Obituaries for Janaury 23, 2003
Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 23, 2003
Esther C. Yeadon, 82
Funeral services for Esther Cora Yeadon, age 82, of Albert Lea will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003, at Bayview/ Freeborn Funeral Home. Captain Leroy Miles of the Salvation Army will officiate. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation is one hour prior to the service at Bayview.
Esther died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, at the Albert Lea Medical Center.
Esther Cora Yeadon was born Feb. 12, 1920, to Fred A. and Laura (Gorder) Yeadon in Staples, Minn. Esther had resided in Freeborn County since 1946. During the time she and her mother lived on the farm with her uncle, Casper Gorder, she enjoyed raising chickens. Esther also loved flowers. She was employed as a home health aid. Esther had been a member of the Salvation Army since July 29, 1984.
Survivors include brother, Elven and wife, Florence Yeadon, of Austin; sister, Florence and husband, Fay Saman, of Austin; nephew, Keenan Saman of New Jersey; and nieces, Teresa Pascarella of Florida, Judith Lunde of Minneapolis, Cynthia Downing of Grand Rapids, and Anita Bothun of LaCrosse.
Esther was preceded in death by her mother and father and uncle, Casper Gorder.
Betty L. Swanson, 78
Betty Lois (Fritz) Swanson, 78, of Hutchinson, died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, at her daughter's home in Austin, of leukemia.
She was born on March 17, 1924, in Duluth, to Arthur and Helen (Smith) Fritz. She was baptized as an infant and later confirmed in her faith in May 1937 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Duluth. She graduated from Central High School in Duluth in 1942.
On June 17, 1944, she married Robert Wesley Swanson at Temple Baptist Church in Duluth. They had three daughters. The couple lived in Hutchinson.
Betty was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, where she sang in the choir for many years. She enjoyed golfing, sewing, sending e-mails, playing cards, especially bridge, and traveling. She also enjoyed being with family, ice cream and her home in Texas.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Swanson, Hutchinson; daughters, Joan Dizon, Minnetonka; Jane (Jim) Kemp, Omaha, Neb.; Claudia (Dave) Pilot, Austin; five grandchildren; one great-grandson; sister, Virginia (Mark) Sertich, Duluth; nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Brian Kemp; brothers, Harold Fritz and Gerold Fritz.
Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. today, Jan. 23, 2003, and 8 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Also, Friday at the church for one hour before the service.
Service: 2 p.m. Friday at Faith Lutheran Church in Hutchinson.
Interment: Oakland Cemetery, Hutchinson.
Funeral Home: Dobratz-Hantge Downtown Funeral Chapel, Hutchinson.
Nathan A. Fischer, 85
Nathan Archie Fischer, 85, of Austin, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003, at Austin Medical Center.
He was born Aug. 1, 1917, in Austin to Fred and Petra (Martin) Fischer.
He graduated from Austin High School in the spring of 1935 and married Dorothy Barnitz on Dec. 19, 1935. The couple enjoyed figure skating.
A corporate engineer with his name on numerous patents, Nate worked at Hormel Foods Corp. from 1933 until 1979. He was a handyman and enjoyed woodworking.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Fischer; daughters, Susan (Jon) Brunsvold and Kathryn (Daniel) Davies, both of Minneapolis; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother, Wilbur Fischer and sister, Marguerite (Ellsworth) Esse, both of Austin.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Clyde F. Fischer; three sisters, LaVonne Nelson, Ruth Gibson and Viola Sucha; and a great-grandson.
Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 2003, at the funeral home and Saturday at the church for one hour before the service.
Service: 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Olaf Lutheran Church with the Rev. Kristin K. Wee officiating.
Interment: Oakwood Cemetery.
Funeral Home: Worlein Funeral Home, Austin.
Memorials: St. Olaf Lutheran Church and the American Cancer Society.
Margaret A. Rysavy, 88
Margaret A. Rysavy, 88, of Austin, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003, at the Austin Medical Center.
She was born June 13, 1914, in Pratt, to Joseph and Stella (Hruska) Kvasnicka.
On May 11, 1939, she married Frank Rysavy at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Owatonna.
Margaret was a homemaker and a retired head cook of the St. Augustine School cafeteria. She was a member of Sacred Heart Hospice Auxiliary Philomathian Club and St. Augustine CCW-St. Catherine's Unit.
Survivors include her husband, Frank Rysavy, Austin; sons, Jim (Carol) Rysavy, Adams; Rick (Mary Swanson) Rysavy, Grand Rapids; daughters, Delores (John) Baur, Louisville, Ky.; Caroline (Les) Goergen, Adams; Mary Rysavy, Rochester; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Joe (Jean) Kvasnicka, Englewood, Calif.; Donald (Joanne) Kvasnicka, North Mankato; sisters, Lillian Seykora, Owatonna; Veronica (Ken) Zoller, Harmony.
She is preceded in death by her parents, one brother and three sisters.
Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 2003, with a 4 p.m. CCW rosary and a 6:30 p.m. wake service and Saturday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Service: 1:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Paul Nelson officiating. The casket bearers will be Eric Baur, Amy Baur, Holly Majerus, Jenny Rysavy, Sara Schmitz, Jill Goergen, Stephanie Rysavy, Troy Goergen, Neal Goergen, Ryan Goergen, Kristopher Rysavy, Larry Rysavy and Tim Rysavy.
Interment: Calvary Cemetery.
Funeral Home: Mayer Funeral Home, Austin.