Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 8, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville. The Rev. Richard Leisen officiated. Burial took place in the St. Louis Parish Cemetery in Paynesville.

Olivia was born on Sept. 2, 1907, in Foxhome, N.D., to Gerhard and Appolonia (Schoenborn) Dingman. She married Earl Schmidt on March 4, 1928, in St. Cloud, Minn. She lived in the Paynesville area all her married life. Her life centered around taking care of her dependent daughter, Dianne, for 51 years. She was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church and the Paynesville Pacesetters. She found enjoyment in pleasing her grandchildren.

Olivia is survived by her children, Donald (Sharon) of Paynesville, Jeanette (Bill) Noyes of Redfield, S.D., Joyce (Gerald) Drange of Grove City, Lawrence of Paynesville, Eugene (Sharon) of Paynesville, Thomas (Carole) of Forest Lake, Dianne Schmidt of Paynesville, and James (Betty) of Eden Valley; 21 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; brother, Clarence (Mildred) Dingman of Morris; sisters, Loretta Flynn of St. Cloud, Catherine Nierenhausen of Hugo, and Dorothy (Mike) Bailen of Falcon Heights; and sister-in-law, Betty Host of St. Cloud.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Earl in 1991; daughter, Delores Schmidt in 1933; grandson, Don Schmidt in 1998; sister, Eleanor Maanum; and brothers, Carl, Leander, and Joseph Dingman.

Richard Mathiowetz
Richard J. Mathiowetz, 64, of Leavenworth, Minn., and a summer resident of Lake Koronis, died at 1 a.m. on Oct. 31, 1999, in his sleep of a massive heart attack.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. at the Japanese Martyrs Catholic Church in Leavenworth, Minn. Officiating at the service will be Father Mark Mallak and Father Joe Steinbeisser.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 3-9 p.m., and Thursday, Nov. 4, from 7:30 a.m.-noon at the Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye.

Richard Joseph Mathiowetz was born in Sleepy Eye, Minn., on Oct. 23, 1935, the son of Martin and Louisa (Moldan) Mathiowetz. He was raised in Leavenworth, attended District 12 school in Leavenworth Township, and graduated from St. Mary's Catholic High School in 1953. Richard enjoyed playing baseball for the Leavenworth baseball team.

He married Mary Lou Koll on Oct. 30, 1956, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Morgan, Minn. They made their home in Leavenworth.

He was a supporter of Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, the Paynesville Sportsmen's Club, the Koronis Lake Association, a 26-year member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, and was active in many Paynesville area projects. He was a philanthropist, orchestrating many charitable projects.

He was on the board of directors for the Koronis Lake Association, the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota, the Highway Construction Industry Council, and the Minnesota Agri-Growth Council. He was also affiliated with the Minnesota Asphalt Pavers Association, the Concrete Pavers Association, and many others.

Richard began his career at the age of 18 for the Martin Mathiowetz Construction Company, where he was most recently the chairman of the board. He worked there for most of 40 years.

He and his wife, Mary Lou, celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary on Oct. 30, 1999.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; and five children, Brian (Ronda), Glen (Lana), Dean (Judy), Julie (Paul) Anderson, all of Sleepy Eye, and Suzann (Troy) Hendricks of Bemidji; 15 grandchildren; his mother, Louisa Mathiowetz of Sleepy Eye; siblings, Roman of St. Paul, Rosemary (James) Rathman of Comfrey, Rita (Patrick) Morgan of Elmore, Reinhold (Connie) of Marshall, and Alma Mathiowetz of New Ulm; uncles; aunts; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Martin; one son, Leon, at age 19 in 1979; brother, Rudy; and several in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

Tom Knutson
Tom Knutson, 21, of Paynesville, died Monday, Nov. 1, 1999 from injuries suffered in an automobile accident near St. Cloud.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at Crystal Hills Assembly of God Church near Paynesville, with the Rev. Denny Curran officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held in the Paynesville Cemetery.

Tom Knutson was born on Aug. 29, 1978, in Paynesville, the son of Kathy Knutson. Tom grew up in Paynesville and graduated from Paynesville Area High School in 1997.

On June 20, 1998, Tom was married to Sara Warmbold at Crystal Hills Assembly of God Church.

Following their marriage, they moved to Sioux Falls, S.D., where Tom worked as a corrections officer at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. In July 1999 they moved to St. Cloud. Tom was currently working at C and D Granite in St. Nicholas. He was a member of the River of Life Assembly of God Church in Cold Spring, where he and his wife enjoyed working with the youth.

Tom is survived by his wife, Sara of St. Cloud; mother, Kathy of Paynesville; maternal grandmother, Beatrice Schwandt of Paynesville; sister, Danelle (Steve) Norris of Melrose; three nieces; and one nephew.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Norman Schwandt.

Daniel Lounsbury
Daniel Lounsbury, 49, of Paynesville, died Monday, Nov. 1, 1999, at the Paynesville Area Hospital in Paynesville.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4, at Nordland Lutheran Church in rural Paynesville, with the Rev. Keith Ainsley officiating. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Johnson Funeral Home in Paynesville and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held in the church cemetery.

Daniel Darel Lounsbury was born Oct. 1, 1950, in St. Cloud. He was the son of Darel and Ruth (Layman) Lounsbury. Daniel was baptized and confirmed at Nordland Lutheran church, where he attended all his life.

He grew up on the family farm near Paynesville and graduated from Paynesville High School in 1968. Following high school, he attended the Job Corps Service in Green Bay, Wis., for one year. Daniel worked at West Central Industries in Willmar, Trinity Steel in New London, and other businesses in the area. He volunteered for the Fare For All (Fare Share) in Paynesville. He also helped his father with work on the farm.

Daniel will be remembered for the love he had for his family. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings.

Daniel is survived by his father, Darel of Paynesville; sisters, Gretchen (Jim) Beach of Spokane, Wash., and Karen (Jeff) Roos of Paynesville; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; mother, Ruth, in November 1993; and sister, Julie, in February 1993.

Alex Gordhamer
Alex Gordhamer, 75, of Spicer, died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Peace Lutheran Church in New London, with the Rev. Duane Semmler officiating. The interment was held at East Norway Lake Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials to Rice Hospice are preferred.

Axel ³Alex² Alexander Gordhamer Jr. was born on July 21, 1924, in Litchfield, the son of Byrdie B. (Aasen) and Axel A. Gordhamer Sr. He grew up in Litchfield, Willmar, and Paynesville, graduating from Paynesville High School. He then moved to Minneapolis, where he worked for an investment company, selling stocks and bonds. He was later transferred to Seattle, Wash., and then California. After his retirement in about 1978, he returned to Spicer to live at the family home.

He is survived by two sisters, Virginia Anderson of Spicer and Evangeline Grismer of Apple Valley; one nephew and seven nieces; and other relatives.

Alex was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Dale in 1978; and two brothers-in-law.

Clara Arnold
Services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 1, at Assumption Catholic Church in Eden Valley for Clara E. Arnold, 86, of Eden Valley, who died Thursday, Oct. 25, 1999, at her home.

The Rev. Virgil Braun officiated. Burial was in the parish cemetery.

Clara was born on March 7, 1913, in Conway, Arkansas to George and Clara (Nistler) Weber. She married Polycarp Arnold on June 23, 1931, at Assumption Catholic Church in Eden Valley. They farmed and lived in the Eden Valley area most of their married life. She was a member of Assumption Catholic Church, Assumption Christian Mothers, Eden Valley Senior Citizens, and Eden Valley American Legion Post 381 Auxiliary.

Survivors include her husband, Polycarp of Eden Valley; children, Clara Sheierl of Paynesville, Mary Ann Houle of Newport, Frank (Deborah) of Parkers Prairie, Lorraine (Clarence) O'Brien of Richmond, Melvin (Lucille) of Forest Lake, Donna (Eugene) Schlangen of Richmond, and Polycarp Jr. (Modesta) of Tucson, Ariz.; daughters-in-law, Bonnie of Riverside, Calif., and Rita of Blaine; siblings, Roman Weber of Watkins, Leo Weber of Moorhead, Helen Kruger of Waite Park, Harry Weber of Richmond, and Regina Eggen of Ada; 37 grandchildren; 50 great-grand-children; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sons, David and Louis Arnold; sons-in-law, William Scheierl and Bill Houle; and brothers, Al and John Weber.