Obituaries

Nov 17, 2022

LaVon C. Hernandez, age 80, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away Thursday, November 17, 2022, at Heather Haus Assisted Living in Blooming Prairie. LaVon Carroll Filley was born December 24, 1941, at a maternity home in Blooming Prairie, to Raymond “Bob” and Mabel (DeRaad) Filley. She grew up in Blooming Prairie and graduated in 1959 from Blooming Prairie High School....

Nov 17, 2022

Carl “Junior” Swenson, age 86, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away Thursday, November 17, 2022, at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie. Junior was born in September of 1936, in Newry Township, Minnesota, to Carl, Sr. and Rose Swenson. He attended Blooming Prairie High School through the 9th grade. Junior entered the United States Army in 1959. During his...

Nov 17, 2022

A lifelong resident, Shirley Coyle was a familiar face in the Austin community. Born April 22, 1952, Shirley displayed an unwavering love for her family from an early age. She spent most of her life in the 5th and 5th neighborhood in NW Austin. She attended St. Augustine grade school, graduating from Pacelli High School in 1970. She was a...

Nov 17, 2022

Shirley Ann "Polly" Nystrom, age 93 of Austin, Minnesota died Thursday November 17, 2022 at Sacred Heart Hospice in Austin.  Shirley was born August 4, 1929 in Red Wing, Minnesota to Edward and Blanche (Lange) Schmidt.  Shirley graduated from Red Wing High School in 1947.

On February 3, 1951, she was united in marriage to James D....

Nov 13, 2022

Vickie L. Waltz, age 72, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Methodist Campus. Vickie Lynn Wilcox was born April 4, 1950, to Charles and Eleanor (Thurneau) Wilcox in Austin, Minnesota. She graduated from Hayfield High School and went on to attend the University of Minnesota – Waseca. On April 22, 1978,...

Nov 12, 2022

David “Dave” LaVerne Taylor, age 76, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on November 12, 2022, at home surrounded by his family after an eight-year battle with cancer. Dave was born September 16, 1946, in Austin, Minnesota to Louis “Tip” and Marian (Barr) Taylor. He graduated with the class of 1964 from Lyle High School and went on to attend Austin...

Nov 12, 2022

Adella Agnes Attig, age 95 of Owatonna, formerly of Austin and London, entered eternal rest with her children by her side on Saturday, November 12th at Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna.

Della was born August 19th, 1927, in Stacyville, Iowa to Erhard and Amanda (Diedrich) Weisensel.  She graduated 8th grade at Visitation School in Stacyville.

Della...

Nov 11, 2022

Lawrence Raymond Esplan, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota passed away at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, Minnesota on November 11, 2022, at 77-years-old after a short illness. He was born to Sylvester and Doris (Nordine) Esplan on August 10, 1945, in Ordnance, Oregon and moved to Blooming Prairie, Minnesota when he was 4-years-old.  He graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1963. ...

Nov 10, 2022

Robert “Bob” J. Juhnke, age 87 of Lansing, MN, passed away peacefully on November 10th, 2022. Bob was born April 13th, 1935, in Udolpha Township to Walter and Florence (Frohreich) Juhnke. He was raised on a farm in the Waltham, MN area. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waltham, MN. Bob attended Austin High School. He...

Nov 10, 2022

Ardis E. Knutson, age 82, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away Thursday, November 10, 2022, at Fieldcrest Care Center in Hayfield, Minnesota. Ardis Evelyn Lind was born April 6, 1940, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Everett and Dorothy (Eckman) Lind. She graduated from Robinsdale High School and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Minnesota....

Nov 9, 2022

SueAnn Freese, age 62, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, surrounded by loved ones at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Saint Marys Campus.

Sue was born on December 18, 1959, to Donald and Cleo (Carmack) Barnett. As a toddler, Sue spent her time in a quaint and bustling home with her loving mother, father, and her...

Nov 9, 2022

Dorothy K. Stern, age 96, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at Our House Senior Living – Austin Memory Care. Dorothy Kathleen Sukow was born at home in rural Dexter, Minnesota to Karl and Martha (Furstenberg) Sukow on January 3, 1926. She received her education from Elkton High School, graduating in 1943. Dorothy was united in marriage...

Nov 6, 2022

Jeanne Dolan, age 70, died on November 6, 2022, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. She was born on May 6, 1952. Jeanne was challenged with many medical issues but held strong with her faith in Christ. She lived in the Twin Cities for 25 years and worked as a checker at Cub Foods.

Many times, her regular customers would...

Nov 6, 2022

LeRoy Koch, Jr., age 91, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at Medford Senior Care Center in Medford, Minnesota. LeRoy was born November 14, 1930. He served his country in the United States Air Force. His hobbies included fishing, golfing, and wood carving. His greatest joy was spending time with his family. LeRoy had an unwavering...

Nov 4, 2022

Alan Merle Christensen, age 69, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 4, 2022, at Good Samaritan Society – Comforcare in Austin. Alan was born on October 6, 1953, in Austin, Minnesota, to Stanley and Lucille (Iverson) Christensen. May his adventurous spirit and positive outlook on life live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved...

Nov 2, 2022

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Novotny, age 73 of Austin, died Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.

Betty was born September 28, 1949 in Austin, Minnesota to John and Lucille Novotny. She grew up in Austin and graduated from Pacelli High School in 1968. After graduation, Betty went to work at Coast to Coast...

Nov 1, 2022

Karen Ann Maxfield, age 81, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at her home in Austin. Karen Ann Rushton was born June 23, 1941, at home in Austin, Minnesota, to Paul “Curly” and Helen (Larson) Rushton. She was baptized and confirmed at Crane Community Chapel in Austin, where she was a long-time member. Karen graduated from Austin...

Oct 30, 2022

Ruth “Ruthie” A. Anderson, age 73, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, October 30, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Saint Marys Campus. Ruth Ann Jacobson was born May 6, 1949, in Austin, Minnesota, to George and Violet (Otto) Jacobson. She grew up and attended school in Austin, graduating from Austin High School in 1967. Ruthie was united in...

Oct 28, 2022

Robert Allan Nordstrom, age 82, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Friday, October 28, 2022, at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea.

A private family memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2022, at the Worlein Blooming Prairie Funeral Home in Blooming Prairie. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will be...

Oct 27, 2022

Michelle Baudler Mergen, age 58, of Plymouth, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly on October 27, 2022, at home. She was born August 30, 1964, and with her parents Bruce and Anita Baudler lived most of her life in Minnesota. Michelle graduated from Champaign, Illinois High School in 1982 and moved to Bismarck, ND, where she lived and worked for six years. In...