Minnesota - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Andrew Ralph Roy, Minnesota Records

mickey32955 — 2013-06-02 21:30:32Z

THANK YOU 4 YOUR HELP. ANY INFO ON ANDY ROY WOULD BE GREATLY APRECIATED ' MY SON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIS DADS FAMILY AND HIS NATIVE AMERICAN LINEAGE.

Re: Andrew Ralph Roy, Minnesota Records

kellyroad — 2013-06-02 13:23:07Z

Social Security Death Index about Andrew Raphal Roy
Name: Andrew Raphal Roy
Last Residence: 55812 Duluth, Saint Louis, Minnesota
Born: 14 Jan 1951
Died: 11 Nov 2006
State (Year) SSN issued: Minnesota (1967)

Will look for more

Re: Andrew Ralph Roy, Minnesota Records

mickey32955 — 2013-06-02 02:05:04Z

This is in regards to Andrew Ralph Roy dob-01/14/1951. I am the mother of his only son Jay , His x-wife and I have talked and she can verify this info. It was also proven by the State, of Minnesota, and Jay Allen Jeffries is his only son and has his only 2 granddaughters. I have the coroners report because Jay was the only one they would release info to. I know he has a sister and I am searching for any living family.. Thank-you Micheele

Re: Looking for Mothers Brother born Ward or Swanson in 56 or 57

andershoot68 — 2013-05-10 19:45:43Z

Thanks for your assistance, I have added some additional information.

Looking for Mothers Brother born Ward or Swanson in 56 or 57

andershoot68 — 2013-05-10 19:42:47Z

I am starting to look for my mothers 1/2 brother. I believe he would have been born in Minneapolis in 1956 or 1957. The adoptee's mother is Clara Ward or Clara Swanson. Any help on where to look would be beneficial. Was removed from the home by ASDC(?)

Additional Info:

Minnesota Official Marriage System:

WARD, CLARA M
married
SWANSON, GERALD F (First Husband, but not the father of adoptee)
22 May 1943, Hennepin County, Minnesota

1940 US Census
Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota
Address: 3112 E 37th Street
Fred Ward 46 born about 1894 in Minnesota, truck driver
Amy Ward 40 born about 1900
Lloyd Ward 19 born about 1921 in Minnesota
Clara Ward 16 born about 1924 in Minnesota
James Ward 12
June Ward 8
Herbert Ward 7
Everett Brunk 26 son-in-law

Grand Parents:

A Fred E Ward (1894-1977) and Amy Ward (1899-1978) are buried at Arlington Municipal Cemetery, Arlington, Snohomish County, Washington (per Find a Grave).

Mothers official Birth:

CLARA MELVINA WARD
Date of Birth: 17 FEB 1924
Mother Maiden Name: MORRIS
Aitkin County, Minnesota

Re: Benjamin Harrison "Peter Anthony Dulan jr." b Jan 1935

falsterden — 2013-05-02 21:17:19Z

Was Harrison his surname at birth? or middle name?

The Minnesota Birth Index has a Peter Anthony Dulan being born to Peter A Dulan and Esther K Dulan in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

1940
Cheyenne, Laramie, Wyoming
Address: 908 Richardson Court
Peter A Dulan 39 born about 1901 Michigan
Esther Dulan 34 born 1906 in China
Peter A Dulan, junior 5 born about 1935 in Minnesota
Residence in 1935: Duluth, St Louis, Minnesota

A Find a Grave Memorial:
Peter A Dulan, Junior
Birth: unknown Death: unknown
Note: s/s Charles A & Ellen C Micaud- no d date
Burial: Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Denver County, Colorado

[Perhaps if you contact the Find a Grave creator, she could clarify what she meant by s/s.]

Per Find a Grave, Peter A Dulan, senior (1901-1977) and Esther K Dulan (1906-1979) are buried at Mesa Cemetery, Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona.

Hope you connect!
--a volunteer, not related

Re: Looking for Mothers Brother born Ward or Swanson in 56 or 57

falsterden — 2013-05-02 19:37:08Z

I hope you connect!

Do you know if the family below is the right family or the right Clara? If so, adding these names may help a little to draw the attention of someone out there doing a family history of this family.

A candidate for Clara:

Minnesota Official Marriage System (MOMS)record shows a Clara Ward marrying Gerald Swanson:

WARD, CLARA M
married
SWANSON, GERALD F
22 May 1943, Hennepin County, Minnesota

A candidate for Clara's family:

1940 US Census
Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota
Address: 3112 E 37th Street
Fred Ward 46 born about 1894 in Minnesota, truck driver
Amy Ward 40 born about 1900
Lloyd Ward 19 born about 1921 in Minnesota
Clara Ward 16 born about 1924 in Minnesota
James Ward 12
June Ward 8
Herbert Ward 7
Everett Brunk 26 son-in-law

A Fred E Ward (1894-1977) and Amy Ward (1899-1978) are buried at Arlington Municipal Cemetery, Arlington, Snohomish County, Washington (per Find a Grave).

Also buried in Arlington is Herbert William Ward born 07 December 1932, died 10 September 1959.

Also buried at Arlington is Lloyd G Ward (1920-1965).

Minnesota Official Marriage System record says a Fred Ward married an Amy Morris:

MORRIS, AMEY
married
WARD, FREDRICK
19 April 1914
Cass County, Minnesota

==========================
Searching Minnesota Birth Index at Minnesota Historical Society for surname Ward and mother maiden name Morris:

LOYD GLINMAN WARD
Date of Birth: 26 JUN 1920
Mother Maiden Name: MORRIS
Aitkin County, Minnesota

CLARA MELVINA WARD
Date of Birth: 17 FEB 1924
Mother Maiden Name: MORRIS
Aitkin County, Minnesota

JAMES EDWARD WARD
Date of Birth: 18 JUL 1927
Mother Maiden Name: MORRIS
Itasca County, Minnesota

JUNE ALICE WARD
Date of Birth: 16 JUN 1931
Mother Maiden Name: MORRIS
Hennepin County, Minnesota

WARD,
Date of Birth: 07 DEC 1932
Mother Maiden Name: MORRIS
Hennepin County, Minnesota
[probably Herbert]

Additional siblings for Clara could be
Ernia Lucieal Ward born 1915 Aitkin County;
Douglas Leonard Ward born 1916 Aitkin County; and
Frances Elizabeth Ward born 1918 Aitkin County.

Death Record
WARD, DOUGLAS L.
Date of Birth: 03 NOV 1916
Place of Birth: MINNESOTA
Mother Maiden Name: MORRIS
Date of Death: 10 JUN 1980
Hennepin County, Minnesota

Much more information could be developed to seek extended family members who might have information - if this is the right family.

--I'm a volunteer, not related. Good luck!

Re: Terrie Lee Tuttle

kellyroad — 2013-04-12 17:46:37Z

I have found her birth information and with that I can find her anywhere and I also found a marriage in Ca

Please email me at

cole-nutmeg@shaw.ca

I will have more informatiob when you get to me

Heather
Adoption Search Angel

Terrie Lee Tuttle

janets303 — 2013-03-29 05:59:11Z

On February 20th, 1963 in Portland, Oregon at the Albertina Kerr Nursery Home and Adoption Center she gave me the name Teresa Joy Tuttle and I was then given up for adoption. My original birth certificate says she was 17 at that time and was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. I look forward to meeting any family she has/had.

Sincerely

Benjamin Harrison "Peter Anthony Dulan jr." b Jan 1935

prank4441 — 2013-03-15 12:01:21Z

I am looking for his birth parents. He was born Benjamin Harrison and then adopted. His adoptive parents were named Peter Dulan and Ester Dulan. He was born in Minnesota.

Re: ISO lost Son

Janice826110 — 2012-09-26 02:55:48Z

I thought I had registered with the site,let me know where I need to go and I will register

Re: Salvation Army Hospital in St Paul

obbarius_gail — 2012-09-19 15:36:15Z

I was in this home in 1968. I am currently writting a book about my stay I need to "fill in the blanks" can you help me ? thanks Gail "anne " Griffin

Re: born & adopted 11-22-1955.diane miller( i think)

JoyceFirkus — 2012-08-22 17:50:04Z

Oh man only a day apart in age and both adopted. I found this bio family here back in Sept 2007. Good luck with your search!

Re: where do you start when looking up old adoption records?

arnoldhokanson — 2012-08-17 04:54:08Z

I had some outstanding luck researching at the Minnesota Historical Society Library for adoption records that was from Minnesota Public School in Owatanna MN.

Re: Looking for children of Alyce Coleman

cbainbridge47 — 2012-08-11 22:02:30Z

Thanks for your help. They where adopted out of Mn. and I believe their last names where changed, and the best I know is that they where taken in from a family who resides in Bakersfield, CA. I know there was some connection with an aunt or uncle who kept in touch with them, hence I think that Paulien and Francise must have had contact with them. I am going to try and locate relatives of Pauline to see if they know of anything.

There is another sibling that was born last to my grandmother who died after child birth. His or her date of birth was June 18th 1948. Is there a way to locate all births that occurred that day in Mn.?

I really appreciate any help you can provide me. It seems as though I have come to a dead end. It is very frustrating. If you can provide me with any ideas, that would be great.

Thanks so much for your help.

Carla
612-802-0437

Re: Looking for children of Alyce Coleman

kellyroad — 2012-08-11 18:49:30Z

I am an adoption search angel and I saw your posting on this board and thought I could help . The two children should be in the MN Birth Index but I can not find them which can mean (1) Adopted in Mn and name changed or (2) they were not born in Mn

Re: Looking for children of Alyce Coleman

cbainbridge47 — 2012-08-11 16:17:02Z

Thank you for sending this. I had recently decided to give up my search because I cannot find the last names of my grandmothers two children that where adopted out. Their first names are Kathy and Paul and I know they resided in Bakersfield. Francis and Pauline would have been their aunt and uncle. So, the obituary prompted me to try and find any of Pauline's relatives. Perhaps they will know Kathy and Paul.

What prompted you to send this? Is there more that you know?

Thank you,
Carla

Re: Looking for children of Alyce Coleman

kellyroad — 2012-08-11 04:38:57Z

Francis Coleman's widow's obituary

Pauline B. Coleman: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
Bakersfield Californian, The (CA) - Thursday, April 15, 2004
Deceased Name: Pauline B. Coleman
CA United States

Pauline B. Coleman 12/9/1917 4/13/2004 Services: Sat., April 17, 10 a.m. Pauline was born the fourth of five children to Ada and Elisha Brand on December 9, 1917, in Russellville, Arkansas, and passed away on April 13, 2004, at Evergreen Bakersfield Healthcare Center, Bakersfield, California, at age 86. She was a devoted wife to her husband of 37 years, Frank, who preceded her in death by two years, a loving Mother to her sons and a loyal and caring sister. Pauline and her family moved to the Bakersfield area in 1942 in search of a better life. She found that new life and it was similar to that found by the rest of us. Pauline is survived by two sons, Fred Mackaman and Keith Anderson; sister, Edna Speer; sister-in-law, Remah Brand; two nieces, Kathy Joan and Mary Esther. Also, by four grandchildren, Mark, Shelley, Cheryl, Michael and 2 great-grandchildren, Chelsea and Catalina. A visitation will be held on Friday, April 16, 2004, from 4-8 p.m. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2004, at 10:00 a.m., at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Re: ISO lost Son

kellyroad — 2012-08-11 02:30:29Z

Waiting for you to register with our site , I looked at the Mn Birth Index and there is only 25 boys born on that day in Hennepin County

Re: ISO lost Son

Janice826110 — 2012-08-11 01:31:30Z

Your my first hope.!
I have his file number which is 75925,I signed the papers December 4th, 1969... Allen Olesky I think was the Judge.
Born:June 30th 1969
Saint Marys Hospital
Minneapolis, Mn

Re: ISO lost Son

kellyroad — 2012-08-10 14:01:15Z

Dear Janice

I belong to a volunteer sarch angel group that may be able to help you in your search . You are very lucky that you delivered your boy in a state that has its birth index online . I know that there were just 60+ births that day in Hennepin County and when you eliminate the girls , e have a much smaller group . We can then start tracking the boys down and for all we know your birth sone may be looking for you . If you are interested in my group helping you go to this site

http://www.gsadoptionregistry.com/

Scroll down and look to the far left for the "Search Request "form > fill it in with everything you have or know and submit it . When Gary posts your form , I will jump in and explain that I am helping you . MN is actually an easy state to search in and there is the power of a group searching !!!!

Re: born & adopted 11-22-1955.diane miller( i think)

1_mprince81 — 2012-08-10 02:02:30Z

I was born on 11/23/1955. My father was a lawyer and I was adopted through Catholic Social Services. I was born in St. Paul though.
Margaret Prince
mprince@mtaonline.net

Re: Looking for Birth-Father

eGENEee — 2012-07-11 19:43:16Z

Have you tried ordering your parents' marriage record? and their divorce record? Those should have more info on your father.

Re: Looking for Birth-Father

eGENEee — 2012-07-11 18:38:32Z

What is the source of information for your father's name?

Re: Looking for Birth-Father

kathybohman7979 — 2012-07-11 15:31:35Z

I was born in St. Paul and my sisters were born in Mpls. MN. My parents were married in 1957? I think they were married for only a short time. As a newspaper artical I fond says that my birthmother left us in an appartment building and we were found some time later. But she was divorced in the artical. We were found in Mpls. We really don't have a lot to go on to find any more information out. As all of my birthmother's siblings have passed away. Would appreciate any info. Thank you!

ISO lost Son

Janice826110 — 2012-06-29 15:57:27Z

First tomorrow will be Your 43rd Birthday and I would like to wish you a Happy Birthday
Born June 30th , 1969
To Janice Daher
Saint Mary's Hospital
Minneapolis, Mn
I gave my rights up at an early age to hopefully give you a better life then I could have given you.They would not let me name you but I always thought of you as Troy, but I think the foster home gave you the name Bobby.
I just hope someday we can meet.

Re: male 5/28/73 looking for birth parents

FiveV55 — 2012-06-03 11:59:04Z

If your birth certificate says you were born in Roseau, that would be correct information. Were you adopted as an infant? As for the letter from Rice County....were your adoptive parents living in Rice County when they adopted you? Typically an adoption is finalized in the Juvenile Court of the county where the adoptive parents lived at the time. Do you know what agency your adoption was handled through? If not, you can contact the Minnesota Dept. of Health. Ask them if you can have a copy of your original birth certificate (the one with your birth mother's name on it) and also what agency handled your adoption. You may not be able to get your original birth certificate, if your birth mother has not signed a release. But you don't know, if you don't ask.

male 5/28/73 looking for birth parents

thomasnordstrom509 — 2012-06-02 03:39:32Z

Adopted through the state. Birth certificate says roseau, I have recieved a letter from rice county so who knows what the actuall county is.

Re: Looking for my birth mother, from 1957

carolanderson1644 — 2012-04-07 22:01:24Z

Please e-mail me! rr-az@q.com

Re: Looking for my birth mother, from 1957

thyme03 — 2012-04-07 21:42:01Z

Is there anything more, that you can tell me about her? Or yourself?

Re: Looking for my birth mother, from 1957

carolanderson1644 — 2012-04-07 21:13:00Z

Virginia Foster [Stowell} was my mother. E-mail at rr-az@q.com

Re: Looking for Birth Parents, Family Adopted Nov. 18, 1966 St. Paul, MN Luthern Social Services

FiveV55 — 2012-03-20 12:05:49Z

This is an old post, so I am not sure if you have completed your search or not. But it did catch my eye.

Birthmothers are entitled to a photocopy of the birth certificate of a child they relinquished for adoption. You would contact the Minnesota Department of Health for this. This would help you to know the gender of your child, and the exact birth date if you do not remember. They can also tell you what adoption agency you used, if you do not remember.

Birthmothers are also entitled to a photocopy of any document they signed at the adoption agency.

Re: Looking for Birth Parents, Family Adopted Nov. 18, 1966 St. Paul, MN Luthern Social Services

pamweisel — 2012-03-19 03:52:05Z

New Contact Information for Pamela Weisel is pamweisel@gmail.com or call 713-979-6148. Nathan Weisel (adoptee) is my husband and I am helping him find his birth family. We now live in Texas about 60 miles NE of Houston.

Re: Looking for my birth mother, from 1957

thyme03 — 2012-03-17 18:42:25Z

Her middle name is Mary, not May.
I'm really not sure which was her maiden name, at the time of my birth. All I know is, those are the names on my adoption papers. And I was considered 'Baby Boy Foster', before having my name changed by my adoptive parents.

Re: Looking for my birth mother, from 1957

kellyroad — 2012-03-17 12:49:59Z

So ,as best you know, is her maiden name " Virginia May Foster" and the other names are married names, etc.......?

Looking for my birth mother, from 1957

thyme03 — 2012-03-17 05:51:06Z

Virginia Mary Foster (alias Huffine, Virginia Stowell)
she was 38 years old when I was born,in St.Paul,Minnesota
I hoping for any medical history & ancestry.

Re: Looking for Birth-Father

kathybohman7979 — 2012-01-31 00:33:17Z

Yes! I have found my birth-mother Shirley Mae Jacobson on here. That is the one with the Harry Jacobson and Linda Lokken as parents. Howevery you have the birthdate wrong, it is June 18th, 1938

Re: Looking for Birth-Father

eGENEee — 2012-01-17 18:19:38Z

Do any of these names fit?

Name Birth Day Birth County Father Mother

Dale Eugene Bixby
18 Mar 1961
Hennepin
Charles Raymond Bixby
Shirley Mae Jacobson

Denise Kay Bixby
31 Jan 1963
Steele
Charles Raymond Bixby
Shirley Mae Jacobson

Shirley Mae Jacobson
5 Oct 1936
Saint Louis
John Jacobson
Ida Paavala

Shirley Mae Jacobson
8 Jun 1938
Swift
Harry Manfred Jacobson
Linda Laura Lokken

Jeffrey Kurt Londgren
29 Jul 1955
Lyon
Duane Donald Londgren
Shirley Mae Jacobson

Cheryl Kay Londgren
10 Jul 1958
Lyon
Duane Donald Londgren
Shirley Mae Jacobson

Susan Dee Londgren
6 Nov 1961
Lyon
Duane Donald Londgren
Shirley Mae Jacobson

Re: Looking for Birth-Father

eGENEee — 2012-01-17 18:04:05Z

Do you know where you and your sisters were born? Do you know when your parents were married?

Looking for Birth-Father

kathybohman7979 — 2012-01-10 03:35:09Z

I am one of 3 little girls who were found in an appartment in Minneapolis in 1963. My sisters and I were all adopted into the same family and have stayed very close to each other. However we still don't know anything about our Birth-Father. Our Birth-Mothers name was Shirley Mae Jacobson (Weeks)was her married name. Her husband was Joe Weeks. And we believe that this is our birth-father. We are hopeing to find out any information we can about Joe Weeks. If anyone has any information please write me. Thank you SO much!

My current address:

gaetzarch — 2011-10-09 06:22:12Z

Tim Gaetz
1888 Chatham Terrace
New Brighton, MN 55112
612-267-2412

Re: Female born 3-1-1966 in Minneapolis

hipsfish_1 — 2011-07-12 04:09:33Z

Thank you for the information. I have been in contact with LSS for years, and they have contacted my BM 2x to gain information. After learning of my family's medical situation, LSS decided there would be nothing gained by them knowing more, or them giving more detailed information. It is so frustrating. We are now at the point that this may be the best step for us. Our medical situation is genetic and can be very detrimental to daily living.
Thanks again for your help!
Have a great day..
Kat

Re: Female born 3-1-1966 in Minneapolis

FiveV55 — 2011-07-12 02:12:02Z

Have you tried to have the agency notify your birth family of your medical/genetic condition? Minnesota Statute 259.83, Subd. 2 states:

"Health information.

When the agency receives information about a medical or genetic condition which has affected or may affect the physical or mental health of genetically related persons, the agency shall make a diligent effort to contact those persons in order to transmit the health information."

You will need to include with your request to the agency, a statement from your medical provider, testifying to the medical condition that you have that may affect other members of your birth family.

Sometimes these "medical notifications" can prompt the birth family to initiate contact with the adopted person.

Be sure you also file a "release" with the adoption agency. This will give them permission to give your contact information to any birth family members that also sign a "release."

Female born 3-1-1966 in Minneapolis

hipsfish_1 — 2011-07-11 22:12:16Z

I am searching for any information about my birth family. My BM's name we were told was Caroline A Madsen. It stated I had three or four older half siblings. My BF was of lebanese descent. My children and I have been found to have a rare genetic disorder so finding my family would aid in our better understanding of this disorder.
I was adopted through Lutheran Social Services out of Long Prairie when I was 3 months old. If you have any information, please pass it along.
Thanks so much!

Re: Looking for children of Alyce Coleman

cbainbridge47 — 2011-06-24 01:00:15Z

Best that I can puzzle this together, My grandmother, Alyce Coleman married Randolph Norem January of 1947. Their first born was Karen Ann, most probably born in February of 1947, and then their second child, Paul Randolph, was born in November of 1947. Randolph committed suicide Nov. 14th, 1947 (bad couple of years...), and Randolph was not listed as living at the time of Randolph Norem's (the father) death. Alyce then had another child on June 18th of 1948 and she died 8 days later as a complication of a c-section. (I would assume this is not Randolph's kid). Catherine was the informant at her death and I am thinking that all of the kids where adopted out at the time of her death(except my father, who had already been adopted out).

The obit for Alyce lists her two children and their names, but when we do a nationwide search for their first names and last names as "Norem" they are no where.

Re: Looking for children of Alyce Coleman

cbainbridge47 — 2011-06-24 00:51:53Z

I had assumed that the sister, Catherine had raised them because I know she had knowledge about them. Catherine lived in Pasadena, CA and I know the kids where raised in Bakersfield, so perhaps they where adopted out to a family that they knew. The first child was Karen Ann (Norem) and she was 16 months at the time of her mother's death, and the second child was listed as Paul Randolph (Norem) and he was listed as an infant at the time of her death.

Alyce had a third (or 4th child, counting my father born in 1945) that was born on June 18th, 1948 as a result of a c-section that Alyce had, and ultimately resulted in her death 8 days later on June 26th, 1948.

I have a PI looking into the two Norem children and even with ommitting the last names, and just searching on siblings with their first names, it comes up with over 1000 matches, which does not make sense.

I am assuming, that they where adopted out together through the children's home society, or catholic charities here, because that is where my father was adopted out from.

However, Alyce's mother, sister and two brothers resided in CA at the time of her death, and perhaps they knew of a family that adopted them. I know that Catherine, the sister, did keep track of how they where doing and followed them as they grew up.

My father learned of there whereabouts when he discovered that his mother was Alyce Coleman and made contact with the sister, Catherine. I know that Catherine provided him with much information, but my father will not let me see any of this information.

Is this making sense?

Re: Looking for children of Alyce Coleman

FiveV55 — 2011-06-24 00:23:21Z

I am glad to hear that the obituaries have provided a clue for your search. Did the obits give you a clue about the sister that you think took/adopted the children?

If the children were adopted, and were not infants, chances are that their first name stayed the same with the adoption.

Do you think the adoption occurred in Minnesota or in California? Do you know the exact birth dates of these children?

Re: Looking for children of Alyce Coleman

cbainbridge47 — 2011-06-23 22:01:15Z

Hi. I just wanted to let you know that you where absolutely right in having me check with the MHS. I found the obituaries, and in both cases, there where actual articles about each individual and it did list the names of the children that I am trying to locate.

Unfortunately, when researching the names, my PI came up with nothing, which means that most probably they where adopted out and there last names had been changed. Ugh...I thought once I found the names, I would be home free, but I had not considered that they might actually have been adopted out. I know they where adopted to a family that lived in Bakersfield, CA, so I am putting some postings out there for adoption finder services.

But, just wanted to make sure to say thank you. I found what I was looking for with both articles and the death certificates. Thanks again.

Re: Looking for children of Alyce Coleman

cbainbridge47 — 2011-06-22 13:53:54Z

Thank you so much for that advice. I do live in Minneapolis, and I did not realize the the MHS kept newspaper copies. I will head down there today. Thanks again.

Re: Looking for children of Alyce Coleman

FiveV55 — 2011-06-22 10:49:53Z

If you live in the Twin City area, you can go to the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul. They have microfilm copies of all the newspapers published in the State. They also have microfilm copies of their death certificates. These are in their library. Check their website for hours the library is open. I previously posted their death certificate info for you. Look for a newspaper from the area where they had resided. Start looking from the date of death to about 2 weeks after. Some small town newspapers only published obits once a week, and well after the funerals.

If you do not live in commuting distance of St. Paul, then you can order their death certificates through the MSH website, if you want copies of those.

I know that there are volunteers who will look up obits for folks. I know that RAOGK has volunteers, as does rootsweb. Check the internet for volunteers. They can help you if you are not able to get to St. Paul.