Printable Version

Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Saturday, October 20, 2007

Obituaries for Saturday, October 20, 2007

By Tribune staff

Kenneth G. Bay

SHOREVIEW, Minn. — Kenneth G. Bay, 73, of Shoreview died peacefully at home, Saturday, Oct. 13, with family at his side following a couragous battle with cancer.

He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Sherry; four children, Michelle (Tom) Ignaszewski, Janine (Dan) Armstrong, Michael Bay and Amy Bay; nine grandchildren; and five siblings.

Ken served in the intelligence division of the U.S. Army, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in electrial engineering, worked for Conrol Data including working at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and then built a successful Shaklee business with his wife.

Funeral services were Wednesday, Oct. 17, in Arden Hills, Minn. Private family interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery, La Crosse.

Catherine Guider Betthauser

OAK PARK HEIGHTS, Minn. — Catherine Guider Betthauser entered eternal life the morning of her 95th birthday at home in Boutwell’s Landing, Oak Park Heights, surrounded by her loving family.

Catherine was born Oct. 18, 1912, in Lafayette Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, to Matt Guider and Margaret (Thornton) Guider. She graduated from Immaculate Conception High School, Lansing, in 1931 and received her registered nursing (RN) degree from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in 1934. She worked as an obstetrics/gynocology nurse at St. Ann’s Hospital until she married Martin J. Betthauser and moved to rural Onalaska, Wis., in 1946.

She and her husband were among the founding members of St. Patrick’s Parish in Onalaska, where she was a member of the Loretta Circle. She was a member of the La Crosse County Homemakers and a lifetime member of the St. Francis Hosptial Alumni Association.

After her husband’s death, in 1960 she became school nurse for the Holmen (Wis.) Area School District. She served in this position until her retirement in 1982. In 1987, she moved to Stillwater, Minn., and in 2002, she moved to her most recent home, Boutwell’s Landing in Oak Park Heights.

She is survived by her daughters, Mary (Peter) Grimm of Pardeeville, Wis., and Pat (Paul) Niemuth of Stillwater; her son, Joseph (Vicky) Betthauser of St. Paul, Minn.; her stepson, Gerald (Elaine Foss) Betthauser of Whitehall, Wis.; her grandchildren Maria (Jeremy) Koosman, Kate and Christine Grimm, Bill and Anne Betthauser, Emily (Kyle) Medcraft and Elizabeth Niemuth; her great-grandchildren, Matthew and Joy Koosman; her sisters, Marge Bigelow and Genevieve Wild of Lansing, Iowa; her sister-in-law, Helen Witte of Milwaukee; and her brother-in-law, Bill Thomson of Waukon, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin J. Betthauser; her parents, Matt and Margaret (Thornton) Guider; and her sisters, Mary Lucille Brazell and Ann Thomson.

Beloved by family and numerous friends, Catherine will be remembered for her kindness, sweet disposition and dedicated professionalism.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at noon Monday, Oct. 22, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 303 W. Monroe St., Tomah, Wis. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at Simonet Funeral Home, 6429 Osgood Ave. N., Stillwater, and also one hour prior to Mass at the church.

The family wishes to express special thanks to Dr. Charles Bransford, the staff at Boutwell’s Landing, and the Northwoods family. Memorials are preferred to the Cystic Fibrosis Association or the Cloistered Dominican Sisters.

Simonet Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. (651) 439-7770. www.simonetfuneralhome.com.

Susan Louise Blank

COUPEVILLE, Wash. — Susan Louise Blank, 65, of Coupeville died Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, after battling a rare form of tracheal cancer.

Susan was born April 21, 1942, to Roy and Geraline Johnson, formerly of La Crosse. She graduated from La Crosse Central High School in 1960. She married James Blank of

La Crosse in 1961, and they had four children.

Susan raised her four chldren in Manitowoc, Wis., while earning a bachelor of arts degree from Silver Lake College. In 1979, she and the four children moved to Spanaway, Wash., where she taught junior high art for the Bethel School District until her retirement in 2004. She was a passionate artist and imbued her students with a sense of beauty and creativity.

In 1984, Susan met, fell in love with, and married Paul Menzel, a philosopher at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash. Together they shared many interests including cooking, gardening, entertaining and travel. They built a waterfront home in 2004 that Susan greatly influenced in its unique architecture and interior design. The home and grounds are filled with her art.

Since 2001, Susan battled cancer. Despite the grim fate of her disease, Susan never stopped living, loving and teaching. Her students were her five grandchildren who she continually inspired and thrilled with creative games, art and cooking projects.

Susan is survived by her husband, Paul Menzel of Coupeville; sister, Carol (Johnson) Knebes and husband, Bill, and mother, Geraline Johnson, all of Port Angeles, Wash.; daughters, Tam Blank of Seattle, and Heidi Welch and her husband Joe and son Benjamin of Charlotte, N.C.; and sons, David and wife Sidney and their children Samuel and Kendall, and Matthew and wife Ivana and their children Logan and Lauren, all of Seattle.

A memorial celebration will be at noon today at the home of Paul and Susan on Whidbey Island in Coupeville.

Donations designated to the Susan Blank Memorial Fund may be made to: Bethel Educational Scholarship Team (BEST) and sent to BEST, P.O. Box 742, Graham, WA, 98338, or to AAUW Whidbey Island, P.O. Box 1332, Coupeville, WA, 98239.

Gailen Carl Boden

MADISON/HILLSBORO, Wis. — Gailen Carl Boden, 81, of Madison died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, at Heritage Manor, Elroy, Wis. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Picha Funeral Home, Hillsboro. Burial, with military rites, will be in Mount Vernon Cemetery in Hillsboro. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the funeral home. Online information is at www.pichafuneralhomes.com.

Mildred Gordon

MCGREGOR, Iowa — Mildred Gordon, 91, of McGregor died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. today at Union/Nagel Cemetery, rural Patch Grove, Wis. Thornburg-Hanson Funeral Home, Prairie du Chien, Wis., is assisting the family.

Howard A. Henningsgaard

MABEL, Minn. — Howard A. Henningsgaard, 73, of Mabel died unexpectedly Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, at his home. Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Mabel First Lutheran Church, Mabel. Burial will be in Hesper Lutheran Cemetery, Hesper, Iowa. Visitation will be from noon to services Wednesday at the church. Mengis Funeral Home, Mabel, is assisting the family.

Rebecca L. Hughes

ETTRICK, Wis. — Rebecca L. Hughes, 31, rural Ettrick died Friday, Oct. 19, 2007, at her home. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Jack Funeral Home, Blair, Wis. Private family services and burial will be at a later date.

Janice E. Jensen

WARRENS, Wis. — Janice E. Jensen, 69, of Warrens died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, at St. Marys Hospital, Rochester, Minn. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church, Tomah, Wis. Burial will follow in Warren Mills Cemetery, Warrens. Family and friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Torkelson Funeral Home, Tomah, and from 9 a.m. until the time of services Wednesday at the church. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneral home.com.

Mildred A. Larson

PIGEON FALLS, Wis. — Mildred A. Larson, 88, of Pigeon Falls died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, in Pigeon Falls Health Care Center in Pigeon Falls. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Evangelical Lutheran Church with burial in the church cemetery, both in Pigeon Falls. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Jack Funeral Home, Whitehall, Wis., and one hour prior to the services Monday at the church.

Joseph B. Lee

CALEDONIA, Minn. — Joseph Benjamin Lee, 79, of Caledonia died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center, La Crosse.

Joe was born Jan. 20, 1928, in Rochester, Minn., to the Rev. Clarence L. Lee and his wife, Letta (Fjelstul). In 1929, he moved to Caledonia with his family. In 1946, Joe graduated from Caledonia High School and then attended Luther College. On Oct. 8, 1949, he married Geraldine Schroeder at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Caledonia.

Joe was employed with Nelson Lumber Company in Caledonia until 1965. From 1970 until 1980, he served as the Houston County (Minn.) assessor, and from 1980 until 1990 he served as the Steele County (Minn.) assessor. Joe also was a former president of the Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers. He was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Caledonia where he had been a member of the church council, the building committee and the church choir. Joe also was a former mayor and council member of Caledonia.

Survivors include his wife, Geraldine; two sons, Steve Lee and his wife, Susan of Rochester, Minn., and Eric Lee of Byron, Minn.; three grandchildren, Jeremy Lee of New Orleans, La., Cassandra Lee of Orlando, Fla., and Joshua Lee of Baton Rouge, La.; one brother, Dr. Walter Lee and his wife, Thelma of Northfield, Minn.; and two sisters-in-law, Priscilla Lee of Red Wing, Minn., and Katherine Lee of Eugene, Ore.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Alma (Burke) Lee; one daughter, Jean Louise Lee; two brothers, the Rev. Dr. Clarence L. Lee and Robert E. Lee; and one sister-in-law, Donna Lee.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21 at St. John’s Evangeclial Lutheran Church, 650 N. Kingston St., Caledonia. The Rev. Jon Wolff will officiate. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Haugen-Roble-Jandt Funeral Home, 518 W. Main St., Caledonia, and from noon until the time of services Sunday at the church.

Marjorie J. Linhart

Marjorie (Aunt Margie) Linhart, 85, of La Crosse, peacefully joined the angels Thursday morning, Oct. 18, 2007, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse.

Marjorie was born Nov. 21, 1921, in Dresbach, Minn., to Morris and Anna (Hollowitch) Kramer. She married the love of her life, Edward Linhart in 1937 and spent time in Milwaukee and New York but lived most of her life in La Crosse.

Marjorie worked at the old Autolite during the war, but worked mostly as a caretaker for the handicapped and elderly.

She enjoyed collecting angels and cherubs, playing cards and cribbage, making her “famous” fudge and always had time to spend with friends and family.

She will be missed and remembered by her survivors, including her very close sisters, June (Harold) Kulcinski and Caroline (William) Maravelas, both of La Crosse.

Having no children of her own, she developed special relationships with June’s and Harold’s sons, Gerald (Jan), Morris (Pam) and the late Darrell Kulcinski. She was known as the “other mother” to Caroline’s children, William Jr. (Joanne), Pamela (Steve Sheldon), Greg, Tom, George (Mary) and Andy Maravelas; numerous loving grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins; and friends, including Francis (Dee) Hollowitch and Dorathea Pottratz.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents, Morris and Anna; her husband, Ed; brothers-in-law, Harold and William; and nephew, Darrell.

There will be a 10 a.m. reception on Monday, Oct. 22, at Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home of Onalaska (907 Sand Lake Road) followed at 11 a.m. by a short service with Pastor David Baldukas officiating. Friends and family are welcome to join together for lunch afterward at the Onalaska American Legion on Sand Lake Road.

The family wishes to thank staff members at Gunderson Lutheran for their caring and compassion during her stay.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials to be sent to Olivet Lutheran Church, 2100 Bainbridge, La Crosse WI 54603.

Paul V. McDowell

LA CROSSE/DE SOTO, Wis. — Paul V. McDowell, 52, of La Crosse and formerly of rural De Soto died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, in La Crosse.

He was born July 23, 1955, in Viroqua to Fred and Lois (McClurg) Mc Dowell. He graduated from De Soto High School in 1973. He worked for several years before becoming disabled.

Paul is survived by one daughter, Amelia McDowell of La Crosse; a grandson, Trenton Stalsberg of La Crosse; his mother, Lois McDowell of Viroqua, Wis.; two brothers, Alan McDowell of Viroqua and Roger (Debra) McDowell of La Crosse; three sisters, Betty (Marvin) Kamke of Rothschild, Wis., Jean Reynolds of Madison, and Judy (Olaf) Haugen of rural De Soto; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1992; his maternal grandparents, Walter and Laura McClurg; his paternal grandparents, Virgil and Helen Jacobson; and one nephew, Craig McDowell.

There will be a private family service. Thorson-Reetz Funeral Home of Viroqua is serving the family.

Sgt. 1st Class Cristobal H. Morales

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico — Sgt. 1st Class Cristobal H. Morales, 42, of Bayamon and formerly of La Crosse, died at his home Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007. A memorial service will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Onalaska (Wis.) National Guard Armory, 910 Oak Forest Drive.

Mary E. Nimmo

HOLMEN, Wis. — Mary E. Nimmo, 71, of Holmen died Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, in Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, La Crosse. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, both La Crosse. Family and friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the funeral home. A complete obituary will follow in the La Crosse Tribune Sunday.

Onalee (Lewis) Pierce

TOMAH, Wis. — Onalee (Lewis) Pierce, 87, of Tomah died Friday, Oct. 19, 2007, at her home in Tomah. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Torkelson Funeral Home, Tomah. Burial will follow in Danavang Cemetery, rural Warrens, Wis. Family and friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the funeral home. Online condolences are at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.

Raymond ‘Ray’ Edwin Sauer

Raymond “Ray” Edwin Sauer, 81, of La Crosse died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, at 11:17 p.m. in his home surrounded by his loving family.

Ray was born to William and Clara (Molling) Sauer on Sept. 5, 1926, in Port Washington, Wis. He graduated from Port Washington High School in 1944. He served in the Army Air Force from 1944 to 1946 and attended the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in preparation for flight training. Ray was awarded the World War II Memorial Scholarship. In 1949 he graduated with highest honors from what is now the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He taught in Auburn Hills, Mich., and Niagara, Wis.

He married Jeanne Fisher on Aug. 5, 1950, at St Matthew’s Church in Shullsburg, Wis. They lived in Iron Mountain, Mich., until January 1951 when Ray accepted a teaching position at Logan Senior High School in La Crosse where he initially coached track and taught mathematics until he retired in 1988.

Ray attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota, Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and UW-La Crosse where he earned his masters of science degree in 1964.

During his tenure at Logan he was curriculum committee chairman, served as coordinating chairman for the North Central Accrediting Association, and was a member of the Logan (new school) Steering Committee for three years. He also was head of the La Crosse Education Association bargaining team, where his research, level headedness, and calm approach to discussions did much to gain respect for the teaching profession.

He earned the deep respect of his students as a true educator, one who stressed problem-solving and practical application of often complex mathematical principles over rote memorization and abstract theories. He was adviser to the student council and encouraged the council to operate in a democratic manner. He also was adviser to the National Honor Society. He was widely regarded as an excellent adviser as the standards of the society were so closely aligned with the standards he set for himself. In 1978, he was selected as the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s District Teacher of the Year.

Ray was a member of American Legion Post No. 52. He was a member of the La Crosse Western Wisconsin Education and National Education Associations, as well as Wisconsin Mathematics and National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He was a life member of the UW-La Crosse Alumni Association, the La Crosse Logan Alumni Association and the Wisconsin Education Association Council-Retired.

Ray was an enthusiastic sports participant having lettered in baseball and track in high school and track in college, long-distance running being his competitive field. He was an avid Brewers, Cubs and Packers fan. He and Jeanne wintered in Mesa, Ariz., for 17 years. While there, he was able to attend spring training and cheer on his favorite teams.

During his teaching years, many of his summer vacations were spent roofing and remodeling relying on his considerable carpentry and mathematical skills. He also worked for La Crosse County building roads, The Trane Company as a fin press operator, and as a construction worker for Holy Cross Seminary.

As a life-long Catholic, his actions were guided by his deep and unwavering faith in God. Ray was a member of (St. Thomas More) Mary Mother of the Church since 1959. There he was on the board of education, a member of the men’s choir in the 1970s and a present day lector. While a resident in Mesa, he worshiped and volunteered at All Saints Catholic Church, regularly driving a van on Sunday mornings taking the elderly and persons with disabilities to church.

Ray is survived by his wife, Jeanne; his children, Jim (Linda) of Mason City, Iowa, Dave (Nancy) of Green Bay, Wis., Mary (Jeff) Paul of Prescott, Wis., Tom (Debbie) of Carlsbad, Calif., and John (Kathy) of Verona, Wis.; 11 grandchildren; his brothers, Walt (Donna) of San Diego, Bob (Alice) of Grafton, Wis., and Al (Marnie) of New Berlin, Wis.; sisters-in-law, Dolores Sauer and Margaret Mulcahy; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dolores and Frank O’Donnell and John and Donnafae Fisher; and many special nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Clara Sauer; and brothers, Billy and Ed (Dolores) Sauer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at Mary Mother of the Church, 2006 Weston St., in La Crosse. The Rev. David Kunz will officiate. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, in Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Spooner, Wis. Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Dickinson Family Funeral Home, 1425 Jackson St., La Crosse, where the rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m., and from 10 a.m. until the time of the mass Monday at the church.

The family is grateful for the services and care provided by Dr. Gill, the Franciscan Skemp Cancer Center staff, and a special thank you to Dr. Cunningham and the entire Franciscan Skemp Hospice team for their extraordinary care and management of Ray’s illness, pain and suffering during the last nine months. It will never be forgotten by all of the family members.

Memorials are requested to the Franciscan Skemp Hospice Care, Mary Mother of the Church, or the La Crosse Logan Alumni Association for youth scholarships.