Obituaries

Jul 5, 2020

Darlene Joyce Ulwelling, age 77 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away peacefully surrounded by family Sunday, July 5, 2020, at St. Mark’s Nursing Home in Austin. Darlene was born November 10, 1942 in Milaca, Minnesota, to Elbert and Lavina (Moss) Sheely. She attended elementary school in Dexter and then attended Elkton High School.  In her younger years during...

Jul 5, 2020

Lucille “Lucy” Sophia Peterson, age 98 of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away Sunday, July 5, 2020 at her home in Blooming Prairie. Lucille Sophia Hartle was born December 4, 1921 in Somerset Township, Steele County, Minnesota, to William and Mary (Seykora) Hartle. She attended country school District #25 and Owatonna High School, graduating in 1939. Prior to...

Jul 4, 2020

Maxine Lucille DeVries, age 93 of Austin, Minnesota died Saturday, July 4, 2020 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin. She was born July 20,1926 in Mitchell County, Iowa to Myron and Edith (VanSyoc) Starry. Maxine grew up in the Riceville and McIntire Area. She attended country school and graduated from Riceville High School with a normal training certificate....

Jun 30, 2020

Roger Leo Epley, age 75 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, at his residence in rural Austin, Minnesota.  Roger was born to Earl and Margaret (Mueller) Epley on September 16, 1944, in Austin, Minnesota.  He attended Pacelli High School and graduated in 1962.  After high school, Roger attended vocational school.  On June 13,...

Jun 23, 2020

Joseph Randall Allen, age 31, of Austin died Tuesday, June 23, 2020 unexpectedly at his home in Rochester, MN. Joseph was born August 18, 1988 in Austin, Minnesota to Randy and Holly (DeBoer) Allen. He grew up in Austin, Minnesota before moving to Rochester, Minnesota. He graduated in 2007 from Austin High School. He currently was attending classes at Bryan...

Jun 20, 2020

Walter Benesh age 95 of Austin, passed away Saturday, June 20, 2020 at Comforcare in Austin. Walter was born in 1925 the son of Edward and Iva Benesh in Myrtle, MN. He graduated from Austin High School. Walter then serves in the US Coast Guard. He met Lois Patterson and the couple was married in 1949. They enjoyed 70 years...

Jun 18, 2020

Norma Jean Simonson, 89 of Austin, MN, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on June 18, 2020 while a resident of St. Marks in Austin, MN, where she had resided since 2017.

Norma Jean Lamp was born September 5, 1930, to William J. and Cora F. (Champlin) Lamp in Austin,...

Jun 18, 2020

Beverly Jean Soderberg, age 91 of Austin, Minnesota, died Thursday, June 18, 2020 at home in Austin. Born April 20, 1929, to Rose T. Daniel in St. Paul, Minnesota. Beverly graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy, St. Paul, in 1947. After high school she enrolled in Brown Institute for radio broadcasting and graduated in the first women’s class...

Jun 17, 2020

Becky Jo (Ahles) Anderson (64) of Austin, MN passed away peacefully at Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin after a courageous battle of cancer on June 17, 2020. She was born in Austin, MN to Jerome and Cleo (Hansen) Ahles on September 30, 1955. She married Dale M. Anderson on January 25, 1975 and together they raised their two...

Jun 16, 2020

Robert H. Helfritz, age 90, of Austin, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2020 at St. Mark’s Nursing Home Hospice in Austin. Robert was born April 2, 1930 and raised in Lyle, MN. After graduation, he served in the national guard and was sent to Korea for active duty in 1951. After serving almost 2 years, he was honorably discharged...

Jun 11, 2020

Kathleen Bernadette (Platz) Frisk, age 100, of Austin, passed away Thursday, June 11, 2020 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester after a brief illness. Kathleen was born November 4, 1919 in Langdon, North Dakota to Bernard Henry Platz and Josephine Emily Wimmer. She was the oldest of ten children, all of whom preceded her in death. Kathleen grew up in...

Jun 11, 2020

Ruth M. Olson, age 94, of Austin, died Thursday, June 11, 2020 at Comforcare after a short illness. Ruth was born June 25, 1925 in Austin, Minnesota to Ernest and Helene Iverson. She was a lifelong resident of Austin. In July of 1946 she married Robert D. Olson in the family home of Robert’s parents. To this union five children...

Jun 11, 2020

Dennis Dean “Denny” Berhow, age 78 of Pleasant Grove, Minnesota, was called home to be with the Lord for all eternity on Thursday, June 11, 2020, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Saint Marys Campus. He was born February 23, 1942 in Austin, Minnesota, to Carrol and Mathilda (Krantz) Berhow. He lived most his life in Pleasant Grove....

Jun 10, 2020

John Dean Knudtson, age 21 of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at his home in New Prague, Minnesota. John was born December 4, 1998, in Brainerd, Minnesota, to Joseph and Wendy (Miller) Knudtson. He enjoyed skateboarding, hanging out with friends, playing Magic card games, and video games, especially Call of Duty and...

Jun 7, 2020

Gwendolyn “Betty” Boysen, age 97 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Sunday, June 7, 2020, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home in Austin. Gwendolyn Betty Latcham was born in April of 1923 in Winneshiek County, Iowa, to Robert and Florence (Kerr) Latcham. In Betty’s early years her family moved often. In 1940, she graduated from Preston High School. On...

Jun 4, 2020

Richard Lee Anderson, age 72, of Austin, passed away Thursday, June 4th, 2020 at his home after a nine-month battle with cancer. He was born at St. Olaf Hospital in Austin on January 9th, 1948 to Reuben and Mildred (Thompson) Anderson. Rich met his future bride, Jeanne Judd, on March 23rd, 1974 at the B & J...

Jun 3, 2020

Joyce Schmit Lerum, age 74, of Austin, died Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at her home. Joyce was born October 24, 1945 in Austin, Minnesota to Lawrence and Dorothy (Bisbee) Schmit. She was united in marriage to Craig E. Lerum. Joyce was such a joy to everyone she ever came in contact with. She spread her love and her infectious smile....

Jun 2, 2020

Nathan “Nate” Sylvester Magnuson, age 88 of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie. Nathan was born February 4, 1932 on the family farm in Newry Township, Freeborn County. He was the son of Selmer and Gertrude (Paulson) Magnuson. Nathan attended country school at the Magnuson School...

Jun 2, 2020

Raymond “Ray” Ilet Opsahl, age 93, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2020, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Saint Marys Campus. Ray was born May 2, 1927 in Houston County, Minnesota, to Roy and Ida (Nelson) Opsahl. He attended school in Fillmore County, Houston County and in Austin, Minnesota. In 1945, Ray was drafted into...

May 29, 2020

Ernest D. Betlach, age 96 of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away peacefully Friday evening, May 29, 2020, at Owatonna Hospital in Owatonna, Minnesota. Ernie was born January 12, 1924 in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota to Edward J. and Anna (Nymon) Betlach. He grew up in Blooming Prairie and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1942. Ernie, along...