Vancel H. "Vance" Lancaster, of Blackduck, Minn, died Monday, August 21, 2000 at Bemidji Hospital in Bemidji, Minn. His death was of natural causes. Vance was 66 years old.

Vance was born Oct. 4, 1933 in Greentop, Missouri. He was one of three children born to the marriage of Harold Lancaster and Maxine Ladwig. He was baptized as an adult and affirmed his faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Spring Valley, Minn. Vance was educated and graduated from Mclntire High School in Mclntire, Iowa. Vance joined the United States Army in January of 1954 and served for two years. He continued to serve his country in the Army Reserves until 1961.

Vance was united in marriage to JoAnn Voxland in July 19, 1953. To this marriage, God blessed them with four children--Steven, James, Susan and Brian.

The couple farmed a short time in the Ostrander, Minn, area with his step-father. Vance owned and operated a service station in the community of Ostrander. He also was involved in agricultural sales and sales management for 20 years. Later, the couple purchased and operated a resort in Blackduck, Minn.

Vance loved the outdoors, He was an avid hunter, fisherman and golfer. He enjoyed owning all the newest recreational toys. He was a storyteller and usually liked getting in the last word. His greatest joy in life was spending time with his grandchildren.

Vance was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Blackduck, Minn, and a member of the Blackduck American Legion. He was a former member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ostrander, Minn.

Vance is survived by his spouse JoAnn; three sons, Steven of McLean, Virg. and his spouse Ronnie, James of Raleigh, N.C. and his spouse Laure, Brian of Paris, Tex.; one daughter, Susan (Lancaster) Harrison of Nevada, Iowa and her spouse Danny; 11 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; one great-grandchild and one step-great-grandchild; a sister, Bonnie Monson of Blackduck, Minn.; a step-sister, Lydell Reinardy of Cannon Falls, Minn; and a step-brother, Gary Kohn, of LeRoy, Minn.

Vance was preceded in death by his parents; a stepfather, a brother, a step-sister and a nephew.

Source: Riceville Recorder Aug. 31, 2000 from the Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee, Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the web by Bill Waters