Ricard Lee Nelson, 56, North Branch, formerly of Rush City, died unexpectedly on Monday, Dec. 21, 2009 in South St. Paul.

A funeral service was Saturday, Dec. 26 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rush City, with the Rev. John E. Beck officiating.

Interment was at St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Rush City.

He is survived by his children: Lee Nelson of North Branch, Eric (Jessy) Nelson of Rush City, and Jessica (Brandon) Brown of Rush City; grandson:  Raiden Brown; fiancé:  Ruth Holmquist of North Branch; one brother: Ron (Vicki) Nelson of Houston, MO;  his parents,  Ralph and Beverly Nelson of Houston, MO; mother-in-law  Beverly Schmidt of North Branch;  sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law,  Lori (David) Williams of North Branch, Ron (Lori) Schmidt of Lino Lakes, and Robert (Shelly) Schmidt of North Branch; many aunts, uncles, and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Renae.

ClaireAnne M. (nee Peltier) Oliveira, 81, Forest Lake, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009.

A private memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church, Hugo.

She is survived by her children, John (Lucia) Oliveira, Daniel (Peggy) Oliveira, William Oliveira; her longtime companion Richard Cotton; grandchildren, Jennifer, Jeffrey and Nicole; great- grandchildren, Adam and Evan; one brother, Cy (Ellen) Peltier; one sister, Luwellen Mayer; many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Lillian Peltier; brothers, Raymond Peltier, Archie Peltier, Donald Peltier and Eugene Peltier.

Memorials may be directed to the family in care of Mattson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, MN 55025.

Merrill H. Barsness, 84, Forest Lake, died Monday, Dec. 21, 2009. He was a World War II veteran having served with the U.S. Navy as a gunner on a sub chaser.

A celebration of his life will take place at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 27 at Immanuel Church, 9511 W. Broadway Ave., Forest Lake. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

He is survived by his children, Sheryll L. Morrison, Terance D. Barsness, Scott A. (Lori) Barsness; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; one brother; and two sisters.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Erva; one brother, Maynard; and one son-in-law, Paul Morrison.

Cards and memorials may be sent to the family in care of Mattson Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake,  MN 55025.

George W. Franta, 90, Forest Lake, died Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 28 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake.

Visitation is scheduled 2-6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 27 at Roberts Family Funeral Home, 555 SW Centennial Drive, Forest Lake, and 9-10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 28 at the funeral home.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Vivian; children, Bill (Helen) Franta, Jim (Cathy) Franta, Kathy (Dean) Larson, Joan (John) Grobe, Wally (Carol) Franta, Dan (Mary) Franta, Sue (Mark) Brewer, Mary (Tom) Gessner and John (Jo) Franta; 18 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Regina (Robert) Reiser; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, W.J. and Mary Franta; one brother, Ernest; and one sister, Albina Saumer.

Memorials are preferred to the St. Peter’s Elementary School Endowment and may be sent in care of Roberts Family Funeral Home.

Randal M. “Randy” Johnson, 56, Lindstrom, died Saturday Dec. 19, 2009 at Fairview University Hospital in Minneapolis. He was a member of Forest Lake American Legion Post 225 and Voiture 44.

A celebration of life will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday Jan. 2, 2010 at Zion Lutheran Church, Chisago City, with Rev. Mike Peterson officiating. Visitation will take place two hours prior to the time of the service at church. Interment will be at South Green Lake Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Kerri; daughters Chantel (Darrick) Kvale and Amber Johnson of Chisago City; granddaughter Kendra Kvale; one brother, Dustin Johnson, Lindstrom; two  nephews and one niece, Richard Johnson, Brad Guttsen and Kayla Guttsen; his father, Marvin H. Johnson, Lindstrom; mother-in-law Joyce Guttsen, Forest Lake; brother-in-law Ken (Sue) Guttsen, Chaska; other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Arlene Johnson; father-in-law Eugene Guttsen; and many, relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Forest Lake Lions Club, American Legion Post 225 or ophthalmology eye research at the University of Minnesota. He is the father of the first child to undergo infant corneal transplant surgery.

Richard James Olsen died peacefully in his sleep at home on December 16th, 2009. He fought a good fight with cancer and was receiving excellent care from the doctors and staff at the Sierra Nevada Veteran’s Hospital in Reno, NV. Richard was born in St. Paul, MN to George and Henrietta Olsen on September 14, 1944. He grew up in Forest Lake, Mn. He attended Forest Lake High School and enjoyed playing golf and tennis. He was also an expert water skier and excellent downhill skier.

After graduation and some college courses he joined the U.S. Army, and became a green beret in the special forces. In April, 1969, after his discharge, he married Diana Jorgenson and went back to college at Minnesota State University where he received a degree in economics. Shortly after, his first daughter, Bronwyn, was born followed by a son, Evan. The couple divorced in 1982 with a subsequent move for all to San Fransisco, CA. He made a living for the next 30 years as a craftsman, cabinetmaker and carpenter. Finally he had  retired to his self built cabin in Plumas County, CA where he devoted himself whole heartedly into designing furniture, gardening and enjoying his friends and family. He was a fine example of a man and was both a wonderful father and grandfather. He was hard working, cheerful and always helpful. He will be missed dearly.

Surviving relatives are his mother, Henrietta C. Olsen, sisters Cathy Lunzer (Leo) and Linda Lundberg (Eddie), children Bronwyn Olsen (Solomon Sweeting) and Evan Olsen, grandchildren Sierra Sweeting and Mariah Sweeting and many beloved nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, George R. Olsen.

A memorial service will be held in Minnesota for family and friends at a further date to be announced.

Warren K. Lerfald, 68, Forest Lake, died Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009.

A memorial service was Tuesday, Dec. 22 at Hosanna Lutheran Church, Forest Lake. Interment was at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie; daughters, Sharon Paige (Michael) Nordling and Heidi Rae (Richard) Lapka; granddaughters, Lauren Paige, Rachael Lee and Claire Elizabeth Nordling, and one anticipated grandchild in Feb. 2010; one brother, Robert (Kathy); sister-in-law, Pat Lerfald; nephews Erik (Cheryl) and Kyle; two nieces, Gail (Jerry) McCarthy and Pamela Lerfald; great nieces and nephews, Andrea (Mike) Shaffer, Amanda Lerfald, Elizabeth Lerfald, Tricia Lerfald and Tiffany Lerfald.

He was preceded in death by parents, Olaf and Lorraine; one brother, John; and one nephew, Greg.

Margaret L. Lewis, 71, formerly of Lindstrom, died Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009.

A memorial service was Monday, Dec. 21 at Roberts Family Funeral Home, Forest Lake.

She is survived by her four children, Theresa (Scott) Hamilton, Bobby Massey, Kerri (Kurt) Deile and Shelley (Scott) Kolb; seven grandchildren, Kris, Krystle, Tyler, Nikki, Sydney, Dylan and Samuel; two great-grandchildren, Jesse and Ciena; eight brothers and sisters, Arthur Hatch, Kenneth Hatch, Helen Polanko, Betty Torrey, Lida Blankenship, Norma Martin, Patty Hatch and Dorene Royse; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Alma Hatch; and three brothers, Lloyd Hatch, Raymond Hatch and Jerry Hatch.