Obituaries

Jan 4, 2023

Lois Beth Hesla, age 97, of Austin, Minnesota, died Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at her home at the Cedars of Austin. She was born on December 2, 1925, at home in Sisseton, South Dakota, the daughter of Peter Larson and Ruth (Gunnarson) Larson. Lois was baptized and confirmed at Goodwill Lutheran Church in Sisseton, and graduated from Sisseton High School...

Jan 2, 2023

Gaylord Oliver Tollefson, age 85, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away January 2, 2023. Gaylord was born March 5, 1937, in Austin, Minnesota, to Oliver and Clara (Lostegaard) Tollefson. He was baptized and confirmed at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church. Gaylord attended country school and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1955. Following graduation, Gaylord entered the United States...

Jan 2, 2023

Eldean Milan Erickson, age 81, of Austin, died Monday, January 2, 2023, at Saint Mark's Living.

Eldean was born September 14, 1941, in Boone, Iowa to Ernest and Myrtle Erickson. He grew up outside of Stanhope, IA on the family farm and graduated from Iowa State, studying art and interior design.

He moved to Austin,...

Jan 1, 2023

Margaret “Maggie” Schrafel was born to George and Reka Vogelsang of rural Dexter Township, Mower County, MN on December 31, 1931, Maggie was the 7th of 12 siblings. Only her younger sisters, Helen Colburg of St. Cloud, MN and Mary Halverson of Phoenix, AZ, survive her. She spent her youth on the farm, west of Dexter, and attended School District...

Dec 30, 2022

Lamen Stuart Johnson, age 96, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2022, at Mayo Clinic Health System Austin. Lamen was born on October 25, 1926, in Mower County to Henry and Bena (Knutson) Johnson.  He was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hayfield, Minnesota and attended school in the Hayfield area until eighth grade. At that time,...

Dec 28, 2022

Wayne David Benson, age 54, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at his home in rural Blooming Prairie. Wayne was born September 6, 1968, to David and Janet (Samplawski) Benson in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin where his father was working on the pipeline. His parents felt it was important to be closer to family, so in 1969...

Dec 28, 2022

Leonard “Len” Lee Schulke, age 70 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. Len was born June 29, 1952, in Cherokee, Iowa. His parents were Vernon and Marjorie (McCormack) Schulke. He graduated from Crestland High School in 1970 and graduated from Iowa State University in 1974 with a degree in mass communication and journalism. Len married Patricia...

Dec 28, 2022

SERVICES HAVE BEEN RESCHEDULED.

Donald “Don” Richard Fox, age 86 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at The Cedars of Austin. Don was born March 26, 1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Peter and Noreen (Doole) Fox. He grew up in Rochester and was a 1954 graduate of Rochester Lourdes High School. Following high school graduation, he...

Dec 28, 2022

Mildred P. Ehlers, age 100, of Austin, Minnesota, went home to be with her heavenly Father on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. Mildred Pauline Engen was born June 19, 1922, to Clarence and Paula (Larson) Engen in Austin, Minnesota. She was baptized on August 6, 1922, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church by Rev. H. Thompson and confirmed on May 31, 1936,...

Dec 25, 2022

Carolyn Ann Espe, age 68 of Albert Lea, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2022, at Good Samaritan Society – Albert Lea. Carolyn was born February 28, 1954, to George and Gertrude (Esse) Espe in Hayfield, Minnesota. She graduated with the class of 1972 from Hayfield High School and attended college in Rochester, Duluth, and Austin, Minnesota. She worked...

Dec 25, 2022

Delores Mae (Belshan) Tschann passed away suddenly and peacefully after a day of celebrating with her family on Christmas, her favorite holiday.

Delores, age 84, was born on August 12, 1938, in Albert Lea, MN, to Louis and Alice (Plevka) Belshan. She grew up on the family farm outside of Myrtle, MN, and graduated from Albert Lea...

Dec 25, 2022

Ryan J. Baldus, 32, was born October 16, 1990 to parents, James and Teresa (Schenk) Baldus.  He attended St. Augustine grade school and graduated from Austin High School.

Ryan was employed locally at Quality Pork Processors.  He loved to fish, hunt, longboard, spend time at the family cabin with his dog Lucy, and was an avid outdoorsman....

Dec 24, 2022

Bertha A. Christianson, age 101, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2022, at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin. Bertha Arlee Ballantyne was born on October 23, 1921, in Clarks Grove, Minnesota, to Charles and Cynthia (Herme) Ballantyne. She attended elementary school in Freeborn County and graduated from Austin High School in 1939. On December 1, 1941,...

Dec 19, 2022

Gordon “Gordy” Allen Hjelmen, age 94, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away Monday, December 19, 2022, at his home in Blooming Prairie. Gordon A. Hjelmen was born in Mower County on March 21, 1928, to Peter O. and Mathilda (Helgeson) Hjelmen. He grew up working on the farm in Austin; until he went to work for the Red Oak Creamery; after which he began working...

Dec 18, 2022

Wendy May Koster, age 49 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society – Comforcare in Austin. Wendy was born May 6, 1973, in Austin, to Richard and Leola (Nielsen) Koster. She grew up in Austin and graduated from Austin High School. Wendy worked in food service for 10 years. She loved animals,...

Dec 17, 2022

Miah Raina Conn, age 23, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, formerly of Lyle, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2022. Miah was born on March 8, 1999, in Austin, to Chris and Misty (Campbell) Conn. She graduated from Hopkins High School. Miah loved exploring, nature, helping others, and spending time with family and friends. She was close to, as she would...

Dec 17, 2022

Genevieve Mae Moeykens, age 105, of Austin died Saturday, December 17, 2022, at The Cedars of Austin.  Gen was born May 22, 1917, in LeRoy, Minnesota to Robert and Pearl Ginn.  She grew up in Austin, Minnesota and married Clarence Moeykens in 1936.  They were married at St. Augustine church and celebrated their 74th. Wedding anniversary there.

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Dec 15, 2022

Charles Leonard Mast, age 79, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away Thursday, December 15, 2022, at his home. Charles was born November 19, 1943, in St. Francis, Kansas, to Leonard and Wilma Mast. He attended high school in Kansas and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Winona State University. He served his country in the United States Navy....

Dec 14, 2022

Colleen A. Martin, age 89 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at St. Mark’s Living in Austin. Colleen Ann Houck was born in Mower County, Minnesota, to Cecil and Evelyn (Brimacomb) Houck on July 11, 1933. She attended country school and then continued her education in Austin. Colleen was a waitress for several years and then...

Dec 14, 2022

Bernard “Bernie” William Walter, age 83 of Austin, Minnesota, went home to be with God on December 14, 2022, surrounded by loved ones.

Born to Russell and Rose (Heimer) Walter in Austin, Minnesota on February 20, 1939, Bernie grew up in Austin and southern Minnesota.  He loved horses, tractors and working on the farm of who would later be his...