Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror, Steelville, Crawford Co. MO Local Obituaries for the Week of January 6, 2009 Lelia Mae Halmich Lelia Mae Halmich of Rolla, Missouri, formerly of Sullivan, Missouri, was born at Blunt, near Pierre, South Dakota to Fred and Hattie (Landwehr) Luecke and passed away Friday, December 19, 2008 as the result of an automobile accident at the age of 77 years. She was employed for many years at the hospital in Sullivan, Missouri as an x-ray technician and later became a supervisor of the department. She next worked as an instructor at the Central Missouri School of Radiology at Rolla, Missouri. While performing her duties, she simultaneously earned a B.A. Degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri at Rolla, Missouri. Her last job before official retirement was as a radiology department evaluator in Jefferson City for the State of Missouri. She was only semi-retired since she was typically still working one day per week at the Callaway County Hospital in Fulton, Missouri. Lelia was married to Estel D. (Dorwin) Halmich and to this union one son was born. She enjoyed gardening, especially roses, tulips and her magnolia trees. She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Sullivan, Missouri and later a devoted member of the 10th Street Baptist Church of Rolla, Missouri. She is survived by a son, Ron Halmich and wife Beatrix of Mullica Hill, New Jersey; a granddaughter, Stephanie Halmich of New York City, New York; a grandson, Karl Halmich of Deptford, New Jersey; three sisters, Vera Strothcamp and husband Art of Ladue, Missouri, Freida Loher of Webster Groves, Missouri and Norma Renick of Sullivan, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Funeral service was at 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2008 from the Chapel of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, Missouri with Pastor Billy D. Walker officiating. Interment in the Schmidt Cemetery, near Strain, Missouri (rural Sullivan, Missouri). Arrangements under the direction of the Eaton Funeral Home, Sullivan, Missouri. Lois Elizabeth Kreter Lois Elizabeth Kreter of Owensville, Missouri was born in Gerald, Missouri on February 10, 1916 to the late James A. and Talitha (Wiseman) Ficke and passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at St. John’s Mercy Hospital in Washington, Missouri at the age of 92. On July 25, 1937 at the Presbyterian Parsonage in Gerald, Missouri she was united in marriage to Arno S. Kreter. She was a member of the St. John’s UCC in Bem, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her husband; brother, Alfred J. Ficke and sister, Ruth Schmidt. She is survived by her children, Elizabeth Bartram and husband Ron of Webster Groves, Missouri, John Kreter and wife Vera of Owensville, Missouri, Mary Chapman and husband Bruce of Rosebud, Missouri and Lee Kreter of Owensville, Missouri; sister, Eunice Boleyn and husband Robert of Portland, Oregon; seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s UCC in Bem, Missouri with Pastor Rick Oberle officiating. Burial in St. John’s Cemetery. Arrangements under the direction of Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville, Missouri. Edna Jewel Morgan Edna Jewel Morgan of Owensville, Missouri was born in Bem, Missouri on July 2, 1910 to Gustav F. and Rosa R. (Miller) Nowack and passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at Gasconade Manor Nursing Home in Owensville, Missouri at the age of 98. On September 5, 1936 in Owensville, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Wellington Morgan. She was a member of St. John’s UCC in Bem, Missouri and a member of Eastern Star for over 50 years. She was preceded in death by her husband; two brothers, Osborne and Chester Nowack; three sisters, Iva Borlish, Mattie Ellis and Esther Collins. She is survived by a daughter, Myrona Pruitt and husband John of St. Peters, Missouri; two grandsons, Brian Pruitt and Kevin Pruitt and wife Judy; great grandson, John Pruitt; great granddaughters, C.J. Pruitt and Hannah Pruitt; step great grandson, Drew Ward and wife Sara; and step great great grandchildren, Kayla Ward and Marcus Ward. Visitation was Friday, January 2, 2008 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Funeral service was Friday, January 2, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville, Missouri with Pastor Rick Oberle officiating. Burial in the Countryside Memorial Gardens. Arrangements under the direction of the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home, Owensville, Missouri. Elbie “Al” James Spurgeon Elbie “Al” James Spurgeon of New Haven, Missouri, was born in Oak Hill, Missouri on June 8, 1938 to the late Oral John and Salina (Titter) Spurgeon and passed away Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at the age of 70. He served his country with the United States Army. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Jackie Johnston. He is survived by a son, Gary Spurgeon of Fenton, Missouri; two grandchildren, Heather Neils and Lauren Spurgeon both of St. Louis, Missouri and one great granddaughter, Shelley Neils. Memorial services were held on Saturday, January 3, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville, Missouri by Larry Hendrickson. Interment was at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. Arrangements under the direction of the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home, Owensville, Missouri. Reprinted with permission from the Obituary page of the Steelville Star-Crawford Mirror Web site. ************************************************ Copyright. 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