Obituaries

Miriam Inez Sexton

1926-2006

A memorial service was Tuesday for Miriam Inez Sexton, 80, a 12-year Minden resident, at FitzHenry's Funeral Home.

Mrs. Sexton was born March 5, 1926, in Oakland, Calif., to Leo A. Mitchell and Mary Rigney. She attended Holy Names College in Oakland, Calif. She was a homemaker and a director of Catholic religious education. Mrs. Sexton was also a member of many organizations including Legion of Mary, Master Catechists - CCD, Dioceses of Sacramento, Alameda and Reno.

She is survived by husband Timothy; sister Vivian Cutcher; brother Leroy Mitchell; daughter and son-in-law Lela Sexton and John Burroughs of Cardiff, Calif.; sons and daughters-in-law John and Lizzie Sexton of Veneto, Italy, and Tim and Teresa Sexton of Gardnerville; and five grandchildren.

Ms. Sexton will be buried at Veterans Cemetery in Fernley. FitzHenry's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mikel Kortan

1917-2006

A memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Gall Catholic Church for Mikel Kortan, 89, who died May 29, 2006, in Gardnerville.

He was born in Utica, S.D., Feb. 6, 1917, to John Kortan and Kristina (Becvar) Kortan. As a child, he spoke only Czech and learned English in school.

He completed high school, stayed on the family farm until he went into the Air Force and was stationed at Key Field in Meridian, Miss. While there, he met Addie Purvis, and they were married on Sept. 1, 1945. As a wedding gift, his parents gave them a farm in Yankton, S.D. There they began their family, and within a few years relocated to Laurel, Miss., where they opened a shoe repair business.

In 1955 they moved to Sacramento, Calif., where they raised their family, and remained there until moving to Gardnerville in 1988.

Mr. Kortan was employed as a civilian airplane mechanic at Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento until he retired. He was a member of the American Legion and enjoyed camping, gardening, woodworking, puttering on cars, and after retirement, he became an avid bowler. He especially loved Polka music and rarely missed a Lawrence Welk show. He and his family attended Holy Family Catholic Church in Citrus Heights, Calif. He also enjoyed long road trips to South Dakota, Nebraska and Idaho. Mr. Kortan is survived by his wife Addie; sister Mildred Cimpl of Las Vegas; son and daughter-in-law Bob and Joanne of Gardnerville; daughter Karen of Gardnerville, daughter and son-in-law Kristina and Mark Conner of Victor, Idaho; stepdaughter Sara Souhrada of Atwater, Calif.; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and one stepson. Interment will be in the family plot in South Dakota.