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Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Sunday, April 27, 2008

Obituaries for Sunday, April 27, 2008

By Tribune staff

Marian Halverson

HARMONY, Minn. — Marian Halverson, 87, passed away Friday, April 25, 2008, at Harmony Health Care in Harmony, Minn. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, at the Nativity Catholic Church in Harmony. Friends may call from 5 until 7 p.m. on Monday evening at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony, and also one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in rural Canton, Minn.

Marian Agnes Halverson was born May 19, 1920, at Har-mony, the daughter of Patrick and Mayme (McCabe) Walsh. She attended the rural school and graduated valedictorian of her class in Harmony. She graduated from the Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester in 1947.

On June 3, 1947, Marian was united in marriage to Oliver Halverson. They farmed near Harmony for 17 years. In 1964, the family moved to Marshall and two years later moved to the Twin Cities area. In both towns, Marian worked as a nurse in local hospitals. They also had purchased the grocery store in Racine, Minn., which they operated for a number of years. They then retired to La Crosse for 17 years, eventually returning to Harmony.

Marian’s interests included cooking, baking, antiques and history. Her children and her grandchildren were a special delight. She was also active in the local Catholic churches where she lived.

She is survived by her husband, Oliver of Harmony; her children, Chuck (Joan) Halverson of Elk River, Minn., Mary Beth (Gary) Miller of Ham Lake, Minn., Larry (Sue) Halverson of Las Vegas, Emma Jean (Butch) Bollig of Austin, Minn., and Philip (Ann) Halverson of Byron, Minn.; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Marian was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, Harold, Leo, Ray, and Jerry Walsh; and three sisters, Eileen Gaster, Helen Scherer and Phyllis Mullen.

Robert L. Haugen

SPARTA, Wis. — Robert L. Haugen, 63, of Sparta died Thursday, April 24, 2008, in his home. Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta. Burial with full military honors provided by the VFW Post 2112 will be in Portland Lutheran Ceme-tery, rural Portland, Wis. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be offered at www.lanham-miller.com.

Madonna C. Loken

HOUSTON, Minn. — Madonna C. Loken, 91, died Friday, April 25, 2008, at Valley View Nursing Home in Houston. A funeral Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Houston. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Houston. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Tuesday at the church, where the rosary will be recited at 9:30 am. Hoff Funeral Homes-Houston Chapel will be assisting the family with arrangements.

Roy Meinhart

CASHTON, Wis. — Roy Meinhart, 82, died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. Funeral arrangements to be announced. The Torkelson Funeral Home in Cashton will be asissting the family with arrangements. Online condolences available at www.torkelsonfuneral home.com.

Dolores Murphy

SOLDIERS GROVE, Wis. — Dolores Murphy, 75, of Soldiers Grove passed away Friday, April 25, 2008, at the Sannes Skogdalen Nursing Home in Soldiers Grove. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by the Sime Funeral Home in Readstown. Condolences may be sent to simefuneralforum.com.

Norah Evangelyne Paulsen

VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. — Norah Evangelyne Paulsen, 22 months, of Vadnais Heights died suddenly Wednesday, April 23, 2008.

Beloved daughter, sister and angel. Norah is survived by her parents, Kristi (originally from Tomah, Wis.) and Andrew Paulsen of Vadnais Heights; a brother, Ethan, at home; maternal grandparents, Carol Harmon and Tim Harmon, both of Tomah, Wis.; paternal grandparents, William and Marguritte Paulsen of Luverne, Minn.; great-grandmothers, Ruth Eirschele of Tomah and Fae Lewis of Downing, Wis.; aunts, uncles and cousins; and many friends.

Funeral services will be at 5 p.m. Monday, April 28, at Calvary Church, 4604 Greenhaven Drive, White Bear Township, MN 55127, with visitation one hour before the service at the church. Memorials may be sent to the church. Assisting the family is Holcomb-Henry-Boom Funeral Home, 515 Hwy. 96, Shoreview, Minn., (651) 482-7606. www. holcombhenryboom.com.

Charles Junior ‘Charlie’ Raymond

MADISON/LA CROSSE — Charlie Raymond, age 88, died peacefully April 24, 2008, in Madison. Charlie was born in La Crosse on April 16, 1920, to Charles and Bessie (Aiken) Raymond. He graduated from Central High School and attended UW-La Crosse. Charlie joined the armed forces at the outbreak of World War II, and served in the Army Air Corps in the South Pacific in reconnaissance. On April 27, 1946, Charlie married the “pretty girl” of his life, Margaret (Peg) Ann Kelly, and they were blessed with six children.

In 1952, Charlie and his brother Loring formed Raymond Brothers, which focused on real estate development in the La Crosse and Onalaska area. During their career, Raymond Brothers built over 4,000 homes, apartments and commercial developments. They took pride in building homes, not just houses. He was a founding member of the Bank of Onalaska (currently M&I Bank), serving on the board for many years. Charlie was also involved in many civic activities promoting the La Crosse area business growth. Charlie and Peg “retired” and drove their “Big Bus” around the country. The highlight was an eight-week trip through Alaska. In his “retirement,” Charlie and Peg relocated to Madison, where he was a consultant to The Raymond Group.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Peg; and their six children, Jeff (Judi) Raymond, Middleton, Wis., James Raymond, Stuart, Fla., Pat (Jerry) Muehr, La Crosse, Sude (Steve) Tanke, Onalaska, Wis., Marikaye (Bob) Schweitzer-Middleton, and John (Gera) Raymond, Madison. Charlie was proud to be “Bapa” to his 13 grandchildren; Annie Raymond, Chrissie (Mike) Hensley, C.J. Raymond, Gretchen (Tom) Coleman, Ben (Cristina) Muehr, Leah Tanke, Sam Tanke, Emily Tanke (fiancée Sean Mortenson), John Robert (fiancée Casey Tolle) Schweitzer, Joe Schweitzer, Jay Schweitzer, Maggie Raymond and Molly Raymond; and his four great-grandchildren, Jack Thomas and Andrew Coleman, Carter Tolle and Allison Muehr.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Jesse and Bessie Raymond; and brothers, Harold and Loring.

Charlie will be remembered for his love of family and fellow man, his integrity, his passion for his work, his compassion and his zest for life. Charlie’s passions included car racing, Badgers and Packers football, extensive traveling in the “Big Bus,” the circus, clean cars, car rides and of course, a toddy and a steak, especially with his lifetime friend, “Wally.” Charlie enjoyed good times with countless friends in La Crosse, Melbourne Beach, Fla., and Madison.

The family would like to thank Dr. Barbara Stowe-Carpenter and her team for the many years of medical expertise, and the staffs of Attic Angels Place and UW-Hospital and Clinics. The family also expresses their deepest thanks and admiration to Dariusz Bednarski (friend/driver/caregiver) for his humorous banter, daily devotion and care. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Peg and Charlie Raymond Family Scholarship Fund, Coulee Catholic Schools, Aquinas High School, 521 South 13th St., La Crosse, WI 54601.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 29, at Blessed Sacrament Church,130 Losey Blvd. S., La Crosse, with the Rev. Bernard McGarty officiating. There will be a visitation from 9:30 a.m. to time of service. Burial will follow at the Catholic Cemetery. A celebration of Charlie’s life will follow. Blaschke and Schneider Funeral Homes is handling the arrangements, 1501 West Ave. La Crosse, WI (608) 782-1346.

Avalda Becker Wildermuth

MELBOURNE, Fla./EDINA, Minn. — Avalda Becker Wildermuth, 94, of Melbourne and formerly of Edina, passed away Sunday, April 20, 2008, in Melbourne.

She was preceded in death by husband, Bernard, and brother, Paul.

She is survived by three sisters, Jenora (Edwin) Klawitter, Ramona Thompson and Katherine (Arthur) Blank, all of West Melbourne, Fla.; a brother, William (Joann) Becker of Columbus, Ind., and formerly of La Crosse; a niece, Evelyn Wildermuth of Edina; and other nieces and nephews.

Avalda was very active in her church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday at 11 a.m., with visitation one-half hour prior to the service at Our Lady of Grace Church, 5071 Eden Ave., Edina. Private interment will be in Fort Snelling Cemetery in Minnesota.

Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel (952-920-3996) is assisting the family.