Remembering our Ten Mile Lake Friends...2003

John A. Gardeen

John A. Gardeen passed away on November 14, 2003. He is survived by his wife, Martha Ann; three sons: Gary, David, and Scott; one daughter, Karen "Kiki" Gloude; nine grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. All of the family members live in the Minneapolis area.

John was born in Minneapolis on June 8, 1928. He graduated from high school there and eventually became president of the Consolidated Electric Co. of Minneapolis. He was an active member of First Covenant Church in Minneapolis. John and his family have been coming to Ten Mile Lake for over 50 years. In the mid-1990's, they bought property from Bud and Seetta Richardson and built a home there for themselves. He loved the lake and loved to see his children and grandchildren enjoying it. John and his wife Martha spent summers at Ten Mile Lake and winters in Florida.

(Information provided by Martha Ann Gardeen.)

Pauline I. Bagenstos

CLEAR LAKE - Pauline I. Bagenstos, 83, 3119 Main Ave., died Sunday (Nov. 9, 2003) at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Congregational Church, 205 W. 10th Ave. N., with the Rev. Thomas Healey officiating. Burial will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St. in Clear Lake, with a Beta Sigma Phi service at 5 p.m.

The family of Pauline I. Bagenstos has requested that memorial contributions may be given to the First Congregational Church, Clear Lake, Iowa, Union Congregational Church, Hackensack, Minn., or to Hospice of North Iowa in her memory.

Pauline was born Jan. 6, 1920, in LaPorte City, Benton County, Iowa, the daughter of Earl S. and Catherine (Wilson) Young. She graduated from LaPorte City High School in 1938 and attended business college in Waterloo.

She married Earle Bagenstos March 9, 1944, in San Antonia, Texas. Pauline and her husband owned the Watertower Paint & Repair Co. where she was the stenographer and bookkeeper for five years.

She enjoyed fishing, hunting with her husband, loved nature, as well as traveling.

Pauline was an active member of P.E.O. Chapter LE, 21st Century Club, Beta Sigma Phi, Clear Lake Women's Club, and the Clear Lake Christian Women's Club. She was also a 50 member of Thistle Rebekah Lodge.

Pauline was a current member of the First Congregational Church in Clear Lake.

Pauline is survived by her sister, Emma Turner and her husband Warren, of Hudson; 10 nieces and nephews; as well as other relatives and many special friends.

Pauline is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Earle in 1967; three brothers, George, Russell and Robert; and a sister, Frances Kruse.

[Information from the website of the Mason City Globe Gazette, Mason City, Iowa.]

Mary Ann Schmidt

Mary Ann Schmidt, 75, of Hackensack, MN and formerly of Ames, Iowa, died unexpectedly Thursday, October 23, 2003 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Park Rapids.

She was born October 9, 1928 in Ames Iowa, to H.L. "Lafe" and Florence (Storms) Young. She attended public schools in Ames, but graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa, with the class of 1946. She attended Iowa State University in Ames where she studied home economics, and earned her bachelor's degree in 1950. She married Malcolm Schmidt in Des Moines on August 19, 1951. She dedicated herself to homemaking and raising her three children. She returned to Iowa State University in the mid 1970s where she earned her master's degree in education. She worked as a teacher and guidance counselor and went on to become Dean of Students at Ames High School until her retirement in the early 1990s. Upon retirement she moved to Ten Mile Lake near Hackensack.

Mary Ann had first come to the lake when she was one year old, and never missed a summer after that. The original family cabin at the NW corner of the lake was called "The Knoll," after the president's residence at Iowa State University; her father was the president there at one time. ("The Knoll" is now the Becher family home.)

Mary Ann was active in PEO and was a participant in several local bridge clubs, the Ten Mile Lake Association, the Tianna Women's Golf League in Walker, and the Union Congregational Church in Hackensack.

She is survived by her long-time companion, Karl Reuland of Hackensack; two daughters: Sarah Schmidt of Hackensack and Susan (Dan Krivit) of St. Paul; one son, Steve (Melissa) of Olathe, Kansas; four grandchildren: Christopher and Michael of Olathe and Joe and Jenna of St. Paul; two sisters: Gretchen Bush of Las Vegas, NM and Norma Becher of Bellbrook, OH; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Memorial services were held October 28 at Union Congregational Church, the Rev. Michael Small officiating. A memorial fund has been established at the church in her name.

(Information from the Walker Pilot Independent, October 30, 2003.)

Douglas A. Kohl

Douglas A. Kohl, age 79, of Osseo, MN, died October 17, 2003. He was preceded in death by his parents, Amy and Wes Kohl and by his sister, Dorothy Prince. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Marian; a daughter, Nancy Kohl; a son, Jim (Jan) Kohl, and other relatives and friends. A memorial service was held October 22 at Brooklyn United Methodist Church, Brooklyn Center.

Doug graduated from the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950. After a 15-year career in applied science, he left the industry and established the Electronics Technician program at Anoka-Hennepin Technical College, then chaired the department for 20 years. He was a 50-year member of the Winslow Lewis Masonic Lodge #125 and belonged to QCWA, where he served as treasurer for many years. Doug was a veteran of World War II, where he served in the South Pacific with the 233rd Combat Engineers. He was a Boy Scout leader for many years, and an active member of Brooklyn United Methodist Church.

(Information obtained from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, October 19-20, 2003. Note: The History Page offers a reminiscence of Doug Kohl written by Tom Cox. Click here.)

John F. Vilipski

John F Vilipski, 87, of Edina, MN passed away peacefully on October 7th, 2003. Services were held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Edina and burial was at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.

John was born 04-01-16 in Tolstoi, Manitoba. After he served our country in WWII in the South Pacific, he married Jean Bensen on 09-18-48 in Omaha, Nebraska. John helped Jean raise their 7 children in Edina & Hopkins, MN and at their 2nd home on 10-Mile Lake. The family summer home was purchased from North Shore Beach Resort in 1958. John enjoyed the out doors - hunting, fishing, and gardening. He could often be found playing blackjack at Northern Lights Casino and won many tournaments over the years. He loved spending time with his growing family at 10-Mile. John had a wonderful sense of humor and shared it with many.

He was preceded in death by two of his sons, John and Stephen. He is survived by his wife, Jean, his sons Dr. Michael Holland (Mary-Liz), David Holland, William Vilipski (Lisa), and his daughters, Mary Stang (Jim), Cathy Vilipski-Smith (D.L.), daughter-in-law Storey Holland, 9 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild.

John will be remembered and missed for his wonderful hugs, sense of humor and his passion for life.

[Information provided by John Vilipski's daughter, Mary Stang, and by the Walker Pilot-Independent, October 16, 2003.]

Willa Shonkwiler-Martin

Willa Shonkwiler-Martin, 78, died Friday, August 8, at the Woodrest Nursing Home in Walker, MN. Willa was born November 6, 1924, to Sadie and William Humphries in Brownwood, Texas. She attended public schools in Brownwood, and later, Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Representative Lyndon Johnson appointed her to work in intelligence in Washington, D.C., where she had the privilege of meeting President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Willa married Omar Shonkwiler in Humboldt, Iowa, in 1945. They later moved to Minneapolis, and eventually their permanent home on Lundstrom's Bay, Ten Mile Lake. While in Minneapolis, they adopted Rebecca, the daughter of Willa's sister who had died of cancer. Omar died in 1974.

Willa became the village Clerk of Walker in 1970, a job she held until her retirement in 1992. She was very active in the Union Congregational Church of Hackensack, and was instrumental in starting a permanent choir there. She also served as historian for the Ten Mile Lake Association, and was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 203, and of the Retired Clerks Association of Minnesota. In 1981, Willa married Fred V. Martin of Hackensack, a graduate of North Dakota State University, who was also active in community affairs.

Survivors include her husband, Fred; her daughter, Rebecca Lyng (Tim); two grandsons, Ben and Dan, of Moorhead, MN; one brother, Ross Humphries, of Florida, and a special nephew, Clyde Adkisson, of Fargo, ND, whom Willa raised through high school. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, and two sisters.

A service was held for Willa at Union Congregational Church in Hackensack, followed by burial at the Hillcrest Cemetery, on August 12, 1003.

Ann Shaw

Ann Shaw, 70, a resident of Ten Mile Lake since 1985, died at her home Thursday, June 26, surrounded by her family. She was born in St. Paul, MN She is survived by her husband, Floyd N. Shaw; one son, Floyd N. Shaw, Jr.; one granddaughter; three sisters, and one brother.

(Information from the Walker Pilot-Independent, July 3, 2003.)

Brian C. Miller

Brian C. Miller, age 68, passed away June 13, 2003, from pancreatic cancer. Brian graduated from the Milwaukee School of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. He also received a Master's Degree from Fairleigh-Dickenson University and many credits towards a Ph.D. in engineering. He was employed with the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command's Research Development and Engineering Center at Fort Monmouth, NJ. He served in the government for 37 years, retiring in January, 1995. The majority of his career was dedicated to advancing electronic warfare technology for the Army. The equipment and techniques developed by his group are now commonplace throughout the Army.

Brian started coming to Ten Mile Lake as a young lad in 1942, with his parents, Dorothy and Claude Miller, his grandparents, Helen and Eugene Frith, his brother Jim (now M.D.), and his sister, Carol Divertie. They drove from Waterloo, IA and loved their vacations on TML, enjoying fishing, boating, and especially waterskiing. The parents frequently described the trip to Hackensack one year when the car was heavily packed with crib and other items for the baby, Jim. The car broke down near Hackensack, because a Waterloo mechanic had not properly greased the rear axle. Everything had to be unpacked so repairs could be made. They were undeterred, and continued to come to TML every summer.

In 1954 Brian brought his fiancee, Shirley, to introduce her to TML. They married in 1958. In 1985 they purchased the cabin on County Road #50 from Brian's parents, and continued to enjoy annual visits to the lake and their many wonderful friends here. Shirley particularly remembers a fishing trip to Portage Lake with Brian and his father. They caught a 36-inch Northern Pike; very impressed with themselves, they had the fish mounted by a local taxidermist, to be shipped to them in New Jersey. The fish became lost in the shipping process, and finally arrived at the Manhattan Bus Terminal in New York City. After a trip to NYC to pick up the fish, they opened the crate and the fish's head was broken off. They had to visit the taxidermist again, but still the fish still hangs in the family room in New Jersey.

(Information provided by Dorothy Miller.)

Carol E. Willis

Carol Willis passed away at her home in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida on June 11, 2003. A memorial service was held for her at the Church of the Isles, United Church of Christ, on June 15, 2003.

Carol was born in Chester, Nebraska on March 8, 1933, as the eleventh of 12 children. After attending the University of Nebraska, she worked for the F.B.I., raised her family, and moved to Largo, Florida, where she worked as a supervisor for Oxford Medical until her retirement.

Surviving her are her husband Don; three children: Amy Mayo, of Arvada, CO, Gretchen Trusty, of Jacksonville, FL, and Eric Hewitt, of West Des Moines, IA; five grandchildren; three sisters: Phyllis Cuttingham of Clear Lake, Iowa, Margaret Mead of Orangeville, CA, and Elinor Kennedy of Boulder, CO; and two brothers: David Duey of Silverdale, WA, and Bub Duey of Roseburg, OR.

Carol married Don Willis in 2000, and spent her last two summers with him at their Ten Mile Lake home. She assisted her husband with his duties as president of TMLA, and was an active member of Union Congregation Church in Hackensack. Because of her activities at the lake and church, she made many new, loyal friends.
In 2002, Carol hosted a reunion for her family at TML. Members of her clan arrived from all over the country to visit her and enjoy the beauty of TML and the surrounding area.

(Information provided by Don Willis.)

Byron Godbersen

Byron L. Godbersen, 78, a seasonal resident of Ten Mile Lake, passed away Sunday, May 11, 2003 at his year-round home in Ida Grove, Iowa, as the result of numerous health problems that he had been battling for many years. He was born January 29, 1925 on a farm near Mapleton, Iowa, to Harry and Minnie (Scheer) Godbersen. He served in World War II as a paratrooper in the Pacific Theater. After overseas service, he married LaJune Erickson of Soldier, Iowa, and began farming near Mapleton. In his eighth year of farming, he developed a hydraulic hoist for farm wagons, called the Bolster Hoist. This hoist was the first to harness hydraulic systems in tractors to raise loaded farm wagons, and was an invention that would benefit nearly every grain farmer in the Midwest in the 1950s and '60s. In March 1954, Midwest Industries, Inc. was incorporated, and in October, 1954, a U.S. patent was issued for the Godbersen POWR-LINK, which set the course for selling Bolster Hoists by the truckload.

In 1959, Godbersen's enthusiasm for boating led to his development and marketing of the Shore Station, the revolutionary boat hoist that was to do for waterfront property owners what the Bolster Hoist had done for farmers. A U.S. patent was issued for the method of lift on the boat hoist. National marine sales outlets were established, and Midwest Industries became a diversified manufacturer. Docks, canopies, and a complete line of accessories rounded out the waterfront equipment line.

In 1970 Midwest entered the boat trailer market following several years of product development and testing under Godbersen's direction. The new line of ShoreLand'r boat trailers firmly established Midwest Industries as a major player in the marine industry. Godbersen was awarded Iowa's Small Businessman of the Year Award and National Small Businessman of the year Award in 1973. His many community contributions and growing businesses became recognized nationwide, earning him the Albert Gallatin Award in 1974.

In 1976, Godbersen's love of flying led to the creation of Byron Originals, a division of Midwest Industries devoted to the design, production, and marketing of large-scale remote-controlled (RC) model airplanes. To help promote his new line of RC airplanes, he began to hold demonstrations and annual shows for RC modelers. As interest grew, so did the show, and in the mid-1980s, Byron=s Aviation Expo was born. The Expo, a five-day extravaganza dubbed "The World's Most Unique Aviation Event," drew over 50,000 model airplane enthusiasts to Ida Grove annually through 1991. The show became too big for Ida Grove, was sold, and became the Des Moines Aviation Expo. In 1987, Byron Originals was spun off as a separate company; Byron's son Bruce is the current president.

One of Godbersen's joys was the creation of new products. He held well over 50 patents - more than any other individual in the state of Iowa. In 1996 he was inducted into the Iowa Inventors' Hall of Fame and was named Inventor of the Year in Iowa. In 1999 the National Marine Manufacturers Association honored him with the prestigious Alan J. Freeman Award for his lifelong contributions to the marine industry.

He had a hand in creating several local fixtures in the community of Ida Grove, either donating land for or spearheading the construction of the local airport, ball field, high school, country club, and skating rink. He built several mock castles in the area, complete with moats, had an 8-acre lake built for Midwest Industries demonstrations, and had a half-scale replica of the HMS Bounty built for the lake. Godbersen treasured times with family and friends, and especially enjoyed the water, whether at TML, on the beaches of Mexico, or yachting in the Pacific Northwest. He will be remembered for his innovative and creative spirit, his generosity, and for the passion and zeal with which he lived his life. Survivors include his beloved wife, LaJune; one son, Bruce (Beverly) Godbersen; four daughters: Beverly Corr, Susan (Don) Rusch, Linda Harriman, and Debra (Andy) Brosius, all of Ida Grove; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Berniece Pruehs of Ida Grove; one sister-in-law, Leone Godbersen of Ida Grove; many extended family members and friends, as well as his favorite canine companion, Dana. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Harold Godbersen, and one son-in-law, Van Corr. Funeral services were held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ida Grove on May 15, 2003 followed by burial in the Ida Grove Cemetery with military graveside honors by McNamara-Moore Post No. 61 of the American Legion.

(Information from the Walker Pilot-Independent, Thursday, May 15, 2003, Page 10A, and the Des Moines Register, May 13, 2003, page 2D.)

Algot "Al" E. Quick

Algot "Al" E. Quick, 93, of Des Moines, died Saturday, April 26, 2003 at Iowa Lutheran Services Hospital in Des Moines. Services were held at Grandview Lutheran Church, and burial was at Lincoln Cemetery in Granger, Ill.

Al was born in Des Moines and was a member of Grandview Lutheran Church. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Willis Quick, of Des Moines; a daughter, Karin Beardsley (Jack) of Des Moines; a daughter-in-law, Judy Quick of Ankeny; six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, also named Ruth; a son, James; an infant son; and two sisters, Agnes Garvis and Elsie Stark.

Both Al and his second wife, Ruth Willis Quick, were widowed after 50 years of marriage in their first marriages. The two couples were long time friends, and eventually the widow and widower were married, and Al joined his second wife at her cabin on the North Shore of Ten Mile Lake. Al liked to fish, and he and Ruth were active members of the Senior Center at the Walker Legion Hall and of Hope Lutheran Church in Walker. Ruth says that Al liked to hand out pennies to his friends, saying he wanted them back the next year. He also frequently handed out peppermint candies. So at his funeral, bowls of pennies and peppermints were made available, for people to return to him.

William T. (Bill) McGill

William T. (Bill) McGill, age 87, died Monday, March 17, 2003 at his home on Ten Mile Lake. He was born on November 9, 1915, at Blue Earth, MN, the son of Thomas McGill, a Scottish immigrant, and Grace (Dremel) McGill. He was raised and educated in the same area, and graduated from Blue Earth High School. He then attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis. He married Jane E. Peterson on May 30, 1939.

Bill served his country as a SeaBee in the United States Navy, Pacific Campaign, during World War II. After the war, he worked as an automatic sprinkler contractor, self-employed. The family lived and worked in Minnesota, Iowa, and Florida.

In 1955, Bill purchased and restored the "Old Lakeview Schoolhouse" located on the southwest shore of TML. Bill treasured his stewardship of the land and buildings. After Bill and Jane's retirement, they traveled back and forth between Florida and Hackensack. Following his wife's death in 1997, Bill remained at his home on TML.

Survivors include: his children, Maggie McGill and her husband Ned Miller, Des Moines, Iowa and Jim McGill and his wife Anne Zosel McGill, Hackensack; grandchildrren Meghan Mcgill and Cristin McGill; great-granddaughter Madeline Jane McGill; brother Hugh McGill, Warminster, PA; and sister Margaret Guerber, Blue Earth, MN.

A memorial service was held on May 23, 2003, at Union Congregational Church in Hackensack.

(Information provided by Jim and Anne McGill.)

Raymond Johnson

Raymond George Johnson, age 94, of Lamberson, MN died Wednesday, January 29, 2003 at Valley View Manor Care Center in Lamberton.

Ray was born on October 6, 1908 to Andrew and Emma (Rasmussen) Johnson in Swea Township, Iowa. He attended and graduated from Armstrong High School in Armstrong, Iowa, and then from Mankato Commercial College in Mankato, MN. On June 11, 1936 Ray married Perle C. Bellig in Willow Lake Township near Lamberton. The couple then moved to Morgan, MN where Ray worked as a bookkeeper for an International Harvester dealership. In 1939 they moved to Lamberton, where Ray and his brother-in-law, Giff Bellig, entered into business selling International Harvester equipment; later they also had a Ford dealership for many years.

Ray retired in 1972 and then spent his summers at Ten Mile Lake in Hackensack. Here he enjoyed gardening, golfing, playing bridge, and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was an active member of the Lions Club, the Lamberton Commercial Club, and the Masonic Lodge. He was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lamberton, and for many years served on the board of directors for the Lamberton Bank. Ray is survived by his three daughters: Judy (Forrest) Chaffee of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Jane (Ken) Odell of Mankato, MN, and Jeanne (Frank) Agnello of Olympia, WA; seven grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; two sisters: Helen Schaefer of Hackensack, MN and Alice Skoglund of Rock Island, IL; and a sister-in-law, Gina Bellig of Lamberton. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Perle; a brother, Ernie Johnson; and a sister, Florence Olson. A memorial service will be held for Ray on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 at Hope Lutheran church in Walker, MN.

(Information provided by Jane Odell.)

Edwin O. Bostrom

Edwin O. Bostrom died Wednesday, January 29, 2003. He was born in Walker, MN on December 17, 1922. He graduated from Hackensack High School in 1940, and served in the U. S. Navy from 1943 to 1945. He married Lois M. Deer October 17, 1946. He received his bachelor's degree from Bemidji State Teacher's College in 1949, his master's degree from Colorado State College of Education in 1950, and his doctorate in education from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1971. He was employed from 1950 to 1981 by Boulder Valley Public Schools, where he was an industrial arts teacher at Boulder High School and the first principal of the Boulder Valley Vocational and Technical Center. He was a member of the Boulder Elks and past president of the Boulder Lions and Boulder Toastmasters Clubs. After retiring from Boulder Valley Public Schools, he formed the Sunshine Canyon Enterprises Corporation in Moab, Utah.

He is survived by Lois M. Deer of Ten Mile Lake; three daughters: Mary Lois (Michael) Davis of Centerville, VA, Holly Bostrom-Deer (John Palka) of Golden CO, and Diane (Richard) Westmore of Green wood Village, CO; two sisters: Tiny Rich of Hackensack and Katherine (Donovan) Robinson of Pine River; three brothers: Wallace of Champlin, MN, Gordon of Rutland, ND, and Jack (Betty) of Del Rio, TX; four granddaughters; two great-granddaughters; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held on July 12 at the Hackensack Senior Center.

(Information from the Walker Pilot Independent, July 10, 2003.)

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