledo, Ohio; Becky Lunde-Olson (Michael), Chanhassen; eight grandchildren; brother, Harold (Sarah) Lunde, Bowling Green, Ohio; nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home and Saturday at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 11 a.m., Saturday, at Moscow Lutheran Church, rural Austin, with the Rev. LaDonna Ekern officiating.

Interment: At the church cemetery.

Funeral Home: Worlein Funeral Home, Austin.

Memorials: To the Moscow Lutheran Church sound system.

Cassandra J. Nordland

Cassandra Jane Nordland, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2002, at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester.

She was born Friday, Sept. 27, 2002, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, to Brian and Janine (Stephenson) Nordland.

Survivors include parents, Brian and Janine Nordland, Owatonna; brother, Jacob Nordland, Owatonna; grandparents, Gary and Darlene Nordland, Austin; Stanley and Jane Stephenson, Austin; paternal great-grandmother, Ethel Slindee, Brownsdale; maternal great-grandmother, Eva Srnec, Winona; aunts, uncles, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her paternal great-grandfather, Theodore Slindee; paternal great-grandparents, Glen and Myrtle Nordland; maternal great-grandfather, William Srnec and maternal great-grandparents, Ben and Louina Stephenson.

Service: Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002, at the funeral home with Rev. Glenn Monson officiating.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery.

Funeral Home: Worlein Funeral Home, Austin.