Obituary

Steven Harshman, age 62 of Northfield, MN and formerly of Menomonie, passed away Monday, July 14, 2008 at his home in Bridgewater Township.

Visitation will be Friday July 18th from 10:00am -12 noon at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield. Graveside Services with military honors will follow at 1:00 pm at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Steven Michael Harshman was born December 12, 1945 in Menomonie, WI, son of Verne and Mollie (DeLine) Harshman. He was raised in Menomonie and graduated from high school there. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1964 serving a tour of duty in Vietnam and upon his discharge in 1968 had reached the rank of Sergeant. He furthered his education with three years of Law School. Steven was involved with the 4th. U.S. Army Intelligence Agency

Following his service, Steve and Cindy owned a beef ranch and did logging and farming in Wisconsin.

Joyce Johnson, age 87 of Northfield, passed away Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at the Northfield Care Center. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the Northfield Retirement Chapel with the Reverend Diane Goulson, officiating. Interment will take place in the Oaklawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 18th. from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield and on Saturday one hour prior to the service at the Retirement Center.

Joyce Christine Johnson was born October 17, 1920 in Webster County, Iowa, daughter of Oscar and Effie (Bodell) Anderson. Upon graduation from Burnside High School she attended business school in Des Moines, IA. Following her marriage to her high school sweet heart, Norman Alexander Johnson, they farmed in the Calendar, IA area where their 3 daughters were born.

Audrey Anne Moberg, age 60, of Northfield, passed away in her home on July 16, 2008 ending her four-year battle with breast cancer.

Audrey was born in Northfield April 16, 1948 to Donald and Eunice (Lilla) Lynch. She attended St. Dominic School through 6th grade and graduated from Northfield High School in 1966. Four years later, on April 4, 1970 she married James Moberg at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN. James and Audrey made their home in Northfield and were blessed with four daughters. Over the years she worked in a variety of different positions, none more valued than staying home and raising her daughters. In 1990, Audrey took a position at St. Olaf College in the Advancement Division. She worked there for over 18 years, until just weeks before her passing.

Throughout her life, Audrey pursued numerous activities. From sewing to baking, knitting to gardening, she loved providing for her family and others.

Audrey Moberg, age 60 of Northfield, passed away Wednesday, July 16, 2008) at her home. Funeral Services will be 2:00 pm Sunday, July 20 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Northfield with burial at the Oaklawn Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 4-8:00 pm at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield.

Audrey Moberg is survived by husband Jim; mother Eunice Lynch of Northfield; daughters Jennie Moberg and husband Anthony Pierre of Northfield, Carrie Wilder and husband Ted of Savage, Cathie Skluzacek and husband Chad of Nerstrand, Laurie Moberg of St Paul; grandchildren Nathan and Megan Wilder, and Caden Skluzacek; sisters Elaine Lynch of Land O’ Lakes, Florida, LaVonne (Rick) Hangen of Valrico, Florida; brothers Kevin (Monica) Lynch, Gary (Susie) Lynch, and Ken Lynch all of Northfield; mother-in-law Ordella Moberg of Northfield; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral arrangements by the Bierman Funeral Home of Northfield.

Doris Gross, age 65 of Dundas, MN and formerly of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away Monday, July 7, 2008 at the Long Term Care Center of the Northfield Hospital. Funeral Services will be 11:30 am Saturday, July 11th at Lincoln Memorial Chapel with a reception to follow and burial at the Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 2-4:00pm at the Lincoln Memorial Chapel

Doris Marie Gross was born September 9, 1942 in Beatrice, NE, daughter of Frank and Dorothy (Routh) Larsen. She was raised in Beatrice and following graduation from Beatrice High School she began her secondary education. She interrupted her college education when she was united in marriage to James Edward Gross on March 17, 1962 at the 1st Christian Church in Beatrice.

William Ryan, age 88 of Northfield, passed away Monday, July 7, 2008 at his home. Funeral Services will be 11:00 am Wednesday, July 9th at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield with burial at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. Visitation Wednesday 1 hour prior to Services at the Bierman Funeral Home.

William Montague Ryan was born October 3, 1919 in Erie, Pennsylvania, son of Clyde and Belle (Williams) Ryan. He was raised in Erie and is where he also attended school. When WWII began he enlisted into the coast guard. Following his discharge he began in sales as a manufactures representative for bar and restaurant equipment-one of his large companies was Hobart Equipment. In the early 1950’s he moved to Minneapolis, MN to his new sales territory and is where he met his future wife, Virginia Waldron, and they were married in April of 1954.

Kelvin Kay Moeller, age 71 of Northfield, passed away on Monday July 7, 2008 at his home in rural Northfield, after a year long battle with small-cell lung cancer. He was surrounded with his wife and three daughters at the time of his death. Funeral Services will be 1:30 pm Monday, July 14th at the United Methodist Church in Northfield. Visitation will be Sunday, July 13th from 4-8:00 pm at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield.

Phyllis Clifford- Albers, age 87, of Northfield, died on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at her home.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Church of Christ (Congregational) in Northfield 300 Union St. Northfield, with the Reverend Sandra Johnson, officiating. Interment will take place in the Oaklawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be at the Bierman Funeral Home 1316. South Division St. Northfield on Monday, June 23, 2008 from 4 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Thelma Eleanore Somers was born April 1, 1919, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Edward R.V. and Edith (Johnson) Carlson. She graduated from Omaha Technical High School in 1937 and after her education worked as a housekeeper. She married Frederick D.S. Somers November 7, 1940. After living in several communities in the Midwest they settled in Bellevue, Nebraska. After their divorce in 1962 Thelma continued her education and became an LPN. In 1974, she moved to Los Angeles where she spent her life in Scientology.  In 2002, she moved to Northfield to be near her son.

Thelma was an talented seamstress, cook, gardener and communicator. She instilled in her family a legacy of creativity and a a love of the outdoors.

Thelma Somers, age 89 of Northfield, passed away Monday afternoon, June 16, 2008, at the Three Links Care Center.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Monday, June 23, 2008, at the Three Links Care Center Chapel. Interment will be in Valley Grove Cemetery, rural Nerstrand. Visitation will be at the Three Links Chapel on Monday one hour prior to the service.

Survivors include 5 children and their spouses: Fred and Avis Somers of Northfield, Jeannie Jo and Joe Murray of Lisbon, New York, Nancy Lowe of Clearwater, Florida, Elizabeth and Richard Cleigh of Mead, Washington, Kimberly and Joe Ryan of Waterloo, Nebraska; 18 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and one brother.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.

Reverend Clifford John Swanson, age 87, college pastor at St. Olaf College in Northfield MN from 1954 to 1981, passed away June 12, 2008, in Northfield. He was preceded in death by parents, Algot and Esther (Johnson) Swanson of Cannon Falls, brother Glenn Swanson, and infant great-grandson, Leif Phillips. He is survived by wife, June Anderson Swanson, sons John Swanson (Paula) and Rodney Johnson (Marcia), daughters Maren Swanson (Rob Smith) and Kristi Holden (Barry), grandchildren Zachary Swanson, Gina Swanson Phillips (Patrick), Erik Swanson, Ryan Johnson, Christopher Swanson Reigstad, Morgan Lindsay Swanson Smith, John (Jack) Malcolm Smith, Zachary Holden, Blythe Holden (Doug Trussler), Alexandra Holden, Blake Holden, and Kyle Holden, and great-grandchildren Iver and August Phillips.

Mary Francetta Hough, age 58, of Northfield, died on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at the Northfield Long Term Care Center from cancer.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 2:00p.m. at the Northfield Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall with David Arlo as the minister presiding. A reception will follow the service.

Mary Francetta Hough was born on May 3, 1950 in Rochester, New York. When Mary moved to Northfield she resided at Koester Court and lived there until the fire. Mary retired a number of years ago due to health reasons.

Mary is survived by many friends including very special friends, David and Jeanette Arlo of Cannon Falls.

Arrangements by the Bierman Funeral Home of Northfield.

Reverend Clifford Swanson, age 88 of Northfield and Chaplain of St Olaf College for 27 years, passed away Thursday, June 12, 2008 in Northfield.

Funeral Services will be 2:00pm Monday, June 16 at St John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery in Northfield. Visitation will be Monday at the Church 1 hour prior to Services.

Clifford Swanson is survived by his wife June; daughters Maren (Rob Smith) Swanson of Apple Valley, Kristi (Barry) Holden of Northfield; sons John (Paula) Swanson of Bismarck, North Dakota, Rodney (Marcia) Johnson of Apple Valley; 12 grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren.

Arrangements by the Bierman Funeral Home of Northfield.

Michael Stearns, age 37 of Farmington and formerly of Northfield, passed away Monday, June 9, 2008 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis from complications of cancer. Funeral Services will be 11:00 am Friday, June 13th at Valley Christian Church in Rosemount with burial at Riverside Cemetery near Brainerd, MN. Visitation Thursday from 4-8:00 pm at the Bierman Funeral Home of Northfield and at the Church on Friday one hour prior to Services.

Michael Ray Stearns was born December 18, 1970 in Northfield, MN, the youngest child of Marvin and Janet (Gifford) Stearns. He was raised with his family in Waterford and was baptized and confirmed at the Assembly of God Church in Northfield. He began school at Greenvale Elementary and graduated from Northfield High School in 1989.

Gretchen Mae Rahl was born May 20, 1937, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Roy and Lorraine (Esterly) Eilitz. She was raised in Minneapolis and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1955. She married Arlan Rahl on November 16, 1956 at Christ English Lutheran in North Minneapolis. After marriage Gretchen stayed at home with the children, and they lived in Minneapolis until moving to Burnsville in 1967. They moved to Webster in 1992.

Gretchen was a member of Solor Lutheran Church. She enjoyed gardening, mowing the lawn, children, reading, talking on the phone, and spending time with her family and friends. She was strong, nurturing and dearly loved her husband and family as they loved her.