Ten Mile Lake Association
Obituaries 2001

Remembering our Ten Mile Lake Friends...2001

Anne (Tolly) Blowers

Anne Blowers passed away December 29, 2001 at the Austin Medical Center in Austin Minnesota. Anne was born May 13, 1910. She spent her entire life in the Austin Minnesota area where she graduated from high school and received her registered nurse degree from St. Olaf Hospital. She married Donald Regner in 1936 and they had two children, Ken and Ruth. They were married for 21 years. Don passed away in 1957. In 1962 she married Maynard Blowers, and together they spent over 25 happy years at their place on Ten Mile Lake, where they enjoyed fishing, playing cards, and socializing with their many friends. Maynard passed away in 1996. The door was always open to their family which included children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all of who have their special memories of laughing, playing, and of course many fishing stories. Her wonderful humor and zest for life will be missed by all. Anne's children, Ken Regner and Ruth (Joe) Blowers, both reside on Ten Mile Lake hoping to carry on the memories.

Robert J. Larson

Robert J. "Deacon"/"Bapo" Larson, age 83, died Thursday, December 27, 2001 at his home on Ten Mile Lake. He was born October 22, 1918 in Chicago. At the age of 30, he lived in Brazil, at 40 in Peru, at 50 in Chile, at 60 in Texas, and at 70 and 80, on the shores of Ten Mile Lake. During his professional career, he was a chemist, an Army Air Corps meteorologist, a technical writer, and an airline meteorologist.

At Ten Mile Lake, he was truly a man for all seasons. He gathered maple syrup, was a gardener, a canoeist, a stone mason and wood splitter, a wild rice harvester and whitefish netter, a skater, a skier, and an ice rink architect. He was a loving father, husband, brother, grandfather, and uncle, a devoted friend, a passionate correspondent, philosopher and raconteur. His generosity and wit touched all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife Patty; four children, Speedy, Poo, Nito, and Diti; one brother, David, grandchildren Andrea, Sebastian, Guido, Marco, and Daniela, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. The family plans a private memorial ceremony in the spring, and has indicated that memorials may be directed to the Walker Public Library, Walker MN 56484, or to Minnesota Public Radio, Membership Department, 45 East 7th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55101.

Walker Pilot-Independent, Jan. 2, 2002.

Esther Augusta Johnson

Esther Augusta Johnson, 95, a former summer resident on the South Shore of Ten Mile Lake, died peacefully on November 18, 2001 at the Jones Harrison Residence in Edina. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Alvin Johnson, M.D.; daughter Joanne Ewing, and granddaughter Tristin Erickson.

Esther graduated from West High School in Minneapolis and received a Registered Nurse degree from the Swedish Hospital School of Nursing in 1928. She was an active member of the Hennepin County Medical Auxiliary, the Edina Women's Club, the Minneapolis Woman's Club, and the Naomi Circle of the Mount Olivet Lutheran Church. She also served on the board of Gustavus Adolphus College Arboretum in Saint Peter, MN.

Esther is survived by daughter Mary Bowman (Bradley); son Harry A. Johnson, Jr. (Judy); daughter Kay Erickson (Gerald), twelve grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Esther is remembered by her family and friends for her compassion and devotion, as well as her strong commitment to her faith. She had a great capacity for friendship, loved to play bridge, and had a life long zest for good food. The family has many memories of happy times with her on Browndale Avenue C the Johnson home in Edina -- and at the cabin on Ten Mile Lake.

A funeral service was held November 29, 2001 at Mount Olivet Church, with interment at Lakewood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Gustavus Adolphus College Arboretum.

(Information provided by Birdie Bagley.)

Marilyn Ann Mellby

Marilyn Ann (Pahl) Mellby, 63 of Hackensack, Minn., died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2001, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Brainerd after a three-year battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS).

She was born and raised on a farm along the Minnesota River in Bloomington. As a young adult she was a cosmetologist in Edina, then her husband's law practice took them to Montgomery, Minn., where they lived for 30 years. In 1993, they moved to Hackensack to enjoy semi-retirement. Her penchant for friends and cards earned hear th title of Master Bridge Consultant. Her last card game was five days before she passed away. Her loved for her family, love of life and triumphant spirit was present to the end.

She is survived by her husband, Theodore; one son, Nicholas (Paula) of Minnetonka,; one daughter, Margaret "Maggie" Mellby of St. Michael; one grandson Jens Pahl Mellby; her mother, Myrtle Pahl of Bloomington; two brothers, Wayne (Joanne) of Burnsville and Donald of Lakeville: two sisters, Yvonne (Jim) Bublitz and Jean Friendshuh, both of Bloomington, and many caring nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by an infant daughter; her father, Leo T. Pahl; and an infant brother, Warren Pahl.

A funeral Mass was held Sept. 29 at Assumption Catholic Church in Richfield. Burial was at Assumption Cemetery.

Memorials preferred to ALS Association, 528 Hennepin Avenue, Suite 610, Minneapolis, MN 55403-1810 or the Arthritis Foundation.

Nelson-Doran Funeral Home handled arrangements.

(Obituary from The Pilot Independent, October 4, 2001)

Sylvia Oline Haase

Sylvia Oline Haase, 91, of Ida Grove, Iowa, died Monday, August 20, 2001 at her summer home on Ten Mile Lake.

She was born July 8, 1910 to Hans and Mary (Pederson) Eriksen in Battle Creek, Iowa. She graduated from Battle Creek High School and from the Iowa School of Business in Sioux City, then worked for Campbell's Law Firm in Battle Creek. In 1932 she married Harold Haase, of Cleghorn, Iowa. The couple spent every summer since their honey-moon on the North Shore of Ten Mile Lake. They built Camp Des Moines in 1934 and operated it for about ten years. They bought their current cabin in 1951, but spent their winters in Ida Grove, where they owned and operated Haase Pharmacy for 27 years.

Mrs. Haase was very active in the community, including First Presbyterian Church, Eastern Star, Girl Scouts, Rainbow Ladies Aide, and many bridge clubs. She was known for her love of cards, jokes and Scrabble, and is said to have been beating friends at Scrabble one evening shortly before she died. The door of her house was always open to family and friends, and she would make a pie at the drop of a hat.

Mrs. Haase is survived by one daughter, Sherry (Joe) Day of Bemidji, who was adopted by the Haases in 1946; one grandson, Dax, of Ten Mile Lake; two granddaughters, Danielle and Nicole, of Fargo; one sister, Mary Gosch, of Ida Grove; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold; one son, Dennis, in 1944; and a brother and sister.

Funeral services were held August 25, 2001 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ida Grove. Burial was in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Ida Grove.

(From an article in the Walker Pilot Independent, August 30, 2001; page 10A.)

Virginia (Ginny) Lou Carter Moll

Virginia Lou Carter Moll, of Hopkins, MN died August 9, 2001 after a long battle with cancer. Ginny was born in Waterloo, Iowa, to the Carter family which started Carter Press, the first professional printing company in Ames, Iowa. She graduated from Ames High School and Iowa State University. Preceded in death by her husband, Dale, she is survived by sons David and Dan (Cathy); granddaughter Meghan; and brother George "Bud" Carter.

Ginny was a Past President of the Minnesota Women's Golf Association and Chair of the Long Range Planning Committee. She was a former member of the Hopkins Planning and Zoning Commission. She served as communications Coordinator for the Hopkins Public Schools and was a long-time member of the National School Public Relations Association. She also served as a reporter and editor for the Sun Newspapers. She was a freelance writer, with articles in many different publications, as well as a frequent writer of letters to the editor of the Walker Pilot-Independent.

A memorial service was held August 20, 2001 at Mizpah United Church of Christ in Hopkins.

(Information from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, August 12, 2001, and Joyce McManus).

Raymond D. Helsman

Raymond Dane Helsman, 77, of Ten Mile Lake, passed away Monday, July 23, 2001 after a long struggle with cancer. Formerly a resident of Bloomington, MN, Mr. Helsman also maintained a home in Eden Prairie.

Mr. Helsman was born in Nickelson, PA on March 28, 1924. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, during which he served in the Atlantic and Pacific on the Underwater Demolition Team (now known as Navy Seals). He was retired from the City of Bloomington Park Department. He served as a southside lakeshore advocate for Ten Mile Lake Association, Inc. For several years, and was an American Legion member and DAV.

Mr. Helsman is survived by his wife, Sally; one daughter, Kay (Steven) Kaeppel of Flower Mound, TX; two grandsons, David and Dane Kaeppel; one niece and one nephew. A graveside service was held August 6, 2001 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

(From the Walker Pilot Independent, August 3, 2001)

James T. Prince

James T. Prince, 81, of Bradenton, FL died on June 15, 2001 in Florida. He was born in Winchester, TN to Clofton and Ethel Prince. Jim served in the US Navy and was a veteran of World War II. After the war, he attended the University of Minnesota and received his Master's Degree in Microbiology; he became a professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School for his entire career and retired in the late 1980's. Jim enjoyed sharing time between his Osseo home and his lake home in Hackensack, MN until he purchased his home in Palmetto, FL in 2000.

Jim had an early introduction to Ten Mile Lake when he married Dorothy Kohl (sister of Ten Miler Doug Kohl) at Wes Kohl=s cabin on the South Shore on August 10, 1947. (The temperature outside that day was 96 degrees!) In 1970, after 20 years of weekend commuting between Osseo, MN and Ten Mile, the Princes established their own lake home also on the South Shore.

Jim constructed one of the early pontoon boats on the lake, created out of wood and masonite. It was very successful and a family favorite.

As a long time member of the Ten Mile Lake Association, Jim was able to use his teaching specialty in microbiology to offer guidance to the Association in its concern about lake pollution. He had developed a keen appreciation of the environment as a youth growing up around Winchester and exploring its nearby mountains, and applied that same appreciation to the TML environment. (Incidentally, although he lived 53 years as a "northerner," he never lost much of his southern accent.)

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, in 1996. He is survived by a daughter, Marcia (Gerald) Schmidt; a son Mike (Diana); four grand-children; and one great granddaughter. All of them have developed a deep love of Ten Mile adventure.

(Information provided by Doug Kohl.)

Ruth F. M. Anderson

Ruth F. M. (Johnson) Anderson, 81, of Hackensack, MN and formerly of Minneapolis, died May 5, 2001 at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.

Mrs. Anderson is survived by her husband, Arnie; daughter Judee (Terry) LaBissoniere; grandchildren, Matthew, and Britt (Tom) Hoverman; great-grand-children Abby and Will; and many other relatives and friends.

Memorial services were held May 10 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Wayzata.

(Walker Pilot-Independent, May 10, 2001)

Doris N. Morton

Doris N. Morton of Mesa, Arizona, died May 4, 2001 in Mesa. She was born on December 7, 1912 to Nelson and Elma Hansen, in Council Bluffs, IA. With her husband, Stanford Morton, she enjoyed many years on the North Shore of Ten Mile Lake. Doris described Ten Mile as her favorite place on earth. Doris was known as a wonderful hostess and a caring neighbor.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Stanford, in 1993. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, and is remembered fondly by friends and neighbors on Ten Mile Lake and in Arizona.

(Information provided by Shelly Knuths.)

William C. Hagan

William C. Hagan passed away April 25 after a long illness that began in 1969. Bill was born on Feb. 9, 1931, the son of Fred and Madge Hagan of Fort Dodge, IA. From 1943 until his illness in 1969, Bill had spent summers at Ten Mile Lake in their cabin on the northwest side of the lake.

He was an avid fisherman and explored many of the small lakes surrounding Ten Mile. He stocked many of the smaller lakes with fish caught in Ten Mile. He was a graduate of Fort Dodge High School and Iowa State University, Ames.

He is survived by brothers and sisters-in-law James and Jean Hagan, Jack and Wilma Kay Hagan, and a sister, Beverly Van Skike, and numerous nephews and nieces.

(Information provided by Jim Schwartz.)

Catherine Cram, 91, Girl's Camp Founder

(by Maria Elena Baca / Star Tribune - click here)

The following information was published in an obituary in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on 4/28/2001:

When Catharine (Kay) Cram turned 90 last year, she refused to allow friends to throw a birthday party for her. She did, however, agree to a birthday women's conference, "Inspiration from each other: How women can create, provoke and endure change to help craft sustainable, humane world cultures."

Cram, of Maple Plain, died April 13 at a Brooklyn Center hospice from complications of a brain aneurism. She was 91.

She was born in Axtell, Neb., and came to Minneapolis in the 1930s to teach drama and speech at Northrop Collegiate School for Girls, now a part of of the Blake School.

At Northrop, Cram met Helen Dalton, an instructor in riding, skating and dance. She would be Cram's partner in business and in life until her death in 1979.

In autumn 1945 they heard that Camp Hillaway was for sale on Ten Mile Lake in Cass County. They drove up to take a look. Snowed in overnight in St. Cloud, they agreed to pool their savings to buy the camp.

Over the next 30 years, girls ages 6 to 18 came for riding, arts and crafts, singing, sailing and lessons in self-confidence. There were two sessions each summer, with as many as 100 girls per session.

"There was the confidence that you could do whatever you set your mind to," said Jane Anderson Howard of Plymouth, who attended the camp from 1967 to 1972. When young women left it, their relationship with Cram often continued.

"When we would come home from college, people would visit," Howard said. "We would always visit. We'd bring prospective grooms and then the babies. They were just part of people's lives."

After Camp Hillaway, Howard said, Cram became interested in the international state of women's rights, and in politics and world affairs of all kinds.

She became a benefactor of the International Women's Rights Action Watch Program at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. In 1991 she established the Cram-Dalton Scholarship Fund, which supports female international students as they earn master's degrees in public policy. So far, seven have participated in the fellowship, including women from Japan, China, Chile and Bangladesh. Arvonne Fraser, who spent several years as director of the program, asked to speak at Cram's birthday conference.

"She said, 'You've got to tell them to get involved. They've just got to get involved.'" Fraser said. Cram is survived by her brother, Ben Art Cram of Maple Plain. A memorial service is planned for 10:30 a.m. May 12 at the Humphrey Institute in Minneapolis.

-- Maria Elena Baca is at mbaca@startribune.com (c) Copyright 2001 Star Tribune

Cram Catherine A., age 91. An inspirational, visionary and much-beloved mentor of hundreds of Minnesota women -- as well as those elsewhere in the U.S. and abroad -- died Friday night, April 13, in a Brooklyn Center hospice. She entered the hospice April 6 after suffering a cerebral aneurysm in her Maple Plain home April 1. Kay was active in the Twin Cities arts and theatre communities, the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute, local and national politics where she worked for social justice, peace, stewardship of the earth and gender equity. Born in Nebraska, educated at Northwestern University, Kay taught creative dramatics and speech at Northrop Collegiate School for Girls, a predecessor of The Blake School in Minneapolis. But her life was perhaps most deeply shaped by Hillaway, the girls summer camp she ran from 1946-1976 on Ten-Mile-Lake in Hackensack, Minn. At both Northrop and Hillaway, Kay called forth leaders among women long before it was popular -- or even probable -- to do so. She herself set an example throughout her life of compassionate leadership. Kay was preceded in death by her parents and many friends. She is survived by her brother, Art Cram, of Maple Plain. A gathering to celebrate her life is planned for mid-May, with details pending. A hotline has been set up to keep the hundreds of campers -- who still regard her as a spiritual mother -- connected. The number is: 763-268-3180, and the time, date and location will be posted there. She asked that no flowers be sent. Tributes may be made to the Cram-Dalton Scholarship Fund, Development Office, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, 301 19th Ave. S., Mpls, MN 55455. published Apr 17, 2001

Myrle C. Hartzell

Myrle C. Hartzell, born September 20, 1907 in Chester, Iowa, passed away on April 9, 2001 at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, MN. She was preceded in death by her husband, Josiah (Joe) and was a lifelong resident of Edina, MN.

The Hartzell family originally built their summer home on the east side of Ten Mile Lake in 1927. Joe, Myrle, and their two sons spent the summer months enjoying the lake, from the late 1930's until Joe=s death in 1982. Upon Joe=s death, Myrle sold the property to her son, John, and only visited the lake periodically thereafter.

In her later years, Mrs. Hartzell talked frequently of the early years at Athe lake,@ reminiscing about the lack of electricity, running water, and refrigeration. She often wondered how she ever existed without the taken-for-granted conveniences of today. While she missed her summers on Ten Mile, she always had her fond memories of all the wonderful years spent on the lake.

Robert Kay

Robert (Bob) Kay, former TMLA Board member and long time summer TML resident, died Saturday morning, March 17, 2001 in Arizona. 

The funeral will be held at 2:00pm, Friday, March 23rd at the United Methodist Church in Clarion Iowa. Alice Kay will be staying in Clarion until April 5. Her mailing address there is Box 311, Clarion, IA 50525. She indicated that she would be pleased, and was sure Bob would be extremely pleased, to have memorials directed to the Ten Mile Lake Association.

Robert Kay was born May 26, 1922, in Atlantic, Iowa, the son of Harry and Hattie Kay. He attended the University of Alabama and graduated from Drake University Law School in 1947, after serving three years in the U.S. Air Force. He married Alice Lou Wiese in 1947 and began his law practice in Clarion, Iowa. He served on many boards and was active in service organizations and his church, serving his community with the strength of his leadership and commitment. Bob and Alice retired to Green Valley, Arizona in the fall of 1992.

Bob is survived by his wife Alice, and three children; daughter Kathy and her husband Bill and their daughter Amy of Denver, CO; daughter Debby and her son Jason of Ames, IA; and son Brian and his wife Bonnie and their children Rachel and Kevin of St. Cloud, MN; and two brothers, Henry Kay and Gerald Kay of Atlantic, IA.

(Above excerpted from obituary used in memorial service at United Methodist Church, Clarion, IA --2 p.m. Friday, March 23, 2001

Lois Sandell

Lois Sandell, a former resident of Ten Mile Lake, former officer of the Association and honorary member of the TMLA, Inc. Board, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2001 at Woodrest Care Center in Walker. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at Hope Lutheran Church in Walker.

Expressions to the family should be sent in care of John Sandell, 33651 County Road 38, Walker, MN 56484. Two memorial options have been suggested by the family - the Ten Mile Lake Association, Inc. (P.O. Box 412, Hackensack, MN 56452) or the Hope Lutheran Church Building Fund (P.O. Box 506, Walker MN 56484).

The following information was published in an obituary in the Walker Pilot Independent:

"She was born March 30, 1912 in Madrid, Iowa, to Charles and Sigrid (Carlson) Sundean. She attended school in Boone, Iowa, and graduated from Iowa State College in Ames, Iowa. She married Howard Sandell Aug. 16, 1936, and lived in Nevada, Iowa. She spent 35 years as a home economics teacher before retiring to Ten Mile Lake in 1977. She was a member of P.E.O., Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Ten Mile Lake Association, Deep Portage Conservation Reserve and Hope Lutheran Church.

"She is survived by one sister, Mildred Anderson of Rockford, Ill.; one son, John Sandell of Walker; and two grandchildren.

"She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

"Memorial services will be held at Hope Lutheran Church in Walker Saturday, March 24, at 2 p.m. Burial will take place at a later date. Memorials are preferred to the Ten Mile Lake Association or the Hope Lutheran Church Building Fund.

"Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter handled arrangements."

Leroy R Knuths

Leroy R. Knuths, age 68, died January 14, 2001, in Scottsdale, following a second stroke. He was born December 15, 1932 near Rowan, IA where he grew up and graduated from high school. He attended college at Waldorf College and graduated from Drake University.

He married Shalmerdean (Shelly) Eckart; they moved to Minnetonka, MN where they had four children. In 1969, he and Shelly purchased a cabin on Birch Lake; in 1972 they moved to the beautiful North Shore of Ten Mile Lake. Late, in 1991, they moved to the East Shore of Ten Mile Lake to ac-commodate their growing family. Leroy loved watching his children and grandchildren enjoying Ten Mile Lake and viewing the glorious Ten Mile sunsets.

Leroy was the owner and CEO of Rosco Manufacturing Company in Madison, South Dakota. He was devoted to civic work. He also liked to attend the Men=s Coffee when spending summers at Ten Mile Lake.

Leroy is survived by his wife, Shelly; sons Dr. Jay Knuths (Julie) of Duluth and Jon Knuths (Elizabeth) of Madison, SD; daughters Sina Koch (Tom) of Eden Prairie and Kara Egan (Tim) of Minneapolis, and seven grandchildren.

(Information provided by Shelly Knuths.)

James E. Petrie

Many Ten Mile residents have lost a faithful and reliable helper in Jim Petrie, a Hackensack resident who died of a heart attack at his home on January 6, 2001. Jim was born on January 29, 1950 in the Hackensack area to Rynard and Clara (Shofner) Petrie. The family moved to Remer, where he attended school and graduated from Northland High School. In 1967 he moved back to Walker and worked for the Remer Timber Company for 13 years. More recently, Jim had become a valued friend of many Ten Mile residents for whom he worked as a handyman.

Jim Petrie is survived by his sister, Wilma Nickels of Marshfield, MO; his niece, Renee Blenins of Springfield, MO; his nephew, Brant Fosmo of Lampe, MO; and many cousins and friends. Michael Small, Pastor of Union Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Hackensack, officiated at Mr. Petrie's memorial service on January 13. Burial will be in the spring at Walker Cemetery. Jim's many Ten Mile friends will miss him and remember him with respect and appreciation.

Bob and Cheris Garrison, summer residents of Batcheller Bay, and one of Jim's numerous Ten Mile employers and friends, have proposed the establishment of a special memorial in Jim's name through the Ten Mile Lake Association. Those interested are invited to suggest a specific use for funds received in his memory. Please address your suggestions to Bob and Cheris via the TMLA Website Message Board at tenmilelake.org.

Existing options for memorial funds are: the James W. Schwartz Environmental Preservation Fund (to purchase land in Kenfield Bay) or the Hackensack First Response Team, Inc. If you prefer to designate your gift for either of these options, please indicate this on your check along with "Jim Petrie Memorial." All undesignated funds will be held in a TMLA account until a decision is made for a specific memorial in Jim's name.

Donations may be sent to: Ten Mile Lake Association, PO Box 412, Hackensack, MN 56452, Attn: Memorial Gifts [Please designate "Jim Petrie Memorial" on your check.]

(Obituary information based on articles in the Pilot Independent of January 12 and 18, 2001. See also Pilot Independent)

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