Obituaries for Surnames Beginning With "SA" through "SI"
Aitkin County, Minnesota
Page S2

Unless otherwise noted, these obituaries were contributed by
Karen Klennert
and are from the Aitkin Independant Age Newspaper.


DOROTHY M. SCHUMANN ~ April 8, 2001


Dorothy M. Schumann, 77, Prior Lake, died April 8, 2001, at Friendship Manor Care Center in Shakopee. She was born Feb. 23, 1924, in Crosby, the daughter of Henry and Flora (Gregoire) Lemire. She worked at Southdale Ford as an order taker. She married Edgar C. Schumann on June 20, 1970 in St. Paul. She was a member of the Prior Lake VFW Auxiliary.

Services were held April 10 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Prior Lake with Father Richard Banker and Deacon Russ Shupe officiating. Pallbearers were Phil Higley, Samuel Higley, Jerald Lemire, Dan Haugh and Gene Zephrin.

She is survived by her husband, Edgar Schumann, Prior Lake; step-children: Sharon Zephrin, Barbara Seng, Debbie Schumann and Robert Schumann; and sister, Corrine Harte, Kansas City, Mo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Flora; sisters, Sr. Celestine Lemire and Veronica Grahn; and brothers, Victor Lemire, Bernard Lemire and Daniel Lemire.

Arrangements were with the Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home in Prior Lake.


THELMA SCHULTZ


Thelma M. Schultz, 81, Bloomington and Bonita Springs, Fla., died Oct. 31, 2002, at her home in Bloomington, after a lengthy battle with amyloidosis.

She was a former resident of the Aitkin area.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Fort Meyers, Fla.

She is survived by her children and their spouses; Wes and Diane, Gary and Julie and Andrea; grandchildren: Andy, Keri, Ben, Kelly and Leah; brother, Conrad; sister, Martha; and her faithful lap-companion, Betsy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Conrad and Rognhild Borsting; husband, John; and sisters, Agnes and Ruth.

Arrangements were with the Cremation Society of Edina.


BERNARD SCHMITZ JR.


Bernard J. Schmitz Jr., 78, Aitkin, and formerly of St. Paul, died October 15, 2002, at the St. Cloud Veterans Hospital.

He is a retired St. Paul Firefighter.

Services were held October 21 at the Bradshaw Funeral Home and Cremation Services in St. Paul. Burial was in Ft.Snelling.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane; children and their spouses; Linda and Dan Torgerson, Kelly and Lylis, Kerry, Kristin and Kent Monse and Kevin; nine grandchildren; brothers, Robert and Edward; sister, Mary Jo Walden; and special friends, Ray Weimer and Terry Bovee.

Arrangements were with the Bradshaw Funeral and Cremation Services in St. Paul.


JAMES SALONEK


James P. Salonek, 68, Hill City, died Oct. 31, 2002, at his home.

He was born April 14, 1934, in Montrose, the son of Philip and Gertrude (Cerves) Salonek. He grew up in Montrose and graduated from Delano High School in Delano. He served 10 years in the United States Air Force. A Veteran of the Korean War, he later served with the Strategic Air Command. He worked 30 years for the Minnesota Rubber Company in St. Louis Park; Mason City, Iowa, and Watertown, S.D., retiring in 1990. Following his retirements, they moved to the Hill City area in 1990 from Mason City, Iowa. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Mason City, St. Louis Park and Delano. He was a founding member of the Wright County Snowmobile Association and the Trailblazers Snowmobile Club in Delano. He was also active in Red Cross Snowmobile events and had his private pilot's license. He served as Scoutmaster for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts in Delano for many years.

Services were held Nov. 4 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grand Rapids. Burial was in the Macville Cemetery in Macville Township.

He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Corinne; sons and daughters-in-law: Bruce and Deb Salonek, Snellville, Ga.; Scott and Connie Salonek, Dayton; Mike and Helen Salonek, Carlsbad, Calif.; Bruce Sandvik and Connie Blaszak, Dale and Tamara Sandvik and John Sandvik, all of Hill City; daughter, Jeannie Hall, Orange, Calif.; grandchildren: Gabe, Nathan, Shannon, Brian, Jeannette, Julie, Jessica, Ryan, Brandon and Kristen; great-grandsons, Brady and Marcus; brothers and sister-in-law: Richard and Donna Salonek, Winsted, and Ronald Salonek, Swatara; and sisters and brothers-in-law: Rose and Marv Henning, Waverly; Betty and Jan Farrel, Jane and Arland Cardinal, all of Montrose; and Patty and Richard Meier, Watertown.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandsons, Stefen and Daniel Sandvik.

Arrangements were with the Rowe Funeral Home in Grand Rapids.


MARTHA SCHMITT


Martha E. Schmitt, 89, Aitkin, died on Nov. 26, 2002, at Riverwood Extended Care Center, Aitkin.

She was born April 12, 1913, in Crookston, the daughter of Herman and Amelia (Koll) Fiedler. She grew up and attended schools in Grand Rapids, graduating from high school there in 1933. She attended and graduated from Madame DeGuile's Beauty School in Minneapolis in 1937. She managed Maxine's Beauty Shop on Owatonna for a time. She married Mark Schmitt on Sept. 1, 1940, in Bedford, Iowa.

They lived in Grand Rapids from 1942-50, when they moved to Aitkin and operated Schmitts Furniture and Jewelry store for 35 years. She helped organize the Aitkin doll Club in 1966 and was a past president of the organization. She was a longtime member of St. James Catholic Church, was a Red Cross Gray lady for five years; was superintendent of the Women's Division at the Aitkin County Fair for 15 years, and served on the fair board for 20 years. She was a member of the Legion Auxiliary for 35 years and the VFW axillary for 12 years. She was also a member of the Aitkin County Historical Society. She enjoyed playing bridge and cribbage.

Funeral services were Dec. 1 at the St. James Catholic Church with Fr. Paul Fruth officiating. Pallbearers were Leigh Johnson, Paul Schmitt, Tom Cohen, Mark Huderlik, Neil Korpi, Ernie Montreuil and Allen Montreuil. Honorary pallbearers were Kenneth Lyons and Dexter Krogman. Burial was in the St. Thomas Cemetery in Aitkin.

She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Cheri Schmitt, Zim; daughter, Karalynne Striemer, Esko; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Adalaide Korpi, East Grand Fords. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Mark, in 1983, six brothers and four sisters.

Arrangements were with the Sorensen-Root-Thompson funeral Home in Aitkin.


ESTELLA LEONE SCHACK
February 23, 1910 ~ January 9, 2003




Estella Leone Schack, 92, Grand Rapids, died Thursday, January 9, 2003, at the Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital.

She was born February 23, 1910, to Perry and Estella (Glazebrook) McAninch in Hill Lake Township where she grew up and attended schools. Following her graduation from Hill City High School, she attended Normal School in Grand Rapids to receive her teaching degree. She taught at the Cowhorn School in Itasca County and then the Brauer School in Aitkin County prior to her marriage to Ewaldt A. Schack on July 10, 1929, in Hill City. They lived in the Hill City area and moved to San Diego, California, during World War II where she worked for Consolidated Aircraft and Ryan Aircraft. They returned to the Splithand area in 1948 where they made their home. In 1969 they moved to Nashwauk for several years before moving to Grand Rapids. For the past five years, she had been a resident at the Leisure Hills Health Care Center. Her family and faith were her priorities in life.

She is survived by three daughters, Carol (Fred) Wold, Aitkin, Grace (Wayne) Quaas, Hill City, Evelyn (Ted) Diebold, Vancouver, Washington; three sons, Robert (Elva) Schack, Nisswa, Richard (Florence) Schack, Vancouver, Washington, John Schack, Vancouver, Washington; 21 grandchildren, one stepgranddaughter, 38 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Ewaldt, in 1997; a daughter, Gwenneth, in 1931; and two sisters, Ardis McAninch and Donna Cluff.

Services: Monday, January 13, at 11 a.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Cohasset, with the Rev. William Zeige officiating. Visitation is Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Rowe Funeral Home.

Burial: Harris Cemetery, Harris Township.

Arrangements by Rowe Funeral Home, Grand Rapids, MN.


FLORENCE SANDERS





Florence "Trudy" Sanders, 70, of Polson, Mont., died from natural causes Saturday, Feb. 8, 2003 at her home in Polson.

She was born on Aug. 15, 1932 in Aitkin to Phillip and Florence Bolduc. She grew up and attended schools in Aitkin and moved to Kalispell, Mont., in 1950. She married Billy J. Sanders on Oct. 21, 1950 in Kalispell, Mont. She and Billy moved to Cody, Wyo. For a short time and then moved back to Kalispell for three years. They also lived in Kemmerer, Wyo. Until 1962. They then moved to their home on Eastshore of Flathead Lake.

She is survived by her husband, Billy, Polson, two daughters, Val Knight of Polson and Lorna Scott of Kalispell; a son, Bill P. Sanders, Polson; a brother, Gene Bolduc, Grand Rapids; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Preceding her in death were her parents and three brothers, Oliver Bolduc, Phillip Bolduc and Tony Bolduc.

Cremation has taken place and no services are planned.

Arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home & Crematory, Polson, Mont.


MRS. SHEETS ANSWERS CALL
Aitkin, Mn


The unexpected death of Mrs. Anna Sheets, wife of Lewis H. Sheets, saddened her neighbors and friends of the Jacobson community, where she had lived for more than forty years.

Although Mrs. Sheets had suffered a heart ailment for several years, death came without warning last Saturday morning, Nov. 20, 1943, at their home recently established just south of Aitkin. Due to Mrs. Sheet's health they had planned to spend the winter there, that she might be near a physician.

Anna Sprosty was born in Bohemia, May 30, 1879. She came to the United States with her parents when a child of 6. The family settled in Anoka, Minn. where she grew to womanhood. There she met and married Lewis Sheets of Schoolcraft, Mich.

The couple were married Nov. 14, 1900, and after one year's residence in Anoka, they moved onto a homestead in Aitkin county, in Cornish township, where they raised a family of three sons and four daughters. The farm homestead had been their home continually until about a month ago.

Beloved by her family, her kind lovable nature endeared her to a host of friends.

Left to mourn her loss are Mr. Sheets and sons, George, Glen Ellyn, Ill; Art, Sutherlin, Ore; James, Great Lakes Training station; daughters, Mrs. W. R. Cox (Nora), California; Mrs. Geo. Cornish, (Grace) Sutherlin, Ore; Mrs. Fred Tresise (Edna), Duluth; Mrs. Rudy Jarva (Josephine), who made her home with her parents.

Other survivors are her three sisters; Mrs. Gus Buchholz, Jacobson; Mrs. Mary Buchholz, Anoka and Mrs. James Neil, Duluth.

Rosary was recited at the Hartman funeral home Tuesday evening and services were held Wednesday, Nov. 24, at the St. James church at 11 a.m. with Fr. O'Gorman officiating.

Internment was at the McGregor cemetery. The sons and daughters came for the funeral."

Contributed by Nancy Thompson
Source: Aitkin Independent Age Newspaper


LEWIS HERBERT SHEETS
Aitkin, MN


Friends and relatives of L. H. Sheets of Aitkin were shocked last week when they received the message announcing his sudden death Sept.. 5, 1944, at Sutherlin, Ore.

Mr. Sheets had made his home on the Safford place just south of town since shortly before the death of his wife less than a year ago. He left Aitkin August 1, to visit his son and daughter in Oregon and a daughter in California. He had been at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Geo. Cornish, at Sutherlin, just a month when he passed away.

Death came without warning while he was working in a saw mill where he had received temporary employment.

Lewis Herbert Sheets was born at Schoolcraft, Mich., in 1877. When a young man he settled at Anoka, Minn., where he married Ann Sprosty in 1900. The same year the couple came to Aitkin county taking up a homestead in the Jacobson community in Cornish township.

The homestead, through the diligent efforts of the couple, became a fine farm where the family home was maintained until they came to Aitkin last October because of the illness of the late Mrs. Sheets.

Surviving are three sons; Geo. of Chicago; Arthur, Sutherlin, Ore; James in the U. S. Navy; four daughters; Mrs. Geo. Cornish (Grace), Sutherlin; Mrs. Fred Tresise (Edna) , Duluth; Mrs. W. R. Cox (Nora), California, Mrs. Rudy Jarva (Josephine) who made her home with her father in the absence of her husband, who is in the service. There are nine grandchildren.

Services were held at Sutherlin, Sept. 6, with the last rites at Aitkin on Sept. 13, at the Hartman chapel with Rev. Channer of Duluth, officiating. Internment was in the cemetery at McGregor.

Pall bearers were: Earl Thompson, Edgar Raveille, Maynard Raveille, Floyd Ward, Emil Anderson and Val Wedger.

The sons and daughter came for the funeral.

Contributed by Nancy Thompson
Source: Aitkin Independent Age Newspaper











ELLA SCHILLA




Ella Schilla, 95, Aitkin, died on March 15, 2003, at the Aicota Health Care Center in Aitkin.

She was born on October 12, 1907, in southern Minnesota and moved to Aitkin in 1912 with her parents, William and Ada Bastian. After graduating from Aitkin High School in 1926, she attended Austin Teacher's School where she received a teaching degree. She taught rural school and later attended beauty school in Minneapolis. She married Augie Schilla on April 7, 1934. Through her business career in Aitkin she owned and operated a dress shop, Ella's Beauty Shop, and the Montgomery-Ward Catalog Store with her husband.

Ella's father was a founder of St. John's Lutheran Church, of which she was devout parishioner and member of the Ladies Aid. An avid writer, she published a book of Rhymes and Poems and frequently contributed her original works to the Aitkin Independent Age and local gatherings. A pround participant in the Aitkin County Historical Society, in retirement she served in the Aitkin County Ambassador Program and was voted Senior Riverboat Queen by the community.

Services to celebrate Ella's life will be held on Wednesday, March 19, at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church with Pastor David Becker officiating. Friends may call at the church starting one hour before the service. Burial will be in the Lake View Cemetery with lunch following in St. John's community room.

Pallbearers will be Jack Schilla, Arnie Lueck, Tony Klee, Bob MacGregor, Peter Kranz and Tim Kranz. Honorary pallbearers are John Weimer and Robert Ziske. Singers will be Norma Lehmann and Tony Klee with Helyn Nienow serving as organist. She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Pat Schilla, Dupuyer, Montana; daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Eddie Sturman, Woodland Park, Colorado; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Augie.

The family suggest memorial offerings for St. John's Lutheran Church. Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home.















and Grand Rapids Herald Review









































































































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