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Mary Jane Ewing | Robert Julius Wolter | Lorraine T. Buchan | Kenneth A. Niccum, Jr. |
Mary Jane Ewing
Feb. 20, 1928 — Aug. 6, 2004
MITCHELL, S.D. — Mary Jane Ewing, 76, of Mitchell died Aug. 6, 2004, at Rochester, Minn. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004, at Holy Family Catholic Church, with burial at the American Legion Cemetery.
Visitation is from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m.
Mary Jane Graham was born Feb. 20, 1928, in Cambridge, Mass., to James and Cathrine (Cummings) Graham. She grew up and attended school in Cambridge. Mary Jane graduated from Mount Auburn School of Nursing in Cambridge. She entered the U.S. Army on April 13, 1951, and served as a nurse at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver.
Mary Jane was united in marriage with Douglas Ewing in Denver on Aug. 29, 1952. She was honorably discharged Nov. 28, 1952, and the couple made their home in Delmont, S.D. In 1959, they moved to Jacksonville Beach, Fla., where Mary Jane was employed as a nurse. The couple moved to Mitchell in 1963.
While in Mitchell, Mary Jane was employed at various nursing capacities. She retired in 1973. In her retirement, Mary Jane enjoyed playing bridge, quilting, sewing, gardening and reading. She was a volunteer at St. Joseph's Hospital and Brady Memorial.
She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, where she was active in church functions. Mary Jane was also a member of the American Legion and the James Valley Community Center.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Douglas of Mitchell; four children, Patricia Ann Ewing, Mitchell, Marianne Texley and her husband, Steven, Winona, James Douglas Ewing, Mitchell, and Catherine Ewing, Rochester; four grandchildren, Michelle Kulas, Lincoln, Neb., Jennifer Texley, Minneapolis, Meghan Texley, St. Paul, Minn., and Ryan Texley, Winona; a brother, Daniel Graham, Georgetown, Maine; and Catherine White and her husband, George, Arlington, Mass.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, James, John and Lawrence; a nephew, James Graham; and her parents.
Robert Julius Wolter
March 19, 1940 — Aug. 7, 2004
DAKOTA, Minn. — Robert Julius Wolter, 84, Dakota, died Aug. 7, 2004, at his home. He was born Feb. 27, 1920 on the family century farm near Nodine, Minn., to Julius and Teresa (Burke) Wolter. Attending local schools, he graduated March 19, 1940, from the School of Agriculture, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn., where as a commencement speaker his topic was "Farm Organizations through Fifty Years."
His father's failing health mandated taking over the family farm, which he later bought. He was a dairy farmer for more than 50 years, pioneering many agricultural and dairy methods much in use today. He was a lifelong member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Nodine, which his grandfather, August Wolter, helped found. There he had been baptized in 1920 and confirmed Aug. 27, 1933. He carried his strong Christian faith throughout his life. On March 25, 1944, he married Charlotte K. Eggebakken in Winona. They had six children, Jeffrey (Darlene) Wolter, Dakota, Mary Lou (Neal) Myers, Winona, Julie (Glenn) Myers, Dakota, Susan (Robert) Loken, Dakota, Brenda (Daniel) Chalmers, Missoula, Mont. and Timothy (Tina) Wolter, Dakota. Robert's wife, Charlotte, died of cancer in 1989 after being happily married 45 years. He was a rural school board member over 20 years and a charter member of the Farmers Union.
During retirement, Bob was an avid reader until effects of stroke and heart surgery made that impossible. He was SELCO (South East Libraries Cooperating) Book Club Patron of the month, Aug. 5, 2000, often reading a book a day. Robert's leadership in Alcoholics Anonymous in the tri-state area was an important use of time and energy from 1977 to 1990. He had an enviable 27 years of sobriety.
He will be remembered for his humility and humor. He felt anyone giving a worthwhile speech needed to have humor to make his point. He enjoyed nature and conservation of wildlife. After retiring, he participated in more than 12 Elder Hostel programs of continuing learning experience at various universities and colleges in the United States.
On April 28, 1990, he attended the 50th reunion of his 1940 class on the St. Paul campus, University of Minnesota, and became reacquainted with Marguerite (Peggy) Smart Belz, a widow whom he had not seen in 50 years since the two had shared the podium as graduation class speakers. They were married Sept. 29, 1990, in St. Croix Valley United Methodist Church at Lakeland, Minn.
Robert also is survived by her six children, Weston (Jo Ann) Belz, Turtle Lake, Wis., Diane (Daniel) Bagwell, Keizer, Ore., Janell (Elden) Pohlman, Caledonia, Minn., David (Janel) Belz, Stillwater, Minn., Scott (Marie) Belz, Baldwin, Wis., and James (Julie) Belz, Ellsworth, Wis.; 14 stepgrandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Charlotte; and his sisters, Marion Brose and Arliss Moldenhauer.
He is survived by his wife, Marguerite; his six children and six stepchildren and a combined 43 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Laura McGovern, Fremont, Calif.; sisters-in-law, Mavis Johnson, Loveland, Colo., and Beatrice Weimar, La Crosse, Wis.; brother-in-law, Donald (Ann) Eggebakken, La Crosse; and many nieces and nephews. He will be remembered as a great guy by all who knew and loved him.
As Robert will be cremated, a visitation will be held Monday evening, Aug. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Nodine. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.
After the service, friends and relatives may greet family members in the All Purpose Room adjacent to St. John's Lutheran School, where a light lunch will be served to all. Interment of Robert's remains will be at St. John's Cemetery, Nodine, after cremation.
Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers to St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church Endowment fund or the American Red Cross, St. Croix Valley Chapter at Bayport, Minn., or Winona County Chapter, Winona.
Arrangements by Fawcett-Junker Funeral home and Cremation Services of Winona.
Lorraine T. Buchan
MINNESOTA CITY, — Lorraine T. Buchan, 81, of Minnesota City died Friday, Aug. 6, 2004, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, Wis.
Watkowski-Pronschinske Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Kenneth A. Niccum, Jr.
INDEPENDENCE, Wis. n Kenneth A. Niccum Jr., 37, of Independence died Saturday, Aug. 7, 2004, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wis.
Arrangements are pending with Edison Funeral Home, Independence.
