Obituaries

Dec 2, 2022

Delmond Leo Kruckeberg, affectionally called Dicky by his mother and to the rest of world, Dick, Dad, Grandpa K, and Great-Grandpa K, was born on January 8, 1935, on his family farm in Steele County, Minnesota to Leo Albert Kruckeberg and Emma Emilie Dunker Kruckeberg. Dick was the oldest son, with only his brother, David below him and the third...

Dec 2, 2022

Robert (Bob) Wayne Knutson Sr., age 82, of Owatonna, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 2, 2022, at Homestead Hospice House surrounded by all 5 of his children. Bob was born February 21, 1940, in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, the son of Orville and Helen Dahl Knutson. He attended country school and Blooming Prairie High School.  He was baptized and...

Dec 2, 2022

Betty L. Merten, age 80 of Brownsdale, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, December 2, 2022, at the Legacy of Brownsdale. Betty Lenore Konken was born November 3, 1942, at home in rural Route 1 Brownsdale, Minnesota, to Frederick and Margaret (Schmidt) Konken. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Waltham, Minnesota. Betty attended country school near...

Dec 1, 2022

Maxine Loretta Huinker, age 93, of Austin, MN. died Thursday, December 1, 2022 at St.Mark’s Lutheran Home, Austin. Maxine was born Feb. 16th 1929 in Faribault, MN. to Francis & Lorretta (Bradley) Paquette. She grew up in Faribault and graduated from Bethlehem Academy. On April 2nd, 1949 She was united in marriage to Arthur A Huinker. Arthur & Maxine...

Nov 30, 2022

Nels Willard Lee, 87, was born July 23, 1935, to Oliver and Ruth (Bollman) Lee at the family home in Dexter Township, Minnesota. He died snuggled in the loving embrace of his wife on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, in Mesa, Arizona.

Nels grew up with his six siblings on the family farm, learning early the value of hard work and...

Nov 29, 2022

Judy Ann Reul, age 77, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away peacefully with her husband by her side on Tuesday, November 29, 2022. She was born on April 25, 1945, in Osage, Iowa to Viggo and Bessie (Benson) Petersen. She graduated from Leroy High School in 1963 and married her husband, Paul Reul on July 5, 1974, in Albert Lea, Minnesota....

Nov 28, 2022

Lawrence Frank Wencl, age 92, of Blooming Prairie, passed away on Monday, November 28, 2022 at Methodist Hospital in Rochester.

Lawrence was born January 27, 1930 to Charles Leo and Mary (Thompson) Wencl in Austin, Minnesota.  He married Judy Dixon on September 1, 1962, sixty years ago.

Survivors include his wife, Judy; sons, Donald and...

Nov 25, 2022

Patricia “Patti” Joan Page, age 72, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, November 25, 2022, at her home in Austin. Patricia was born on February 7, 1950, in Austin, Minnesota, to Harry and Hilda (Rudlong) Page. She graduated from Austin High School in 1968. On September 14, 1968, Patti married Bill Cross at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin,...

Nov 25, 2022

Gary Arnold Groh, 89, from Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, November 25, 2022, at his home.

Gary was born May 11, 1933, to Stanley and Selma (Gibson) Groh of Austin, Minnesota. He is the eldest of three. A graduate of Austin High School with the class of 1953. A scholar in theology, which he took seriously with much thorough...

Nov 25, 2022

Diane Marie Ashton, age 54, of Austin, passed away Friday, November 25, 2022 at her home.

Diane was born November 16, 1968 to Bruce and Mae (Bjork) Ashton in Austin, Minnesota.  She graduated from Austin High School in 1987.  Diane married Michael Bolster on May 25, 1991.  Their union was blessed with two children, Jaynie and Tyler....

Nov 23, 2022

Margaret Elaine Stoen, age 86, was born November 16, 1936 in Owatonna, Minnesota to Milton and Stella (Carstens) Norton.  She was lovingly referred to as Elaine by family and friends.

Margaret attended Austin Public Schools and graduated in 1955.  She married Clifford Ronald Stoen Jr. on July 19, 1955 and they raised six children (2 boys and...

Nov 23, 2022

Deb Plunkett, age 71, died peacefully November 23, 2020 at Prairie Manor Nursing Home from complications related to Cancer.  She is survived by her brother John Plunkett and was preceded in death by her father Hugh Plunkett Jr., her mother, Lorraine Plunkett and brother, Hugh Plunkett III.  Deb was a graduate of the Ursuline Academy and was a devoted caregiver to...

Nov 22, 2022

The funeral for Marion Srp will be Tuesday, November 29th, at 11 am, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Austin MN. This church is where Marion was baptized, attended Sunday school, was confirmed and was married. This is also the same church that Marion steadfastly led her family to attend as regularly as possible. Pastor Mark Niethammer will officiate, with the...

Nov 19, 2022

Dean Paul Brandsoy, age 74 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at his home in Austin. Dean was born August 21, 1948, to Harold “Brandy” and Eleanor (Siglowski) Brandsoy in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He grew up on the family farm and was one of eight children. Dean graduated from Albert Lea High School and went on...

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...