Alton E. Davis, 76

The funeral service for Alton E. Davis of Oakland, Minn. will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, at Faith Lutheran Church, London, Minn. Pastor Reuben Unseth will officiate. Interment will be in the Deer Creek Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea and one hour before at the church. Military honors will be accorded by the Albert Lea Area Veterans Groups.

Alton died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, at his home. He was 76 years old.

He was born May 5, 1926, to Clyde and Corinne (Hendrickson) Davis in Freeborn County. He was baptized and confirmed at the Deer Creek Valley Lutheran Church.

Alton graduated from Northwood High School in 1944. He farmed with the family until enlisting in the US Army, serving his country in Japan from January 1946 to July 1947 as Staff Sgt. and earning a Victory Medal and the Army Occupied Medal of Japan. He then returned home to farm again.

Alton married Arliss Hagen on Nov. 26, 1950, in the First Lutheran Church, Glenville.

They farmed together in rural Oakland and London, Minn. and raised purebred Duroc hogs.

He was the U.S. Postmaster in Oakland, receiving his 25 year pin upon retirement in 1988.

The couple enjoyed buying, selling and refinishing antiques for their Lane of Hearts Antique Shop.

Alton raised and sold strawberries and vegetables at local Farmer's Markets.

He helped organize and was the first president of the Faith Lutheran Church.

He enjoyed taking his kids fishing, auctions, antiquing and visiting with special friends at Austin McDonalds. He was in 4-H and showed at the Freeborn County Fair and later enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren show their animals. He was a 4-H leader and received the 3rd generation 4-H award.

Alton is survived by five children: Cindy Davis of St. Paul; Vickie Kronlage and husband, Douglas, of Charles City, Iowa; Gary Davis and wife, Carol, of Oakland; Christy Streff and husband, Ken, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Craig Davis of Oakland; grandchildren: Gayle Thoeny and husband, Keith; Derrick Deick; Terra Rasmussen and husband, Brian; Joshua Davis; Sara Davis; Michaela Kronlage; brothers: Emery Davis and wife, Clarice, of Glenville; Laurell Davis and wife, Clarice, of Glenville; sister: Yvonne Tews and husband, Leonard, of Northwood, Iowa; sisters-in-law: Margie Davis of Glenville; Joretta Jensen of Glenville; brother-in-law: Ronald Carpenter of Clear Lake, Iowa. Alton was preceded in death by his parents; wife: Arliss; brother: Curtis Davis; sisters-in-law: Phyllis Christianson and Sharon Carpenter.

Rebecca A. Kniert, 50

Rebecca Anne Kniert of Somerset Township, Rural Steele County, died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. Service is set for Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church at Litomysl, Somerset Township, rural Steele County. Interment of her cremated remains will be at a later date in Port Orchard, Wash. Friends may call at Brick-Meger Funeral Home, 1603 Austin Road, Owatonna, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, from 4 to 6 p.m. There will be a 5:30 p.m. Parish Prayer Service at the funeral home. The visitation will continue one hour before the time of service at the church on Saturday.

Rebecca was born March 27, 1952, to Martin M. and Beatrice (Cyr) Guibert in Bremerton, Wash. She graduated from South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, Wash. in 1970. She attended Green River Community College in Washington to study office management.

She married Tedd Kniert May 29, 1971, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Port Orchard, Wash. After their marriage, Rebecca worked as an office manager in Tacoma, Wash. for several years. In 1982, the couple had their first of two boys and Rebecca decided to be a stay-at-home mother. After her children were older Rebecca started to utilize her 13 years of classical music instruction and began directing church choirs and planning liturgy and music for the Catholic churches in Tacoma, Wash., where the couple lived for 25 years. She also taught private piano lessons to students in her home. The couple moved to Huston, Texas for three years before relocating to Somerset Township. While living in Somerset Township Rebecca directed the church choir at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Austin. Later she worked for a short time in Faribault at the Immaculate Conception Church as liturgy and music director. Rebecca taught music at Pacelli High School and was a long term substitute teacher for the Blooming Prairie School System's music department. She was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic at Litomysl. Her hobbies included crocheting, cooking, raising her boys and her all-around love for music.

Rebecca is survived by husband: Tedd; sons: Jeffrey Kniert, a student at the University of North Dakota; Brian, at home; mother: Beatrice Guibert of Port Orchard, Wash.; mother- and father-in-law: Bertrum and Lorraine Kniert of Port Orchard, Wash.; brother: David and Yolanda Guibert of California; sister: Diane and Jim Griswald of Port Orchard, Wash. She was preceded in death by her father.

Memorials to the donor's choice.

Albert Noble, 97

Albert Noble, 97, of Blooming Prairie, died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, at Prairie Manor Nursing Home, Blooming Prairie.

He was born Oct. 20, 1905, in Corning, to Alexander and Emma (Neller) Noble.

On June 9, 1931, he married Ludmilla (Lu) Kvasnicka at St. Columbanus Catholic Church, Blooming Prairie. She died Sept. 9, 1986. On Oct. 1, 1988, he married Gertrude Seibel. She died March 9, 1999.

Albert lived in the Newry, Corning, and Blooming Prairie areas and worked as a farmer, carpenter and painter. He was a member of St. Columbanus Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, and various farm organizations.

He enjoyed gardening, playing cards, dancing, fishing and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include children and spouses, David, John "Jack" (Darlene), Robert (Kay), William (Margaret), all of Blooming Prairie; Thomas (Ann), Stewartville; Ann Marie Noble, New Brighton; Charles (Ranae), Eden Prairie; stepchildren, LaVonne (Gene) Stocking, Eagan; Wyonne (Bill) Johnson, Marietta, Ga.; 26 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wives; granddaughter, Debra; brothers, Lester, Daniel, Arthur, Raymond; sisters, Eliza, Agnes, Ruth and Vera.

Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, with a 7:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus rosary at the funeral home and Saturday at the church for one hour before the service.

Service: 11 a.m., Saturday, at St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Blooming Prairie with Father Doug Gits officiating.

Interment: St. Columbanus Catholic Cemetery.

Funeral Home: Worlein-Blooming Prairie Funeral Home.

Memorials: To St. Columbanus Catholic Church, Prairie Manor Nursing Home, Blooming Prairie Public Library, Blooming Prairie Education Fund or Blooming Prairie Servicemen's Club.