We Pay Tribute to Our Members
Kenneth Eugene Judson
April 7, 1942 ~ October 11, 2021 (age 79)
Obituary & Services
Obituary
Kenneth Eugene Judson, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away Monday, October 11th after a six-year battle with lung cancer. Ken was born April 7th, 1942, in Deer Creek, MN to Violet (Irons) and Leroy Judson. In 1962 he moved to Des Moines, IA where he met Doris Batz and they were married in 1963 (58 years in July). Ken is survived by his wife Doris, two daughters Jodea (husband Greg) and Katherine (husband John); and seven grandchildren (Kathrynn, Calvin, Kylee, Jackson, Parker, Paige, and McKenzie).
Ken graduated Lansing High School in 1961 (Kansas) and finished a Bachelor of Applied Studies in Business in 1978 (University of Minnesota). He proudly served our country in the U.S. Marine Corps and rose to the level of sergeant during the Vietnam conflict. Ken retired as Director of Internal Control from Super Valu in 1992 where he worked for more than 30 years.
Ken and Doris moved to Alex in 1997 where Ken became a loyal member of the Golden Kiwanis club where he promoted youth through role modeling and scholarship. Ken enjoyed going down to the Alexandria Senior Center and shooting pool with a group of friends. He also enjoyed spending time with his family (especially grandchildren) and so moved to Lino Lakes, MN shortly before his death to be closer to them.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic church in Alexandria, MN with Father Matthew Kuhn officiating. Visitation will be one-hour prior to the service at the church. This service will be live-streamed and recorded for family and friends to view from Kenneth’s obituary page on the Anderson Funeral Home website at 10 AM on Saturday.
Leonard Hains: Len was 100 years old on March 16, 2019. We wish him a very happy birthday. He and his wife, Lois, have been married for 74 years. We want him to know that we appreciate the work he has done for our Golden K club over the many years that he has belonged to Kiwanis. Len began his Kiwanis membership in 1983 in the Noon Club. He has been a member of the Golden K since 1990. In August 2019 a number of our club members attended Lois's 100th birthday. In January they will celebrate their 75th. wedding anniversary. We congratulate them.
With sadness we update this tribute to include that Leonard passed away just short of his 102 birthday.
Obituary
Russell Orvin Larson was born on October 7, 1943, in Fergus Falls, MN to Orvin and Melvie (Westrom) Larson. He grew up on the family farm near Elbow Lake and graduated from high school in 1961. Russ attended Concordia College in Moorhead and was a member of the NAIA National Champion Football Team and received Little All-American Honorable mention in football, graduating in 1965.
Russ taught PE and coached football and wrestling in Fairfax for four years. He then worked on the North Slope of Alaska in oil exploration. Russ served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War in Atomic Demolitions and Munitions. Next, he completed his graduate studies and 6th year specialist degree in educational administration at Minnesota State University Mankato. He worked as High School Principal and Athletic Director at Graceville, MN.
Russ married Arlene Hanson at Christ Church Newman Center, St. Cloud on September 21, 1974. The couple first resided in Chokio, MN where Russ worked as a Superintendent. They then moved overseas to Tripoli, Libya to work at the Oil Companies School which hosted students from around the world. Upon their return they lived in Hancock, MN where Russ was Superintendent and they raised their three children: Scott, Tammy and Ryan. Russ and Arlene retired to Alexandria, MN in 2000. They were married for nearly 47 years.
Russ enjoyed family and time with his five grandsons. In earlier years, he enjoyed skiing, tennis, hiking, biking, golf and travel. He was dedicated to his Neuro-Fit Parkinson’s class for years. He had a great sense of humor and was always ready to tell a joke or tease someone. He was a member of Retired Educators and a very active member of the Golden Kiwanis. He took great interest in Kiwanis activities and fund raising. Russ and Arlene especially enjoyed exploring the states as well as international adventures to all seven continents.
Russ died on Monday, August 23, 2021, at Grand Arbor in Alexandria at the age of 77, under the care of Knute Nelson Hospice. He is survived by his wife, Arlene; children: Scott (Camille) and grandson, Wesley of Kingman, AZ, Tammy and grandsons: Abel, Oliver & Ezra of Duluth, MN, Ryan (Rian) and grandson, Zackary of Salmon, ID; brother, Jerold (Gail). Russ was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother, Donald.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
Michael J. Syverson, age 75, of Alexandria, died on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at Alomere Health.
Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m., Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at St. Mary’s Church with Father Matthew Kuhn officiating. Full military honors accorded by the Minnesota Air Force Honor Guard, American Legion Post #87, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #936, Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter #235, and the Marine Corps League Detachment #1409.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Michael John was born on December 28, 1945, to Lloyd and Margaret (Diederich) Syverson in Benson. He was raised on a farm near Kerkhoven where he attended school. Mike was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Murdock. After high school graduation in 1963, he spent four years in the Air Force working on the navigation systems of F4 fighter aircraft. He was stationed in Texas, Mississippi, California, Alaska, Thailand, and the Philippines. Following his honorable discharge, Mike attended Willmar Junior College from 1967-1969, and Southwest Minnesota State College in Marshall from 1969 until his graduation in 1971. Mike began working for the Social Security Administration in 1971, as a claims representative in Elgin, Illinois. He also worked in Aurora, Chicago and Austin, Minnesota before moving to Alexandria as office manager in 1995. Mike was united in marriage to Jane Heiling on June 9, 1972, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Willmar. To this union, a son, Matthew Michael was born on June 11, 1990, in Austin. Following retirement in 2010, and receiving many awards, Mike continued his community service.
He was a member of the Austin Early Risers Kiwanis Club for eight years and the Alexandria Noon Club for eight years as well. He was a member of the Alexandria Golden K Kiwanis Club since March of 2010, where he was an advisor and founder of the Vikingland Aktion Club, past president, board member and secretary. Mike was very active in the community as he had a passion to help others including volunteering at the Alex Food Shelf, as a tax preparer, delivering Meals on Wheels, Let’s Go Fishing, Caring and Sharing, and as a lunch buddy to several elementary school boys. Mike was a past president and board member of the Douglas County DAC, past Lake Victoria Association board member and president and past St. Mary’s School Trust Fund board member and president. He was an active member of St. Mary’s Church where he served as communion minister, greeter, and different committees as needed. His hobbies included reading, gardening, fishing, hunting, and doing what he could to preserve the natural environment.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Mary Anne; brother, Donald; and brother-in-law, Jack Masters.
Mike is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jane; son, Matthew (very significant, Courtney Keel) Syverson of Toledo, Ohio; sister, JoAnn Masters of Granite Falls; sister-in-law, Terri Syverson of Kerkhoven, other relatives and a host of friends.
Urnbearers are Matthew Syverson, Jerry Kostreba, Gary Zavadil, and Jason Gehrke.
Obituary
Norman “Norm” Kilpo, age 89, resident of Lake Vermont, near Parkers Prairie and formerly of Duluth, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 29, 2020, holding his wife, Mary’s hand, at St. William’s Living Center in Parkers Prairie.
Services are pending per the Coronavirus-19 Pandemic.
Norm was born on January 26, 1931, to Nestor and Vieno (Jussila) Kilpo on a small farm north of Floodwood, Minnesota. He was the second oldest of four children. In 1942, the family moved to Duluth where Norm attended public schools and graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1949. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951, serving until his honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant in 1955. Norm returned to Duluth and started working at National Iron Company in the engineering/estimating department. Norm worked in sales estimating until 1965, at which time he was promoted to Sales Manager. Norm was united in marriage to his best friend, Mary (Mary Jane) Jurvelin on December 18, 1980 in Duluth. Following their marriage, they lived in Duluth until December of 1983, when they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for Norm’s job transfer. They moved to their home on Lake Vermont, near Parkers Prairie in 1993. Norm traveled extensively for his job and after 42 years in sales, retired in 1998. He was an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria until his health declined. He was a member of Golden K in Alexandria and was a former member of Parkers Prairie Lions Club. Norm enjoyed the time hunting at Cedar Valley and spending time with family. He and Mary enjoyed listening to music, especially Neil Diamond. They also enjoyed watching PBS television shows, MSNBC, and golf. His hobbies included reading, golfing, cross country skiing, biking, and following Minnesota sports teams. He was an excellent gardener, was known for his tomato plants and being Mary’s prep cook. A highlight of Norm’s was the trip of a lifetime to Finland. Norm was a loving father and great role model.
He was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Dorothy Jurvelin; sisters, Dorothy & Shirley; brother, Maurice; and daughter-in-law, Donna.
Norm is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Mary; deeply missed by his three sons, Larry Kilpo, Bob (Kären) Kilpo both of Duluth and Ken Kilpo of Los Angeles, California; daughter, Nancy Kilpo of Duluth; five grandchildren, Eric (Kristen), Kelsey (Forrest), Andy (Alison), Matt (Catie) and Aaron (Alli); four great-grandchildren; goddaughter, Katie (Ryan); along with many nieces, nephews, in-laws, and a host of friends.
Urnbearers are his grandchildren.
It is fitting to end his obituary with what Norm and Mary would always say to each other, “You & Me, Kid”.
