All Obituaries

Merle Wilson McNutt, age 102 of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at Heather Haus Assisted Living in Blooming Prairie. Merle was born November 14, 1918, in Archer, Iowa the son of Homer and Alice (Halstead) McNutt. He graduated from Sheldon High School in 1937. On December 14, 1942, Merle enlisted in the United States Navy and served during WWII until his honorable discharge in November of 1945. His service never took him overseas and he often said that he...

Lillian Elsiemae Fetterly became our angel on Monday, September 13, 2021 at the spry age of 94.  Lillian - aka Peegee- was born on August 12, 1927 to Wiley and Dorothy (Mohr) Tolen in Los Angeles, CA.  She was the proud oldest sibling to Wiley (Joy) Tolen (WA) and Vicky Kline (CT). She met Floyd E Fetterly on his motorcycle trip through California.  They married at a chapel in Las Vegas, NV on March 6, 1944.  They settled in Austin, MN where they built their home and...

Roman Jay Hajek, A.K.A Romsi, Roman the Gladiator, was born on February 25th, 1956. Roman was 65 years old at the time of death. He passed away at his home in Austin MN on the evening of September 12th, 2021. He was surrounded by family and friends when he passed. He joined the military soon after graduation in 1976. SFC Roman Hajek, Sargant First Class. 2nd B.N. 135th Inf. 213N – 75th Ranger Regiment. 4/9 Inf. Alaska-Manchu BTN. 3/47 Inf. FT. Lewis Foot Cavalry. He retired from the...

Eugene Oscar “Gene” Holst, age 86, of rural Austin, Minnesota, passed away at his home on Saturday, September 11, 2021 surrounded by family.  He was born on October 21, 1934 at St. Olaf Hospital in Austin, Minnesota to Oscar F. and Ludmilla E. (Schramm) Holst and was raised on the family farm.  Gene attended Sunny Side School in Red Rock Township through eighth grade, Dr. Martin Luther High School in New Ulm, Minnesota in ninth grade and finished his education at Austin...

Betty Gabrielson, age 93, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, September 9, 2021, at her home in Austin. Betty Jane Schumaker was born March 12, 1928, to Fred and Elsa (Klunder) Schumaker in Dunbar Township near Minnesota Lake. They then moved north of Wells, Minnesota, where she went to school in Waseca County and Waldorf. Betty worked on the farm and was a caregiver for her grandma. They later moved to Albert Lea, Minnesota, where she met Douglas Gabrielson. The couple married...

Donald Jackel, age 86, of Austin, Minnesota passed peacefully to the arms of Jesus on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at home surrounded by his family.   Donald Eugene Jackel was born April 19, 1935 in Owatonna, Minnesota, the son of Walter and Esther (Schmidt) Jackel. Don was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Havana Township. He attended St. John’s parochial school, Claremont High School, and graduated in 1953. Don met the love of his life, Barbara...

Helen Adella Knutson, age 97 of Austin, Minnesota entered her eternal home on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.  She was born April 8, 1924 on a farm near LeRoy, Minnesota.  She was the daughter of Henry and Louise (Christianson) Knutson.  She had one sister, Marion Knutson.  Passionate about education, Helen began her career as an elementary teacher in a country school.  She later taught in Taopi, LeRoy and Northfield before dedicating 31 years to Sumner Elementary...

Beverly Jean Hansen, age 83, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at Our House Senior Living-Memory Care in Austin. Beverly Lee was born May 31, 1938, at home on her grandfather Knute Lee’s farm near Waltham, Minnesota, to Theodore and Beulah (Davis) Lee. She grew up in Austin and graduated from Austin High School in 1956. After graduation she worked in the office as a bookkeeper for Mier-Wolf Furniture for 5 years. Beverly met the love of her life Raymond...

Nadine E. Johnson, age 90, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, September 3, 2021, at home in Austin. Nadine Elaine Katzung was born September 25, 1930, in Mansfield, Minnesota, the daughter of Louis and Inger (Svendsen) Katzung. She attended country school and graduated in 1948 from Albert Lea High School. On June 25, 1948, Nadine was united in marriage to Richard A. Johnson at the First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The couple raised four children. Throughout her...

Richard “Dick” B. Kraushaar, age 89 ½, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, September 3, 2021, at Mayo Clinic Health System Austin. He was born on February 10, 1932, in Freeborn County, Minnesota, to George and Dora (Klukow) Kraushaar. Dick attended Austin schools and graduated from Austin High School in 1950. On December 13, 1953, he married Shirley Ann Peterson at Hayward Lutheran Church in Hayward, Minnesota. From this union, five children, Steve, Debby, Peggy,...