Jill Barnum

Jill Barnum, 59, of Minneapolis and formerly of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006, after long suffering with melanoma.
She was born in Key West, FL, and spent her childhood in the Philippines. She later attended school in Fergus Falls where she was an accomplished musician and theater performer. Jill graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1966 and this past summer attended her high school 40th reunion.
She attended college and received her doctorate in 1978. For 28 years she taught at the University of Minnesota where she was Horace T.-Moise Distinguished Professor of Teaching. She received the 2006 College of Continued Education Distinguished Teaching Award. Among her numerous scholarly works are three books on Herman Melville and the literature of the sea. She also served as the Executive Secretary of the Melville Society. An active member of the Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Jill enjoyed playing the flute and traveling, including teaching special sessions in Ireland and Vietnam.
She is survived by dear sons, Benjamin and Nicholas Gidmark; their father, John Gidmark; beloved brother, James Bamum of Cincinnati, and aunt and uncle, Russell and Vivian Shol. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and June Barnum.

Tom Blondeau

Tom Blondeau, 58, of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, October 1, 2006, on a beautiful fall day at the duck slough with his dogs at his side. He was born Oct. 12, 1947, in Fergus Falls, the son of Charles “Buster” and Opal (Hamann) Blondeau. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Elizabeth where he served as an altar boy. Tom attended school at District 1399 in Elizabeth until the eighth grade. He graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1966 and graduated from Moorhead State University with an art education degree. Tom was an accomplished artist, excelling in watercolor and ceramics.
On July 24, 1971, Tom and Jean Mittelstadt were married at Church of Peace United Methodist Church in Fergus Falls. Tom spent his entire teaching career at Fergus Falls Middle and Senior High Schools instilling his love of nature and art in his students. He took great pride in organizing the annual spring art festival that showcased his students’ talents.
Tom was an avid sportsman who displayed a great love and respect for the outdoors. Aside from his new grandson, nothing brought a bigger smile to his face than a stringer of sunfish, a grouse in the bag and a good joke at the weekly Friday “meetings” he hosted. The most recent highlights in Tom’s life were the birth of his first grandson, Adrian, and seeing his son, Alex, starting his new business.
He is survived by his wife, Jean; son, Alex (Megan) Blondeau, and favorite grandson, Adrian, all of Rice, MN; his mother, Opal Blondeau of Fergus Falls; sisters: colleen (Stephen) Waller of Alexandria, Debra of Minneapolis, and Rebecca (Lucien Mesilas_) Blondeau of New Jersey; brothers: Charles (Deb) and Steven of Fergus Falls, and Jim (*Bonnie) of Ashby; mother-in-law, Clarice Mittelstadt of Fergus Falls; sister-in-law, Marcia (Gerald) Kraut of North Oaks, MN; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews; and his canine companions: Ty, Lil, Ran and Harry. He was preced in death by his father, Buster Blondeau.

David Molter

David James Molter, 55, of Fergus Falls, died Friday, March 12, 2004, at Lake Region Hospital in Fergus Falls.
He was born August 10, 1948, at Wright Hospital in Fergus Falls, to James and Margaret (Paulson) Molter. He attended grade school at District #214 country school and graduated from Fergus Falls High School. After graduation, he attended and graduated from Wahpeton State School of Science with an electrical technician degree. He then went to work for Edling Electric in Fergus Falls.
In 1970, he joined the United States Navy, where he was stationed in many locations throughout the world. While serving in the Navy, he married Delfina (Myra) on June 21, 1975, in the Philippines. After 22 years of service he retired from the Navy on July 31, 1993. Following his retirement from the Navy, he worked several different jobs through the years. He was a former member of the American Legion, V.F.W. and F.R.A. He also enjoyed spending his time collecting cars, tractors, clocks and stamps.
He is survived by his wife, Myra, of Fergus Falls; two sons, Raymond, of Anoka, and Ryan, of Moorhead; one daughter, MylaJoy, of Yankton, SD; two granddaughters, Autumn Mae and Gabrielle Joy; one sister, Kathy (Gene) Farstad, of Bismarck, ND; two brothers, Jerry (Vicki) Molter, of Ashby, and Steve (Liann) Molter, of Onamia, MN; and one sister-in-law, Barb Hovland, of Rothsay. Also surviving are three aunts: Carolyn (Bob) Engelhart, of Fergus Falls, Clarice Paulson, of MO, and Pearl Eckert,of Perham; and six nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Dennis.

Saying hello, saying good-by

Dianne Brekke (Fergus Falls), Bonnie Hanneman Lonbaken (Keller, TX), Roger Brist (Tyler, TX), Karen Laugen Spielman (Fargo), and Jill Barnum (formerly of Northfield, Jill passed away October 3).

Diane Sandberg-Laipple

Diane Marie Sandberg-Laipple, 48, of Prescott, died Saturday, Aug. 9, 1997, at her home after a six-year battle with cancer. She was born Sept. 18, 1948, in Fergus Falls, Minn., to Ray and Ruby Sandberg. Mrs. Laipple graduated from Fergus Falls High School and went to a vocational school in Alexandria, MN, majoring in interior design. She worked at Kordel Furniture Store in Fergus Falls as their interior decorator and taught at a vocational school in East Grand Forks, MN. In 1976, Mrs. Laipple moved to Prescott Valley with her parents to open a family restaurant and, once established, she helped Mayo's Furniture open in Prescott as its interior designer. She still helped at Sandberg's Family Restaurant where she met her future husband, Bill Laipple. They were married in 1979 on Christmas Eve. She was active in the First Baptist Church of Prescott, donating her time and talents wherever needed--from nursery work to calligraphy--and she was always dedicated to her family. She is survived by her husband, Bill Laipple; a son, Jeremy; daughter, Julie; stepfather and mother, Bob and Ruby Smith of Prescott; brothers, Wayne and Scott Sandberg of Prescott Valley, and her twin, Dale Sandberg of Fulda, MN. She was preceded in death by her father, Ray Sandberg, in 1985.

Everett Westby

Everett Westby, 27, Fergus Falls Route 1, died Thursday, Sept. 26, 1974, at Lake Region Hospital. He was born December 21, 1946, in Fergus Falls, a son of John and Elsie Westby. After graduating from High School he spent four years in the Air Force. He then went to work for Becklund-Rian Oil Co. of Fergus Falls. He married Ruth Steussy Oct. 7, 1972, in Fergus Falls. Survivinig are his wife; his mother, Fergus Falls; a brother, John, Fridley.

David Stuessy added the following information: About a year and a half after Everett married Dave's sister Ruth, Everett "started having trouble with his knee. Turned out it was cancer, so he went to Mayo and they took the leg off. Thinking things were better, he was just getting good on his peg-leg when it showed up again. We lost him [that] fall."