Obituaries

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...

Dec 8, 2022

Margaret Teresa Ferris, age 80 of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at Our House Senior Living – Austin Memory Care. Margaret was born November 22, 1942, in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, to John and Josephine (Popelak) Burke. She graduated in 1960 from Blooming Prairie High School. On December 29, 1961, Margaret was united in marriage to Marshall...

Dec 7, 2022

Derek Alan Placek, age 45, of Austin, MN, died Wednesday December 7, 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester MN, with family by his side.

Derek was born February 19, 1977 in Forest City, Iowa to David and Karen (Weis) Placek. He spent his early years in Minden, Nebraska. He moved to Austin, Minnesota following his...

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...