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Spring Valley News...2025 |
Joyce Larson Garfield, Age 98 Joyce was born March 10, 1926, the first child of Clifford and Anna (Erickson) Larson. She was born at the home of her maternal grandmother in Wildwood, Eau Galle Township, St. Croix County, Wisconsin and baptized at Gilman Lutheran Church. She had two younger brothers, Allen and David. Joyce was blessed with a great memory and loved sharing stories of her childhood right up until her last days. She began her education attending a one-room country school in Gilman township. After several years the family moved to Spring Valley, where her father operated a Standard Oil gas station. Joyce was confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley, and was a 1945 graduate of Spring Valley High School. After graduation she moved to Minneapolis where she attended Frances Nystrom School of Cosmetology, and later was employed at a salon in the Uptown neighborhood. Joyce and her future husband, Howard, had known each other since childhood. After Howard returned from service in World War II he furthered his education at Macalaster College in St Paul. They reconnected during that time and began dating. When an opportunity arose for Howard to go into business for himself, he left school, bought the locker plant (Spring Valley Frozen Foods), and learned the meat cutting trade. Joyce and Howard were married at St John’s Lutheran Church on August 5, 1950. Their honeymoon was an adventurous and memorable month long road trip to southern Mexico, accompanying a group of others from Macalaster College. Joyce worked for several years after marriage at a beauty shop in Baldwin, and later assisted at the locker plant when needed. In 1953 their son Rick was born, followed two years later by daughter, Marcie. Joyce thought their family was complete, but in 1963 the family grew with the surprise arrival of twins, Bradley and Barry, followed by Greg in 1970. Joyce’s life was very full taking care of home and family. Her family meant everything to her. She was a caregiver to her parents in their later years, as well as to a special aunt, Rachel Erickson. She treasured time spent with grandchildren, and loved seeing her family all together, especially the Christmas Eve gatherings in her home. Joyce and Howard hosted many summer weekends and holidays with family and friends at their cottage on Tainter Lake. Those were some of her most cherished memories. Joyce’s faith was very important to her. She was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, where she was involved in women’s circles, bible study, altar guild, and quilting. After Howard died in 1998 Joyce was able to remain in her home for another 24 years, where she enjoyed gardening, reading, sewing, and frequent visits from special pup, Riley. She moved to Welcome Home Senior Living in Elmwood in the fall of 2021. An activity she enjoyed the last few years was writing poetry to share with family. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother Allen, sister-in law Georgia Larson, and parents-in-law Frank and Clara Garfield. She was also pre-deceased by her Garfield in-laws and their spouses. Joyce is survived by her brother David Larson, her five children Rick (Linda), Marcie (Peter) Nied, Brad (Julie Henning), Barry (Jackie), and Greg (Angel). Grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Adam (Denver) Garfield, Macie and Molly; Sarah (Jake) Hartung, Lucas, Sam, and Charlie; Angela (Brandon) Walczak, Brody and Peyton; Dan (Roberta Larsen) Nied, Rikka, and Lars; Eric Nied; Ali (Sherman Smith) Nied; Laura (Chris) Weber, Warren and Marian; Ryan (Ashley) Garfield, Levi; and Grace Garfield. She is also survived by nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Welcome Home for the tender care shown to Joyce, especially in her last days. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, with prior visitation from 9:30 AM until time of service. Pastor Bob Friese will officiate. Burial of cremains will take place at Poplar Hill Cemetery, Rock Elm, Wisconsin. Keehr Funeral Home (www.keehrfuneralhome.com) in Spring Valley is handling arrangements. |
Thomas H. Ellefson, Age 76 Shortly after graduating high school Tom enlisted in the United States Air Force and attended basic training in Amarillo Texas.On July 19, 1969, Tom married Jan Vorlicek at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spring Valley. During his four years of service he was stationed in Duluth MN, Phu Cat Airbase in Vietnam, Thailand, and Chandler Arizona. After returning home, Tom and Jan lived north of Baldwin for a short time before settling in Woodville. Tom then began a career at Anderson Windows and retired in 2004 at the age of 55. He enjoyed fishing, having taken many trips to Canada and additional adventures on the great lakes, Alaska, and numerous other local lakes and rivers. He was an avid hunter and could be found hunting turkey, deer, pheasant or whatever was in season. He loved spending time on his property in Eau Galle township where each summer, he and Jan planted a large garden with 360 hills of potatoes, 8 rows of sweet corn, 225 onion sets, 3 rows of peas, 24 tomato plants, 24 pepper plants, and numerous other vegetables. The fruits of which were shared with family and friends. Tom loved to travel. From Weiner runs with his friends to local meat markets, short and long motorcycle trips with Jan, and vacations with family and friends that took him to places like Hawaii, Alaska, the Mediterranean, Italy, and Spain. Most important to him was his family, especially his grandchildren. He was their number one fan and attended every sporting event he could, even at the end you could find him watching on his computer from his hospital room. Preceding him in death were his parents Harvey and Carmen; sister Ann Jensen and her husband Byron; sister Mary Johnson; brother-in-law Tom Vorlicek; and parents-in-law: Willie and Marie Vorlicek. Survivors include his wife Jan; son Jon (Theresa) Ellefson and daughter Megan (Curt) Schwalen; 5 grandchildren: Lauren, Adelyn and Isabel Ellefson and Carmen and Cael Schwalen; brother Terry (Rhonda) Ellefson; in-laws: Toby (Peg) Vorlicek and Mary (Matt) Huepfel; many nieces, nephews, relatives and countless friends. A Mass of Christian burial for Tom will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spring Valley. Gathering of family and friends will be from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, at Sacred Heart Church prior to the service.Burial will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Spring Valley with military honors by Rickerd-Danielson American Legion Post 227. |
Donald Richard Blegen, Age 84 Don was born at home in Spring Valley, WI in early January, 1940, to his parents, Mardell and Henry Blegen, the eldest of 5 (notorious) Blegen Brothers. He grew up in and around Spring Valley, and after his father gave him his first fishing rod at age 7, could be found near the Eau Galle River or one of its feeder creeks practicing the perfect fly cast, often with one of his beloved dogs at his side. A highlight of his boyhood was feeding the monkeys and exotic birds, and befriending the lion, Powder, at his Grandma Jenson’s zoo near River Falls, which sparked his lifelong interest in nature and biology. Other jobs in his younger days included working as a guide at Spring Valley’s Crystal Cave and as a pinsetter at the local bowling alley, Central Lanes. He initially got to know the love of his life, Donna, in high school algebra, and after his graduation from Spring Valley High School in 1957, he continued courting her while studying at UWRF. They married in 1961, and were blessed with two sons, Bryce and Eric, over the next few years. Don first got into photography in his early teens, a hobby which developed into a passion when he was hired as a part-time photographer for the UWRF college newspaper and yearbook, where a highlight included covering JFK’s campaign stop in River Falls in 1960. After graduating from UWRF at age 21, he was hired as a teacher at Elmwood High School in late 1961, the start of a 35-year career teaching English, Biology, and; after some years of building popular demand, Photography. Summers in the 60s were spent assisting on an archeological dig on the current site of Lake George, and working on the construction of the Spring Valley Dam. Don also acted as director of EHS school plays for several years, and tirelessly worked as the unofficial volunteer staff photographer of the Elmwood Beacon for sports and other school events, contributing many photos to the community newspapers of Elmwood (the Argus), Spring Valley (the Sun), and, in retirement, for the Sun-Argus, authoring a series of articles over many years on local history, continuing the legacy of his brother Doug. Don’s summer family road trips with Donna and their boys in the 1970s involved explorations of many of the natural wonders of the US and Canada and, despite the occasional wet tent or unexpected car repair, spurred a lifetime love of travel. After their sons grew up, Don and Donna expanded their explorations internationally. In his spare time, Don was an expert fisherman and marksman, winning awards in trapshooting. He was an avid reader with an insatiable curiosity. He got into birdwatching at age 9, and his life list of birds went beyond North America to include many species in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Combining his love of trout fishing with his nature photography skills, Don’s “fish pictures” and articles were published in magazines such as Sports Afield, Field & Stream, and Wisconsin Natural Resources. His nature photography was exhibited at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, and several galleries in New York. In 1986, his work was featured in the Minolta Mirror (an annual compendium of the world’s best photography), and his photos were published in many books over the years. Don was very active in the local community, serving two terms on the Spring Lake Town Board, and several terms on the Spring Lake Lutheran Church Council. He also set up and then maintained the Spring Valley historical display in the SV Municipal Building for over 20 years. As part of his photography sideline, he also played the role of wedding photographer for more than 100 couples in the Elmwood and Spring Valley area. In later years, there were many trips to WA state to visit family, and Don especially enjoyed telling his grandson Gus stories, some scary, of his many adventures. His legendary sense of humor, wit, and affinity for puns and anecdotes will be sorely missed. Don is survived by Donna, his wife of 63 years, his son, Bryce (of Washougal, WA), his son, Eric, and grandson Gus (Grapeview, WA). He is also survived by his brothers Dean (Jo Ellen), Dennis (Barb) and Delmer (Sandy) as well as brother-in-law David Hulverson (Leona), sisters-in-law Carole Lynum and Jean Blegen, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was pre-deceased by his parents, his brother, Doug; his brother-in-law, Palmer Lynum, and parents-in-law Clemens and Marie Hulverson. A Memorial service for Don will be on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Spring Valley. Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church on Sunday Also, please join the family for A Celebration of Don’s Life at the Elmwood Auditorium, 323 W Winter Ave, Elmwood, from 3:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 19, after the memorial service. There will be food and refreshments served. |