1926 – Stanley “Chub” Clair Schaeffer – 2018
Chub was born on June 5, 1926, to Robert N. and Hazel (Thomas) Schaeffer, who were living in Lime Lake Township, outside of Avoca, Minnesota at the time. The family later moved into town, where Chub attended the Avoca Public School. He attended Slayton High School through his sophomore year. In 1942, he moved to California with his parents. Chub graduated from Luzinger High School in Hawthorne, California in 1944 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After being honorably discharged in 1946, he returned to live in Avoca. Chub married Clarine Anderson on January 6, 1950. He also started working for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural letter carrier that same year. The couple raised three children. Chub retired from the USPS in 1981 and, in 1982, moved with Clarine to northern California. They worked as a team in property management for rental apartments and houses for a number of years. In 2001, the couple moved back to Minnesota, to Slayton. Chub went to live in the Veterans Home in 2012. While he lived in Avoca, Chub was active on the city council, fire department. He had been a member of the Donald E. Ewy American Legion Post #576 in Avoca for 74 years and he was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6322 in Slayton. Stanley passed away on September 17, 2018, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, Minnesota at the age of 92.
He is survived by his wife Clarine; daughter Paula Schaeffer; his late daughter’s husband, Tony Quattrociocchi; his late son’s fiancée, Suzanne Gunderman; two grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; eight step-great-grandchildren; nieces Caren (Dan) Voss, Lisa (Pat) Kremer and Brenda VanSickle; nephew Robert Sale; and many other family members. Preceding him in death were his parents; an infant sister; his brothers and their spouses: Robert L. “Leo” and Constance Schaeffer, and Donald “Jiggs” and Rita Schaeffer; his sister and her spouse Helen and Osa “Doc” Sale; daughter Lynne; son Scott; and nephews Dale Sale and Steven Schaeffer.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at the Slayton Memorial Gardens, southeast of Slayton, MN. A gathering for family and friends will be held afterward at 3:00 p.m. at the Avoca Community Hall in Avoca, MN.
Phyllis Strouth, age 92, longtime ranch wife, of Strandburg, SD, formerly of Fulda, MN, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2018 at the Murray County Hospice House in Slayton, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 24, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake, SD. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Worthington, MN. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, September 23, 2018 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake, SD. Houseman Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
Phyllis Elaine (Rosenberg) Strouth was born on March 16, 1926 to Edward and Clara (Wick) Rosenberg in Rushmore, MN. Phyllis attended country school and graduated in 1944 from Worthington High School. After graduation she immediately began working as a bookkeeper at the Rushmore Elevator with Floyd Greig as her boss. Phyllis was united in marriage to Gene Strouth at Avoca, MN. Gene and Phyllis made their home near Fulda, MN where they farmed and raised cattle. In 1959 they moved to their ranch near Strandburg, SD where she remained until August 2017. Phyllis was instrumental in all the ranch business. Her beautiful flowers, manicured lawns and perfectly rowed gardens were a sight to behold.
Never did anyone leave the ranch without a cup of coffee and a homemade donut. If you were lucky, you also received homemade jams and fresh rolls or bread. If you were on a tight schedule and missed your meeting time, everyone understood if you said you “stopped to visit Gene and Phyllis.” If Phyllis had a favorite time of year, it would have been the fall when the cattle were moved from the summer pastures. Every trucker that drove in the yard during roundup (sometimes 15 semis at a time) received a packaged lunch of homemade donuts, cookies and other goodies for their long return haul.
After Phyllis and Connie sold the ranch’s building site, Phyllis moved to Slayton, MN where she became a resident of the Murray County Hospice House. She was very involved in the daily activities at the House and often helped with baking, wiping the dishes and mostly advising. Phyllis was a 70 – year VFW Auxiliary member and also a 60 – year member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake, SD.
Phyllis is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Connie Winter, Slayton, MN; three grandsons and their families: Patrick (Mary Jo) Winter, Erica and Pierce, Blaine, MN; Trevor (Heidi) Winter, Macy and Nolan, Lakeville, MN; Brennan Winter, Minneapolis, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Gene in 2011; son-in-law, Dr. Keith Winter in 2010; her parents; four brothers: Maurice, Stanley, Norman and Raymond; and one sister, Beverly Meyer.
Connie and her family are extremely grateful for the kindness shown to Phyllis during her stay at the Murray County Hospice House. Their care and compassion is very much appreciated, Phyllis enjoyed every day.
