Obituaries

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

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...

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 23, 2022

Yvonne Ruby Maxine (Lanning) Suter was born March 28, 1936, in Sacred Heart, Minnesota to Magnus and Selma (Dybsand) Lanning.  Yvonne was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and went to Sacred Heart Public School.  On April 30, 1954, she was united in marriage to Albert X. Suter at St. Clara Parsonage in Clara City, Minnesota.

Yvonne...

Jun 22, 2022

Mary Viola (Klimek) Waldorf was born to Alexander and Viola (Koep) Klimek on February 23, 1957, in Parkers Prairie, MN. She attended parochial school at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Urbank, MN and later graduated from Parkers Prairie High School. Following High School, Mary attended Alexandria Technical and Community College for Office Administration.

While living in Urbank,...

Jun 19, 2022

David Virgil Martin Jr, the oldest son of David and Dorothy (Hill) Martin, was born on February 11, 1932, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.  In 1947, the family moved to Kerkhoven, Minnesota where Dave attended high school and played football and basketball.

In December, 1950, Dave joined the National Guard and served his country as an active duty...

Jun 18, 2022

Harold Schoenrock was born on September 3, 1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota the son of Harold and Laura (Leuthard) Schoenrock.  When Harold was 12 the family moved to Wheaton.  At the age of 18 he joined the United States Army where he served his country for three years.  After being Honorably Discharged he returned to Wheaton for a short time...

Jun 18, 2022

Marlene Helen Christopherson was born July 27, 1946, in Minneapolis MN, the daughter of Walter and Helen (Weresuik) Christopherson. She was baptized on July 13, 1947, in Minneapolis, MN and lived in Crystal MN for 71 years.

Marlene was a talented cake decorator and ran the Christy Bake Shop in Plymouth, MN, for 37 years.  After the...

Jun 17, 2022

Jack Roger Kangas was born on March 7, 1933, in rural Brandon, the son of Henry & Stella (Heikkinen) Kangas. He grew up on a farm in Urness Township, attended country school and graduated from Kensington.

Jack joined the Navy on October 12, 1952. He was stationed on the USS Hancock and is a Korean War Veteran....

Jun 17, 2022

Candy Lynn Stern was born on May 23, 1975, to Jerry and Linda Kay (Stern) Deidrich in South St. Paul, Minnesota. She attended elementary school in Carlos, Minnesota and Jefferson Senior High School in Alexandria, Minnesota.

Candy was united in marriage to Scott Steidl for 23 years. With this union the couple brought four beautiful children into...

Jun 14, 2022

Corinne Winifred Johnson was born on May 2, 1928, in Hoffman, Minnesota the daughter of Carl and Winnifred (Ellingson) Johnson.  She was baptized and confirmed at Lincoln Lutheran Church in rural Hoffman. Corinne attended Hoffman High School and graduated in 1946.  After graduating high school, she attended Miss Wood’s Kindergarten and Primary College where she earned her Associate of...

Jun 14, 2022

Orrin Alfred Lommen, the youngest son of Alfred and Hannah (Dau) Lommen was born on February 15, 1940 in Alexandria MN.  In 1959 he graduated with the first senior class to graduate from Jefferson High School in Alexandria. Following graduation he worked for Kluver Garbage Collectors for several years.  He then got his dream job of working for...