Obituaries

Beverly "Bev" Jane Prantner

Beverly "Bev" Jane Prantner

Feb 7, 2026

Beverly “Bev” Jane Prantner, age 97, died Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin, Minnesota. She was born March 13, 1928, to Raymond and Mildred (Foss) Hartley at Saint Olaf Hospital, Austin, Minnesota.

Bev married Emil Prantner, a WWII veteran, on October 10, 1945. In 1948, they bought a farm in Freeborn County, Minnesota. They were married...

Randall "Randy" Edwin Qualey

Randall "Randy" Edwin Qualey

Jan 12, 2026

Randall Edwin Qualey, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, January 12, 2026, of natural causes, due to a massive heart attack in June 2025. Born September 21, 1951, in Austin Minnesota, to Alden and Doris (Hage) Qualey. An Austin High School graduate, along with an associate’s degree from Austin Jr. College. Employed by Anderson Construction and Hage Construction....

Delmer Earl Tapp

Delmer Earl Tapp

Mar 5, 2026

Delmer Earl Tapp, age 93, of Dexter, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at St. Mark’s Living in Austin.

Delmer was born on October 7, 1932, to Harvey and Julia (Kruse) in Brownsdale, Minnesota. He married Ardythe Krull on June 14, 1957, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Brownsdale. Together they had five children.

Farming wasn’t a livelihood it was...

Ojoye Okello Akane

Ojoye Okello Akane

Mar 4, 2026

Ojoye Okello Akane, age 50, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Methodist Campus.

The funeral service for Ojoye will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Faith Church in Austin. The visitation will take place from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Worlein-Hoff Funeral Home in Austin....

Janette Kay Butts

Janette Kay Butts

Mar 4, 2026

Janette “Jan” Kay Butts, age 83, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. She was born on February 16, 1943, in Austin, Minnesota, to Keith and Irene Wakefield.

Jan spent her life in Austin, where she was united in marriage to her late husband, Gary Butts. She will be remembered for her kindness, caring heart, and the love...

Bradley John Newman

Bradley John Newman

Mar 3, 2026

Bradley “Brad” John Newman, age 58, of Rose Creek, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester, Saint Marys Campus, due to a heart attack. Brad was born at St. Olaf Hospital in Austin on July 16, 1967, to Leslie and Anne (Drucker) Newman. He grew up on Hwy 218 South of Austin, where he...

David Charles Nystel

David Charles Nystel

Feb 28, 2026

David Charles Nystel, age 69, of Mapleview, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2026, Comforcare Nursing Home in Austin. Dave was born on September 12, 1956, in Austin, Minnesota, to John and Virginia (Mauer) Nystel. Dave was a house painter and did apartment maintenance. Dave was a social butterfly and enjoyed fishing, mowing and any activities pertaining to the...

Emil "Butch" Carl Laack

Emil "Butch" Carl Laack

Feb 28, 2026

Emil “Butch” Carl Laack Jr., age 75, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Saturday, February 28, 2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Butch was born on June 23, 1950 to Emil and Maxine (Bly) Laack in Austin, Minnesota. He was raised in Austin and graduated from Austin High School in 1968. He went on to study auto mechanics at...

Doris Virginia Samuelson

Doris Virginia Samuelson

Feb 26, 2026

Doris V. Samuelson, age 97, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie. Doris Virginia Hanson was born on December 10, 1928, in Austin, Minnesota, to Aldine and Aura (Berg) Hanson. She was raised on the family farm near Blooming Prairie. She was baptized, confirmed, and married at Red...

Jerenne "Jerri" Beverly Blaser

Jerenne "Jerri" Beverly Blaser

Feb 22, 2026

Jerenne "Jerri" Beverly Blaser, age 94, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin. Jerenne was born in Austin on December 20, 1931, to Alvin and Hildred (Hanson) Erickson. She married Clifford "Cliff" Blaser on May 29, 1957. Together they had four children. Some of her happiest years were spent in...

Michael Allen Marcks

Michael Allen Marcks

Feb 21, 2026

Michael Allen Marcks, age 70, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Mayo Clinic – St. Mary’s Campus. Michael was born on July 29, 1955, in Austin to Marlin and Sonya (Schreiber) Marcks. He attended Austin Public Schools through 8th grade before moving to a farm outside of Austin where he then graduated from Hayfield High...

Michael "Mike" Casimir Stenzel

Michael "Mike" Casimir Stenzel

Feb 21, 2026

Michael "Mike" Casimir Stenzel, age 45, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Saturday, February 21, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Mike was born on April 6, 1980, in Glendale, California to Kenneth and Patricia Kay (Simpson) Stenzel. Mike was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He graduated from USC High School in Wells, Minnesota in 1998. He went on to...

Gary Richard Hessenius

Gary Richard Hessenius

Feb 18, 2026

Gary Richard Hessenius, age 79, of Rose Creek, Minnesota, passed away, Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Good Samaritan Society - St. Ansgar, Iowa.

The family is planning a memorial gathering for Gary the weekend of August 15, 2026. More information to come as family plans. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements.

Robert "Bob" Vern Shatek

Robert "Bob" Vern Shatek

Feb 17, 2026

Robert “Bob” Vern Shatek, age 83, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Our House Senior Living – Memory Care in Austin. Bob was born on January 15, 1943, at an Army base in Gulfport, Mississippi to his parents, Vern and Marie (Hanson) Shatek. He attended and graduated from Austin High School in 1961 and went...

Kenneth "Kenny" Maynard Hollerud

Kenneth "Kenny" Maynard Hollerud

Feb 15, 2026

Kenneth “Kenny” Maynard Hollerud, age 92, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Sunday, February 15, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Health System Austin. Kenny was born April 13, 1933, in Lyle, Minnesota, to John and Linnea (Anderson) Hollerud. Kenny, along with all his siblings, were baptized and confirmed at Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church in Lyle. He graduated from Lyle High School in...

Arliss Orpha Cerny

Arliss Orpha Cerny

Feb 13, 2026

Arliss Orpha Cerny (Anderson), age 97, of Austin, Minnesota passed away on Friday, February 13, 2026, surrounded by her family, at Good Samaritan Society – Comforcare.

Arliss was born in Hayfield, Minnesota, on November 2, 1928, to Oscar and Ellen (Benson) Anderson. She was the second of three daughters. Arliss was baptized, confirmed, and married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hayfield....

Lucy Mary Chandy

Lucy Mary Chandy

Feb 12, 2026

Lucy Chandy, lovingly known to everyone as “Big Grandma” or “Mae Pa,” passed away on Thursday, February 12, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. She was 75 years old. 

Lucy was one of five siblings, See Chandee, Ta Chanty, One Chandee, Phud Chanty, and Bun Jandee. She was preceded in death by her siblings See, Ta, One, and Phud....

Patrick Keith Harmer

Patrick Keith Harmer

Feb 12, 2026

Patrick Keith Harmer, age 35, of Austin, Minnesota, entered eternal life on Thursday, February 12, 2026. He was born on February 3, 1991, in Austin, Minnesota, to Dennis and Jan (Nash) Harmer. Growing up, Patrick loved playing sports, including baseball, football, and swimming, and he cherished time spent playing games and competing with his family. He was competitive in everything...

Rhoda Bertha Burger

Rhoda Bertha Burger

Feb 10, 2026

Rhoda Bertha (Schultze) Burger, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2026, at Sacred Heart Care Center, at the age of 103.

Rhoda was born on July 16, 1922, in Clare, Iowa, to Frederick and Bertha (Krueger) Schultze. She graduated from Clare High School and went on to pursue a nursing degree in Sioux City, Iowa, later completing graduate...

Rita Louise Swenson

Rita Louise Swenson

Feb 10, 2026

Rita L. Swenson, age 73, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Rita Louise Fuller was born on June 12, 1952, in Winona, Minnesota, to Keith Holm and Esperence King. She graduated from Mayo High School in Rochester. Rita worked for over 20 years at Mayo in the IT Department. On March 9, 1991, Rita married David...