Sunday's Obituary: Joyce Anderson

In memory of Joyce Anderson, wife of Glen Anderson who is a Waage cousin:

Joyce Irene Anderson, 80, passed away Saturday, February 2, 2013 at the Flandreau Medical Center. She was born June 7, 1932 in Hendricks, MN to Martin and Gina (Sommervold) Christopherson. She attended country school through the eighth grade. Joyce married Glen Anderson on February 24, 1949 in the Christ Lutheran Parsonage in Hendricks. They lived near Elkton, SD and Joyce worked at the Staurolite Inn in Brookings. They moved to Rapid City in 1960 but returned to Elkton in 1961 where they lived on the farm. They moved to Edgewood Vista, Flandreau, SD in October 2012. Joyce worked at Royal Plastics and Sunchase until her retirement in 2007. Joyce enjoyed gardening, garage sales, cooking, antiques, shopping and loved her family.

 Joyce is survived by her husband Glen, son Jim, Elkton, daughter Pat (Rick) Ehret, McMinnville, OR, four grandchildren, Tara (Chris) Quincy, Krystal (John) Demay, Brooke Ehret, Jade Ehret, three great-grandchildren, Caden, Emma Joyce and Hailey, and three sisters, Helen Hemish, Alice (Jim) Leuning and Marcella Lang. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, her parents, four brothers, Harry, Clifford, Kenneth, Leonard and four sisters, Cora, Pearl, Viola and Vada.

Funeral services will be 11:00 am Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at Christ Lutheran Church, Hendricks, MN with burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation is from 5-7 pm Monday at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau, SD.  

 

Obituary from http://www.skrochfc.com

Sunday's Obituary: Ada Gossau

In loving memory of Aunt Ada, here is the obituary of Ada B. Gossau from the Leola (Workman) Crapser's files.

 

Ada B. Gossau
Ada Blanche Gossau, 71, died Saturday, Nov. 28, 1987 at the Estelline Community Hospital.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sterling United Methodist Church, rural Brookings with the Rev. Penny Ritter officiating.  Burial will be at Sterling Methodist Cemetery.  Visitations may be made from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Rude's Funeral Home; the family will be in attendance.  Visitations also may be made preceding services Tuesday at the church.

Ada Blanche Gossau was born Sept. 10, 1916, in Sterling Township, Brookings County, to Jessie and Blanche (Heard) Workman.  She attended rural school in Sterling Township and graduated from Brookings High School.  She then moved to Chicago and spent several years there working in factories.  She also lived in California for a year.  She married Charles T. Gossau on June 2, 1947, in Pipestone, Minn., and the couple made Brookings their home.  She worked at various jobs in Brookings until retiring in 1980.  Mr Gossau died May 1, 1987, in Sioux Falls.  She enjoyed bowling, fishing and craft work.

Survivors include one daughter, Margaret Gossau of Brookings, and two sisters, Mrs. Sara (Raymond) Laganella of Philadelphia, Pa., and Mrs. Leola Crapser of Sioux Falls.  She was preceded in death by her husband and one brother.

Those Places Thursday: Sterling Methodist Church

Sterling Methodist Church

The Workman family has been part of the Sterling Methodist Church congregation for much of the congregation's history.

The earliest records of the church date back to 1878 and include mention of travelling ministers.  In 1884, the Congregation of  the German Methodist Episcopal Church of Sterling Township of Dakota Territory was officially established and met in homes of the members.

It wasn't until 1895 that the congregation had a church building.  George L. Workman leased the three acres of land the church was built on in Sterling Township, Brookings County, South Dakota from Daniel Koester for $30.00.

The first wedding held in the church building was that of Anna Workman and Merle Taylor in June of 1946.

In 1984 the congregation had 29 members, many of them related to the Workman family.

Interior of the Sterling Methodist Church

Occupation: Farm Laborer and Census Enumerator

In a rural community during a midwestern summer in the year 1900, one might expect to find a 20-year-old man working hard on the family farm. Right?

Of course! So it was no surprise when I found my great-great grandpa Jesse Workman in the 1900 U.S. Census listed with his parents and brother right there on the family farm in Sterling township, Brookings County, South Dakota. Twenty-one years old, single, and his occupation listed as "Farm Laborer".

Source: Ancestry.com - 1900 U.S. Federal Census.  To see the census lines for the George Workman family, click here.


But as I looked up towards the top of the census page to gather the little bits of data identifying the location and date of the census, I saw a familiar name. 

"Enumerated by me on the 1 day of June, 1900, Jesse Workman, Enumerator."

Grandpa!  I never would have expected to see grandpa Jesse's name listed as the census enumerator.  I just always expected that city folks would be the enumerators.

I guess this might explain why his parents George and Minnie Workman are the first people listed for this enumeration district as well.  Gotta start with the people you know best!


(Disclaimer: I didn't really need to look at the top of the census page to identify the location of this family since Workman family members still farm the same land today. It's just a good habit to look there.  And now I have another reason to look at that information - you just never know what you'll find!)

Sunday's Obituary: Sharon N Luze Watt

Grandmas hold onto our hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever.  Grandma, you will be missed.

In Loving Memory of Sharon N. Luze

Sharon N. Luze Watt, age 72, of Volga, died Monday, September 10, 2012, at Brookview Manor in Brookings. Memorial services will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, September 15, 2012, at Lake Campbell Lutheran Church, rural Volga, with interment of cremated remains in the church cemetery. Visitations will be from 5-7 P.M. Friday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Memorials may be directed to the Parkinson’s Support Group at the Brookings Hospital.

Sharon Noreen Luze Watt was born May 29, 1940, in Volga, South Dakota, the tenth child of Norman and Stella (Waage) Jorenby . She received her education in the Volga Schools and was a graduate of Volga High School in 1958. She was united in marriage to Curtis Luze on January 30, 1959. She provided daycare while raising their four children. Sharon then worked at the Brookings HyVee Store for 27 years before she retired. She was married to James Watt, Sr. in June 1996.

Sharon was a member of Lake Campbell Lutheran Church. She loved baking, sewing, and working on the family tree. She liked spending time with family and friends.

Survivors include her two sons: Allen (Lisa) Luze, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Bryon (fiancé, Misty Moser) Luze, of Brookings South Dakota; two daughters: Loretta (Eldon) Crapser and Linda (Ron) Horst, all of Brookings; stepsons: Cordell (Stacey) Watt, James Watt III, and Jerad (LaJuana) Watt; 15 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; three brothers: Lyle, Cliff (Lori), and David Jorenby; one sister, Marjorie (Alton) Quam; and two sister-in-laws; Garnet Jorenby and Lois Jorenby; along with several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers: Carroll, John, Don and Burton; one sister, Betty Bovee; and one sister-in-law, Mildred.

Sunday's Obituary: Curtis D. Luze

 

Grandpa, you will be missed.

In Memory of Curtis D. Luze

Curtis D. Luze, age 73, passed away at the Sanford Medical Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, on Tuesday, August 28, 2012. Funeral Services have been set for 10:30am Saturday, September 1, 2012 at Rude’s Funeral Home, Brookings, SD. Visitation will be from 5:00pm to 7:00pm Friday, August 31, 2012 at Rude’s Funeral Home, Brookings, SD.

Curtis was born on March 4, 1939, in Brookings, SD, the son of Harold and Irene (Christianson) Luze. He received his education in the Brookings Schools and was a graduate of the Brookings High School in 1957. After receiving his education he served in the National Guard for 26 years. He was employed at various places in Brookings until 1971 when he was employed at 3M. He continued working at 3M until his retirement in 1994. Curtis was then employed at Conveyance Vans in Brookings. Curtis was united in marriage to Sharon Jorenby on January 30, 1959.

Curtis was a member of the First Lutheran Church and the Brookings American Legion Post #74. He enjoyed woodworking, cabinet making and traveling. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

He was survived by two sons Allen (Lisa) Luze of Sioux Falls, SD, Bryon (his fiance’, Misty Moser) Luze of Brookings, SD, two daughters Loretta (Eldon) Crapser, Linda (Ron) Horst all of Brookings; 15 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; and one brother DuWayne (Sandy) Luze of Tacoma, WA; along with several nephews and nieces.

Curtis was preceded in death by his parents, and one sister Joan.