The following obituaries are from the Nov. 20, 2008 print edition of the Jordan Independent newspaper:

LaRoy L. Brenke

LaRoy L. “Buck” Brenke, 83, of Jordan, passed away Friday, Nov. 7, 2008.

He was born in Belle Plaine. Mr. Brenke was preceded in death by his wife, Theresia, and survived by children, Diana Brenke and Mervin Brenke; sisters, Evelyn (Gil) Holste and Dolores Buesgens; brother-in-law, Marvin (Dolores) Beise; sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Brenke, Ella (Harry) Wright, Gretchen (Adolph) Dahling and Marian Beise; many other relatives and friends.

Memorial service was 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 100 Sixth Street West, Jordan, with visitation one hour prior.

Cremation Society Edina Chapel (952-924-4100).

Ruth Anne (Lipka) Maddox

Ruth Anne (Lipka) Maddox, 45, of Prior Lake, died Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008 in her residence.

She was born Aug. 20, 1963 in Chicago Heights, Ill., to Paul and Lois (Whitehead) Lipka, who survive in Lake Placid, Fla. She was previously married to Mark Long, who survives.

She graduated from Morton Senior High School, Hammond, in 1981, and Louisiana Tech in 1986. She worked for the Savage Pacer and Shakopee Valley News for four and a half years and formerly worked at the Times-Union from April 1, 1987 to July 8, 2003.

She loved to travel, play Scrabble, read, walk her dog and spend time with her family. The family agrees with her famous quote, “I’m delightful and everybody loves me.” She loved listening to music, going out to dinner and was a great, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend.

Also surviving are a daughter, Kelsey Long, Warsaw; a brother, John Lipka, Bastrop, La.; two sisters, Karen (and spouse Bill) Whitaker, Middlebury, and Amy Cobb, Highland; two nephews, Stephen Cobb, Great Lakes Naval Base, and Robert Whitaker, Middlebury; two nieces, Elisha Cobb, Highland, and Kayla Whitaker, Middlebury; two dogs, Roxxi and Quincy; and her cat, Skeeter.

Services were 6 p.m. EST Monday, Nov. 17, at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw, Ind. There was cremation. Calling was held 4-6 p.m. EST Monday at the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.

Harold G. Shonka

Harold Shonka, 84, of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008.

He was born Oct. 16, 1924 in Jordan to Gustav Shonka and Lillian (Trentor). He was a former member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville Beach. He was a naval aviator during World War II and the Korean War. He was in publishing sales for many years until his retirement in 1987. He was predeceased by his wife Kathleen in 1998.

Survivors include his daughters, Lynn Reddish and Kim (Pat) Thompson; sons, Kurt (Susan) and Scott Shonka; grandchildren, Mark and Kristy Shonka and Kristina Thompson; great-granddaughter, Alexis Rounds, all of Jacksonville; dear sister, Fern Henning of Cary, Ill.

A memorial service was held at Jacksonville Beach Woman’s Club, 1315 Second Avenue North, at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14.

Arrangements by Arlington Park Cemetery and Funeral Home. Guestbook is at jacksonville.com.

Ray Hawkins

Ray Hawkins, 89, passed away Friday, Nov. 14, 2008 at the Sunset Manor Nursing Home in Brush, Colo. Ray Hawkins

He was born Oct. 1, 1919 in Benson, Minn. to Daniel O. and Goldie Hawkins. He served in the U.S. Army during W.W.II. On July 29, 1950, Ray married Joanne Lieske in St. Paul. Prior to retirement, Ray worked as a parts inspector for Honeywell Corporation. In 1999, Ray and Joanne moved to Brush. He enjoyed fishing, and working in his yard and garden.

Survivors include his wife, Joanne, of Brush; children, Pamela Beckins of Jordan, Gregory Hawkins of Delano, Minn., Terri Ann Hawkins, of Phoenix, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marie Linn; brothers, Gary and Bud.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 22, at noon at the Dingman Funeral Chapel in Kimball, Minn. Visitation will be at the Dingman Chapel on Saturday from 11-noon. Friends who wish may make donations to the Ray Hawkins Memorial Fund c/o Heer Mortuary, 222 Cameron Street, Brush, Colo. 80723.

Rita J. Norling

Rita Norling, 68, of Prior Lake, passed away at her home on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. Rita Norling

Rita was born March 31, 1940 at New Rockford, N.D. Her parents were William and Esther (Thompson) Dailey. She married Roger Norling on May 18, 1963 at Minneapolis.

Rita is survived by husband, Roger of Prior Lake; sons, Paul D. (Liisa) Norling of Savage, John Norling of Burnsville, David (Rachel) Norling of Rosemount; four very special grandsons, Josh, Jacob, Jonah and William and one beautiful granddaughter Becca Jean; brothers, Allan “Jack” (Jackie) Dailey of Plymouth, Roger (Jackie) Dailey of Broken Arrow, Okla.; sisters, Elizabeth (John) Plum of Littleton, Colo., Delores Davis of Maple Grove; sister-in laws, Lorraine Dailey of Minot, N.D., Lorene Dailey of Minnetonka.

Rita is preceded in death by her parents; brothers Larry, Daniel, William and David Dailey; nephews Sean and Robin Dailey, Jon and Michael Plum.

She attended school in New Rockford and Minot, N.D. She came to Minneapolis after school to work. She worked as a data entry operator at Sears & Roebucks and International Multifoods. Rita worked and managed Norling Liquor in Prior Lake for nine years. She was a member of St. Michael’s Church and a very active member of the Prior Lake Lions Club for over 30 years.

Visitation was Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 4-8 p.m. at Ballard–Sunder Funeral Home in Prior Lake.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 11 a.m. at the Church of St. Michael in Prior Lake with Father Tom Sieg presiding. Interment will be at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. Pallbearers are Mike Davis, Dan Dailey, Gordon Affield, Ted Kranz, Roger Dailey and Jack Dailey. Honorary pallbearers are Ralph Knowles, Vern Thompson, ****** Welshon, Bob Larson, Alvin Rostberg and Jason Dailey. Memorials are preferred to the Prior Lake Lions Club, The Lupus Foundation, MN Chapter of the Kidney Foundation.

Funeral arrangements by Ballard–Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake, 952-447-2633. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com [1]