Mass of Christian Burial was on Wednesday, May 30, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich, with Rev. Roger Klassen, OSB, officiating and with Rev. Art Hoppe and Rev. Ken Thielman concelebrating. Burial followed in the parish cemetery.

Serving as casket bearers were: Chad Hoppe, Kelly Fisher, Nancy Witt, Jill Tintes, Brandon Hoppe, and Brad Hoppe. Cross bearer was Vernon Hoppe.

Honorary bearers were Karen Heinen, Rose Ann Hoppe, Maxine Schultz, Joan Breth, Linda Cook, Karen Neis, and Patty Roth.

Benedict Hoppe was born March 19, 1920, in Saint Martin Township to Gerhard and Rosina (Moscho) Hoppe. He studied agriculture at Morris Vocational School for one year. He married Lorraine Eickhoff on June 23, 1941, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich. The couple farmed near New Munich until their retirement in 1986, when they moved into New Munich. He was a resident of Pine Haven Care Center in Melrose since October 1998. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich, township supervisor of Oak Township for 12 years, Catholic Order of Foresters, ushering committee for many years, Saint Joseph's Society, past member of the New Munich Lions.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine Hoppe of New Munich; children, Carol (Tom) DeMorett of Lindstrom, Gerri (Richard) Halfman of Duelm, Diane (Ed) Tamm of Little Falls, Donna (Bob) Bauer of Paynesville, Allan (Linda) Hoppe of Paynesville, John (Bonnie) Hoppe of Champlin; brothers, Odillo (Marge) Hoppe of New Munich, Eugene (Dorine) Hoppe of New Munich; 24 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and daughter-in-law, Judy Hoppe of Eden Valley.

He was preceded in death by his parents; children, Francis Hoppe and Donald Hoppe; brother and sisters, Nick Hoppe, Agnes Wagner, and Emma Loecken; grandchildren, Christina Hoppe, Francis Hoppe, Jr., Amy Hoppe.

John Kenney
John G. Kenney, 50, a former Paynesville resident now living in Minneapolis, died unexpectedly on Saturday, May 12, 2001, at his home.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Survivors include his parents, Harold (Bill) and Yvonne Kenney, Waite Park; a sister, Linda Sholing, St. Cloud; a brother, Steve Kenney, Minneapolis; and a niece and nephew, Lauren Geppert and Mike Geppert, both of St. Paul.

Linda Teicher
Linda L. Teicher, 45, of Eden Valley, died Thursday, May 10, 2001, at her home after a long battle with cancer.

Funeral services were on Monday, May 14, at the Grace United Methodist Church in Paynesville with Rev. Ric Koehn and Linda Jensen officiating. Burial was in the Paynesville Cemetery in Paynesville.

Honorary pallbearers were: Delane Burr, Terri Bunker, Joan Alken, Emily Kummet, and Lynette Wagner. Pallbearers were: Deb Bengtson, Pam Wilder, Mary Mathies, Renee Ludwig, Linda Arnold, and Deb Libbesmeier.

Linda was born Feb. 5, 1956, in St. Cloud to Allen and Eleanor (Schaefer) Schultz. She grew up in Paynesville on her parents' mink farm. In 1974, she graduated from Paynesville High School. She worked at Animal Fair in Eden Valley and later at Eden Valley-Watkins Elementary School where she was a special education assistant. She married Steve Teicher in 1977 at Grace United Methodist Church in Paynesville. They later divorced. She was a lifelong member of the Grace United Methodist Church where she made two Red Bird Mission trips, and was active on the youth and revision committees.

Survivors include her children: Chad and Lisa of Eden Valley; sister Debra (Dan) Stanger of Paynesville; brothers Nick Schultz of Grove City and Steve (Ruth) Schultz of Paynesville, two nieces and three nephews and three great-nieces.

Preceding her in death were her parents.

Joseph O'Brien
Joseph O'Brien, 83, Eden Valley, died Saturday, May 12, 2001, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 15, at Dingmann's Eden Valley Funeral Chapel. Burial was in the Minnesota State Cemetery, Little Falls.

Joseph was born in Eden Lake Township to James N. and Dorothy Kay (Kottke) O'Brien. He was a heavy equipment operator for Thielen Construction, retiring in 1979. He lived most of his life in Eden Valley and the surrounding area. He was a life member of Litchfield VFW Post 2818, Eden Valley American Legion Post 381, and Eden Valley Sportsmen's Club. He was an army veteran of World War II.

Survivors include his sisters and brothers: Lucille Dold of Cold Spring; Margaret Hurd of Brooklyn Center, Clarence O'Brien of Richmond, Francis O'Brien of Bismarck, N.D., and Lawrence O'Brien, Watkins. He was preceded in death by his brother James and a sister, Dorothy Miller.

Stephan Anderson
Stephan Allen Anderson, 48, of Atwater, died Wednesday, May 9, 2001, at the Rice Memorial Hospital following an extended illness.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 12, at Paynesville Lutheran Church with Rev. David Nelson officiating.

Stephan was born on May 6, 1953, in Glenwood to Stanley and Rosella (Huseth) Anderson. He grew up in Brooten, was baptized at Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Brooten, confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church of Brooten. He was a member of South Lake Johanna Lutheran Church.

Stephan graduated from the Brooten High School and attended the Willmar Vo-Technical College. He made his home in Brooten and later began employment as an over the road truck driver.

On Sept. 19, 1988, Stephan married Kathleen Gatewood in Las Vegas, Nev. They made their home in Atwater. He was most recently employed as a truck driver by Ag Processing in Dawson. He was a member of the Brooten Saddle Club. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Kathleen of Atwater; his mother, Rosella Anderson of Paynesville; two brothers, Gary Anderson of Paynesville, and Kenneth (Carmen) Anderson of Villard; and one sister, Carol (David) Liestman of Paynesville; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Stanley; a brother James, and a sister, Ramona; and his grandparents.

Wilfred Crusoe
Wilfred F. Crusoe, 79, of rural Eden Valley, died Wednesday, May 9, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at the Church of Our Lady Catholic Church in Mannanah. The Rev. Francis Garvey will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery in Mannanah.

Friends may call from 4-9 p.m. on Friday and after 9 a.m. on Saturday at the church in Mannanah. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m. followed by the St. Louis Knights of Columbus Council #3820 at 7:30 p.m.

Wilfred was born May 3, 1922, in Mannanah Township, Meeker County, to Frank and Margaret (Shaw) Crusoe. He lived on and farmed the family farm his entire life. He married Elizabeth Hendrickson on August 26, 1948, at the Church of Our Lady in Mannanah. He was a lifelong member of the Church of Our Lady parish and a member of the St. Louis Knights of Columbus.

The things he loved most in his life were his family, friends, farming, horses, deer hunting, snowmobiling, and fishing.

He is survived by his wife of Eden Valley; children: Marge Wojtanowitz of Richmond and her husband Dick, Francis Wojtanowitz of Eden Valley, Mary Schultz of Atwater and her husband Barry, Lynda Frenchick of Paynesville and her husband George, and Lori of Eden Valley; 15 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and one brother: Harold Crusoe of Forest City, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister: Cecilia (Mrs. John) Ramthun; and sister-in-law: Gertie Crusoe.

Pall bearers will be: Joe Wojtanowitz, Brandon Schultz, Jason Lang, Jason Crusoe, Francis Vossen, Chad Frenchick, and Josh Frenchick.

Larry Miller
Larry H. Miller, 48, of Paynesville, died Monday, May 7, 2001, at the Paynesville Area Hospital. Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. on Friday, May 11, 2001, at the St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. The Reverend Richard Leisen will officiate. Burial will take place in Salem Cemetery in rural Paynesville.

Friends may call from 4-9 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, and after 10 a.m. on Friday at the St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. Parish Prayers will be held at 8 p.m. on Thursday evening at the church.

Larry was born October 21, 1952, in Paynesville, Minnesota, to Harold and Dorothy (Weber) Miller. He graduated from Paynesville High School in 1970. He married Elaine Meagher on July 27, 1974, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. He lived his entire life on the family farm.

Besides farming he has worked at M&M Lumber in Paynesville since 1986. He was a supervisor on the Zion Township Board. He was a member of the Salem United Brethren Church in Zion Township until it closed. Later he became a member of the St. Louis Catholic Church where he served as an usher. He enjoyed spending time with his family, cooking, farming and golfing.

Larry is survived: by his wife Elaine, Paynesville; daughter Katie of Paynesville; sons Rory (and fiance Jennifer Essendrup), Grand Rapids and Adam, Paynesville; sisters Joanne Baggenstoss, Paynesville, Eileen (Allan) Hertzberg, Paynesville and Margaret (Ronnie) Clark, Grove City; and brother Robert, Paynesville.

Preceding him in death are his parents and sister Jacqueline Miller.

Mary Lou Phillipp
Mary Lou Phillipp, 53, of Paynesville, died Friday, May 4, 2001, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud.

A memorial service was held on Tuesday, May 8, at the St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. The Rev. Richard Leisen officiated. Entombment was in the St. Louis Parish Mausoleum in Paynesville.

Mary Lou was born Aug. 7, 1947, in Albany to Joseph and Veronica (Rockets) Klein. She graduated from Paynesville High School in 1965. She married Eldred Phillipp on June 4, 1966, at St. Louis Catholic Church. She lived in the Paynesville area all of her married life. She was a member of the St. Louis Catholic Church, St. Louis Family Aid, and the Paynesville American Legion Auxiliary Post 271.

Survivors include her husband Eldred of Paynesville; children: Tim (Mary) of Eden Valley, Tammy (Jon) Schmidt of Sartell, Tom of Waite Park, Tina Phillipp of Paynesville, and Theresa Phillipp of Sartell; six grandchildren; and three brothers: Virgil Klein of Paynesville, Melvin Klein of Austin, Texas, and Eugene Klein of Minneapolis.

Preceding her in death were her parents and seven brothers and sisters.