Obituaries

Jul 27, 2022

James (Jimmy) Emerald Ostenson passed away peacefully in his sleep with family at his side on July 27, 2022, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Alexandria.

He was born January 18,1953 at Kanabec County Hospital in Mora, MN to Emerald & Mildred Ostenson of Peace Township. He was baptized into the Lutheran faith in 1953 and confirmed...

Jul 26, 2022

Ellen Lucile Edwards was born on March 11, 1928, in Ann Township, MN to Theodore and Lillie (Knudson) Knutson. She had 3 brothers and 2 sisters and they grew up on the farm in Cottonwood County, south of Revere, MN. Lucile was baptized at Old Westbrook Lutheran Church and attended District 38 Country School. As a child and while growing...

Jul 22, 2022

James "Jim" Krassas was born on November 15, 1935 to George & Della (Faber) Krassas in Alexandria, MN. He attended school in Alexandria, MN then attended college in Duluth, MN for Design Engineering.

In 1956 he met and married Elaine Joan Palm of Ashby, MN. They were married on November 24, 1956 at Zion Lutheran Church in Alexandria....

Jul 20, 2022

Nicholas (Nick) Joseph Hodek was born on April 8, 1957, in Alexandria, MN to Kenneth and Patricia (Malone) Hodek. He attended Jefferson Senior High School where he competed in wrestling and graduated in 1975.

After high school, Nick attended Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN. After one year of college, Nick moved to Moorhead, MN where...

Jul 16, 2022

Melvin Donald Lamar, the son of Donald and Gunda (Knutson) Lamar, was born in Barron, WI, on June 27, 1931.  Mel grew up in Barren, WI, before moving to Racine, WI.  He attended Horlick High School in Racine where he met Nora Torosian.  He started his career in music, playing in bands around Southeast, WI.  On January 12, 1951,...

Jul 13, 2022

It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of Lois Hains, who passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 13th, in hospice care at Diamond Willow in Alexandria at the age of 102. Previously she lived in independent care at Grand Arbor in Alexandria for 10 years, and it was there that she suffered a severe stroke on...

Jul 11, 2022

Duane Lennart Hammargren, 90, was welcomed into heaven on July 11, 2022 with open arms by his wife Jo and his daughter Kathryn.  Duane lived a rich and full life filled with love, happiness, faith and service.

Duane was born on July 29, 1931 in St. Paul, MN to Lennart and Edith (Strong) Hammargren.

He...

Jul 11, 2022

Merill R. Kiehne passed away peacefully at Windmill Ponds in Alexandria MN on July 11th 2022. Merill, son of Myrtle (Hanson) and Otto Kiehne is the second youngest of 5 children and grew up in the farming community of Holmes City, located west of Alexandria.

During Merill’s early years he worked on the family farm and performed other...

Jul 10, 2022

Cheryl Rae Ossenfort, age 74, of Alexandria, MN, formerly of Pipestone passed away on Sunday, July 10, 2022.  Cheryl spent the last weeks of her life receiving compassionate end of life care for Dementia with Autumn Cottages in Alexandria.

Cheryl was born on September 22, 1947 to Eldon and Mildred (Tracy) Anderson in Worthington MN. Shortly after...

Jul 8, 2022

Blanche Van Kempen passed away peacefully at Glacial Ridge Hospital in Glenwood, MN, on Friday, July 8, at the age of 93.

Blanche Anastasia Bresson, daughter of Alfred and Kunda Gunda (Bertamus) Bresson, was born on September 20, 1928, in Canby, MN. She attended Yellow Medicine Country School through fourth grade before moving to Morris in 1937,...

Jul 7, 2022

Roger Vraa, age 81, of Alexandria, Minnesota, passed away on July 7, 2022 after a three-year battle with cancer. He was born to Arlo Vraa and Ruby Nephew on October 25, 1940 in Winger, Minnesota. He grew up in Fosston, Minnesota and graduated from Fosston High School in 1958. He continued his further education during 36 years of his...

Jul 6, 2022

Erling John Olson was born on October 22, 1954, in Duluth, Minnesota to Gordon and Helen (McCreary) Olson. He attended and graduated from high school in 1972. Erling furthered his education at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND. He double majored in soil science and composite science, earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture. Following his education,...

Jul 4, 2022

Nancy "Nan" Elizabeth Thornton of St. Cloud, MN, passed away on July 4, 2022 at St. Cloud Hospital at the age of 67. Born on October 17, 1954, in Alexandria, MN to Joseph and Janice (Schwagerl) Thornton, Nan attended school in Alexandria and graduated from Jefferson Senior High School. She was an honor student and won many awards in...

Jul 4, 2022

Dean Lee Koenecke was born on January 31, 1939, to Frank and Elizabeth (Chworowsky) Koenecke. He was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran church in Jackson, Minnesota and attended school in Dunnell and Sherburn, Minnesota, and then at the Minnesota School of Business. After taking Basic Training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he served in the National Guard and worked for...

Jul 1, 2022

Harley Zimmel, age 76, of Evansville, MN, died unexpectedly on Friday, July 1, 2022, at his home.

Harley, the son of Leavern and Lucille (Gens) Zimmel, was born on March 17, 1946, in Fosston, MN. He grew up on the family farm five miles east of Mahnomen, MN. On June 17, 1967, Harley was united in marriage...

Jun 29, 2022

Florence Hanson Greenquist, age 91, passed away on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 in San Mateo, California at Sunrise of San Mateo Assisted Living Facility.

Florence was born on July 3, 1930, the last of 10 children born to Norwegian immigrants Thorvald and Sena Hanson of Pennington, Minnesota. She grew up on her parent's homestead, attended nearby Kitchi...

Jun 28, 2022

Allen Adam Otterstetter was born on July 31st, 1950, to Helen Dorothy (Dewald) and Erwin Walter Otterstetter, in Ellendale, ND.  He lived in North Dakota until 1966, when his family moved to Minneapolis, MN.  It was here that Allen enlisted in the United States Army.  He served in the army as a mechanic in the 11th Infantry Second Battalion,...

Jun 26, 2022

Dennis Erickson, 83, passed away June 26, 2022 at Essentia Health – St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Brainerd, MN.  He was born August 18, 1938, in Swedish Hospital, Minneapolis, MN, to Lawrence and Amy (Long) Erickson.  He grew up on a farm in Cambridge, MN, and Wheatland, ND.

Dennis graduated from Wheatland High School...

Jun 25, 2022

Mary Beth (Janke) Wagner was born on January 11th, 1952, to Robert and Muriel (Jensen) Janke in Alexandria, MN. Mary graduated in 1970 from Jefferson Senior High School and married Pat Ellingson. Together they were blessed with two children, Jeff and JD. Mary married Ron Wagner in 1992 and in 1995, they made their home on Lake Latoka. She...

Jun 25, 2022

Alice Catherine (Heldt) Strand was born on October 14, 1939, along with her twin brother: Albert, to Albert and Magdalene (Konieczny) Heldt in Appleton, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith. Alice attended and graduated from Appleton High School in 1957; being only 17 at the time, she was the youngest one in her class to...