Obituaries

Aug 28, 2021

Michael Winston Shelander was born on March 17, 1945 at the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota the son of Warren and Arlys (Houfer) Shelander.  He grew up in Forest Lake, Minnesota where he attended school and enjoyed working on cars.  He was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War where he served for 13 months.

Aug 26, 2021

Marvin Leslie Edblom was born on November 9, 1934 to Sigfrid and Ethna (Edman) Edblom on the family farm in rural Beresford, SD. He was dedicated and confirmed at Brooklyn Evangelical Church. Marvin attended country school and later graduated from Beresford High School.

On June 29, 1951, Marvin was united in marriage to Roxanne June Hinkle. As...

Aug 24, 2021

Sharon Mae Bergstresser was born March 14, 1940 to Glenn and Lila (Johnson) Hanson in Albert Lea, MN. She was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Sharon graduated from high school in 1958 and continued her education at Mankato State University. She worked at Wallace’s Department Store while earning her degree in Early Childhood Education....

Aug 23, 2021

Barbara Ann Higgins was born on February 25, 1956, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to James and Ruth (Bengston) Higgins.  Barb attended Fergus Falls High School and earned her GED.  She worked for different stores cashiering and waitressing around the Fergus Falls area.  Barb moved to Alexandria in 1985 where she opened up a craft shop called the Tourist Trap.

Aug 23, 2021

Russell Orvin Larson was born on October 7, 1943, in Fergus Falls, MN to Orvin and Melvie (Westrom) Larson.  He grew up on the family farm near Elbow Lake and graduated from high school in 1961.  Russ attended Concordia College in Moorhead and was a member of the NAIA National Champion Football Team and received Little All-American Honorable mention...

Aug 22, 2021

Deane Dale Nelson was born on June 20th, 1937 to Dale and Myrtle Nelson in Brooten, MN. He grew up in Mound, MN, and he was the oldest of three boys. As a child and teenager living near Lake Minnetonka, Deane developed a love of swimming, boating, fishing, and simply being near the water. He spent many days at...

Aug 19, 2021

Rickey “Rick” Lynn Gawthrop was born on September 9, 1948, in Alexandria, MN to Dudley and Thelma (Davis) Gawthrop. Rick attended Alexandria Area Schools and graduated in 1966. He furthered his education at the Brown Institute in the Twin Cities for radio broadcasting. Following his schooling, Rick lived with his brother, Bill, and worked for a couple of years...

Aug 19, 2021

Kenneth James Patrick, age 63, formerly of Alexandria, MN, passed away on August 19, 2021, at his home in Albuquerque, NM. He will be lovingly remembered by his three children, five grandchildren, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and many cousins.

Kenneth was a talented artist, adoring father and grandfather, and loyal friend. He will be greatly...

Aug 18, 2021

Dorothy Paulina Strand (Ulrich) was born March 11, 1927, in Vernon Center, MN to Lina (Kietzer) and Harry Ulrich.  Dorothy was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Willow Creek, MN.

After she left home, she worked at the bakery in Mankato and as an operator at the local telephone company....

Aug 17, 2021

LaVonne Myrtis Goodell was born on April 12, 1928 in Tripp, South Dakota to John and Emily (Lang) Reiser. She grew up and attended school in Tripp, SD graduating in 1946. LaVonne continued her education in Sioux City, IA where she met her future husband, Oran Goodell. The couple were united in marriage on March 14, 1948. They traveled...

Aug 17, 2021

David Wayne Elton was born on April 29, 1962, in Morris, MN. He was the loving son of Wayne and Solveig (Knutson) Elton. David graduated from Jefferson High School in Alexandria in 1980.  He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1984. Dave spent the majority of his career in appliance sales, working for...

Aug 15, 2021

Martin Frank Tonn was born May 13, 1933 on the family farm to Frank Gustav Tonn and Marie Johanna Gruendemann Tonn. He attended District 69 school near Carlos, MN, through 8th grade, then Central Highschool in Alexadria. After graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Martin was sent to Germany as part of the Army of Occupation during...

Aug 15, 2021

Gretchen Renae (Fuhrmannek) Spaeth was born on August 3, 1964 in Worthington, MN to Erich and Crystal (Nelson) Fuhrmannek. She attended school in Pipestone, MN and graduated from Pipestone Area High School in 1983. Following her graduation, Gretchen attended St. Cloud State University. During this time, she met and married Paul Johnson. The couple had two children: Amber and...

Aug 14, 2021

Roger Donald Busch was born on July 29, 1959, in Alexandria, Minnesota to Donald and Bernadine (Klimek) Busch.  He graduated in 1977, from Jefferson High School in Alexandria and enjoyed working as a cook at Roger’s Steakout.  Roger enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1981.  He moved to Northome, Minnesota where he started his own...

Aug 13, 2021

LaVonne Lois (Londin) Hildebrandt was born on April 30, 1927, in St. Paul, Minnesota to Oscar and Vandala (Hogberg) Londin.  She graduated from Johnson High School in St. Paul.  LaVonne went to work as a clerk for Northern Pacific Railroad.

LaVonne was united in marriage to Robert “Bob” Hildebrandt on September 10, 1949, at Gustavus Adolphus in...

Aug 13, 2021

William Jay “Rock” Anderson, the son of Theodore and Dorothy Anderson, was born on July 3, 1922, in Wadena, MN.  Rock graduated from Wadena High School and continued his education at Carlton College.  He enlisted into the United States Air Force for three years during WWII.  After the war, he completed his college degree at Carlton College and then...

Aug 13, 2021

Orrin was born on December 17, 1933, in Bellingham, Minnesota, to Charles and Lydia (Hinneberg) Minzel.  Orrin served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. While proudly serving, he enjoyed traveling and exploring many sites in Europe.

Orrin met Karen Ronning on a blind date in 1956. Their blind date was arranged by mutual friends...

Aug 10, 2021

Robert Carl Williams was born to Walter Carl Williams and Ethel Mae (Thorp) Williams on March 15, 1933. He grew up on the family farm in Sherburn, MN. He attended school through the 10th grade and two years later he enlisted in the US Navy when he was 18; following in his brother’s footsteps.

He served as a fireman on...

Aug 9, 2021

Dorothy Marie Horvat was born on May 3, 1934, in Wells, Minnesota to John and Mary (Troska) Schultz. She grew up in Wells and attended St. Casimir Catholic School until 8th grade and later graduated from Wells High School. Dorothy continued her education at St. Mary’s University in Rochester, MN. After earning her LPN degree, she moved to Mankato,...

Aug 9, 2021

Gary Benedict Hanson, the son of Bennie Hanson and Helen (Mrnak) Pronek, was born on August 19, 1944, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Gary grew up in Alexandria and after the death of his father at age 10, Helen’s second husband Charlie Pronek helped raise him.  Gary attended country school and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1962.  He served in...