Turtle River - Connie L. Lancaster, 51, died Sunday, August 23, 1998 at North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday, August 26) at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home in Bemidji with Pastor Robert Lancaster officiating. Casketbearers will be Harvey Tack, Russell Bahr, Dean Anderson, Tim Anderson, Ken Beck and Terry Mayer. Honorary casketbearers will be Don Matthews, Lyle Starren and Orin Lund. Interment will be in Pine Ridge Cemetery in Turtle River.
Visitation was held on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home in Bemidji.
Connie Lois Meyer was born on July 11, 1947 in Fairmont, the daughter of Clarence and Jean (Hines) Meyer. She was a young girl when her family moved to Bemidji where she attended Northern Elementary School and Bemidji High School.
On February 5, 1966 Connie married Gordon W. Lancaster in California. The couple lived in California for several years where she worked in food service. In February of 1972 the couple returned to Bemidji, and Connie worked at Pamida until 1978 when she and Gordon purchased the 71 Bar in Turtle River. The couple operated the business until selling it in February of this year. Connie also attended the Bemidji Beauty Academy and after earning her beautician's license operated a beauty shop in Turtle River.
She shared a love for cars with her husband and was involved in stock car racing at tracks across the Midwest for 26 years. She was a member of the Pontiac-Oakland International Car Club and Minnesota Street Rod Association and was presently a member of the Turtle River Village Council.
Connie is survived by her husband, Gordie Lancaster of Turtle River; one son, Chad (Stacie) of Mason City, IA; two daughters, Rhonda (Kevin) Bahr of Bemidji and Rita (Karl) Sorenson of Plummer; 10 grandchildren; one sister Bonnie (Harvey) Tack of Bemidji; two brothers, Ronald (Sadie) Meyer and Donald (Paula) Meyer, both of Bemidji; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents.