Obituaries

Carol Frances Christianson

Apr 4, 2024

Carol F. (Bergstad) Christianson passed away at 74 from a massive stroke in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Carol is survived by fiancé, Myron Speer, of Carpenter, Iowa; daughters, Cindy Spores of St. Paul, Minnesota and Kari (Travis) Kill of St. Cloud, Minnesota; grandkids, Lucas and Anthony of St. Cloud, Carol, Katherine, J.J., and Sierra of St. Paul, Minnesota; nephew, Eric (Jenn)...

Thomas Joseph Chicos Jr.

Apr 3, 2024

Thomas Joseph Chicos Jr., 102, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on April 3, 2024, at New Perspective Assisted Living in Faribault, MN.

Born on March 5, 1922, to Thomas Sr. and Monica (Geise) Chicos, Thomas was raised on the family farm, where he developed a deep love for the land and farming. He attended Trenton grade school...

Beverly J. Oyer

Apr 1, 2024

Beverly Joyce Oyer, 87, of Brownsdale, Minnesota, passed away on April 1, 2024. 

She was born in a farmhouse west of Alden on February 28, 1937, to Ordean and Edna (Millhouse) Riskedahl. Dr. Whitson came out to the farm to deliver her. Beverly was a beloved wife to the late Ronald Oyer and devoted mother to Joyce, Ordean, Nadine, and Deanne.

Beverly...

Lorraine Fobair

Apr 1, 2024

Lorraine Cecile Fobair passed away on April 1, 2024. She was born on February 14th, 1933, in Lowell, Massachusetts, the 8th of 9 children born to Bella and Nelson Larmand. Lorraine and her siblings were second-generation French-Canadian descendants. As children, they spoke French at home and attended St. Joseph School. In high school, Lorraine began learning English, but she spent...

Leland John Dilling

Mar 29, 2024

Leland John Dilling, 83, of Albert Lea, passed away on Friday March 29, 2024, at home surrounded by family.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Salem Lutheran Church, with a visitation beginning at 10:00AM. Burial will be at Lakewood Cemetery in Albert Lea.

He was born June 14, 1940,in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He attended...

Ronald Hanna

Mar 28, 2024

Ronald Alvin Hanna was born in Forest City, Iowa on April 15, 1941, to proud parents Alvin and Lois Hanna of Woden, Iowa. He died at St Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, MN on March 28, 2024, at the age of 82.

Ron grew up in Woden, Iowa on the family farm that was homesteaded by his great-great grandfather. Ron attended the local...

Patricia "Patty" Ann Clifford

Mar 27, 2024

Patricia (Patty) Ann Clifford, 83 of Albert Lea passed away peacefully at her home on March 27th, 2024.

Patty was born on June 30, 1940 in St. James, MN, to Vernon and Ardus (Kelly) Clifford and she came from a very loving home. She lived most all her life in Albert Lea. Patty was a member of First Lutheran Church where...

Paul J Ludtke

Mar 24, 2024

Paul Jeffrey Ludtke, 66, passed away on March 24, 2024, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Born on September 26, 1957, he was the son of Arthur and Donna (Ingvaldson) Ludtke.  Paul attended Clarks Grove elementary and completed his education at Albert Lea High School in 1975. Known for his love for sports, he excelled in football and continued playing...

Gary Shuck

Mar 24, 2024

Gary Dean Shuck, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on March 24, 2024, at the age of 67 in Albert Lea, MN. Born in Austin, MN on March 29, 1956, Gary was a beloved member of his community and dedicated his time to helping others working in the food pantry of the Salvation Army.

On June 26, 1993,...

Steven V. Colwell

Mar 23, 2024

Steven “Steve” Virgil Colwell, a dedicated husband, father, and Navy veteran, passed away on March 23, 2024, at the age of 74, in Austin, MN. Born on November 26, 1949, in Mason City, IA, Steve married his beloved wife, Mary Ann Spaeth, at the historic Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA, on May 22, 1976.After serving in the Navy for...

Marion "Billie" Jean Bergeson

Mar 22, 2024

 Marion “Billie” Bergeson, 93, of Albert lea, MN, passed away peacefully on Friday March 22nd, 2024 at Good Samaritan Center.  

 Marion was born on January 11th, 1931, to Stanley and Martha Harrison in Marham, England.

 In 1951 she met Roger Bergeson while he was serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps at the airbase next to her village of Marham. In...

Loretta Dingwall

Mar 19, 2024

Loretta passed peacefully March 19th, 2024 at the Good Samaritan Retirement Community. She was 93 years old.

Loretta was born in Hebron, ND on June 29th, 1930 to Math and Elizabeth Messer Jantzer. She attended school in Hebron where she graduated. She married Les Dingwall on February 5th, 1959. Together they raised their 3 daughters Sandy, Karla, and Connie in Dickinson...

Russell A Wignes

Mar 19, 2024

Russell A Wignes of Albert Lea, MN, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on March 19, 2024, at Whispering Oaks Place in Ellendale, MN.

Russell graduated from Northwood High School and later furthered his education at Hamilton Business College in Mason City, where he obtained a degree in accounting. On January 22, 1955, he exchanged vows with his...

Daniel "Dale" Richard Young

Mar 17, 2024

After a 13-year journey with Parkinson’s Disease and Diabetes, Daniel “Dale” Richard Young, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his loving family on March 17, 2024, in Albert Lea, MN.

Born on November 14, 1938, in Faribault County, MN to Wilbert and Cecelia (Dusza) Young, Danny was raised in Wells and graduated from Wells High School in 1957.  It...

Scott Grindeland

Mar 15, 2024

Scott O. Grindeland, 63, of Glenville, died on March 15, 2024. He passed away while in hospice care in Rochester, Minnesota. He was diagnosed with cancer while being treated at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis.

Scott was born in 1960 in Vancouver, Washington to Robert and Adeline Grindeland. He has three surviving siblings, a brother, John, and two sisters,...

Clifford L. Rask

Mar 15, 2024

Dr. Clifford L. Rask, a beloved family physician known for his caring and compassionate nature, passed away on March 15, 2024, at St. John’s Lutheran Community- The Woodlands in Albert Lea, MN. He was born on November 24, 1936, in Mandan, ND, and it was there where his journey of service and commitment to others began.After graduating from Mandan High...

Helen Mae Edwin

Mar 12, 2024

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Helen Mae Edwin on March 12, 2024.

Helen was an adored wife, mother, grandmother and friend, whose presence touched the lives of many. She peacefully departed this life surrounded by her loving family.

A Celebration of Life honoring Helen Mae Edwin of Albert Lea, MN will be held at 11:00 A.M....

Thomas O'Rourke

Mar 11, 2024

Thomas Charles O’Rourke, 76, of Albert Lea passed away Monday, March 11, 2024, peacefully in his home. 

Tom was born Nov. 9th, 1947 in Forest City, Iowa to Jack and Helen (Philpott) O’Rourke. He attended Forest City High School in 1967, and enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduation, serving one tour in the Vietnam War.

He married Betty Anderson in December...

Eugene Loring Larson

Mar 11, 2024

Eugene “Gene” Loring Larson, 88, passed away peacefully on his farm after a long, fulfilled life on March 11, 2024.  He was born on October 29, 1935 to Loring Orlando Larson and Marian Calista Jane Mortensen.He attended country school through 8th grade and graduated from Ellendale High School in 1953.  He married and was faithful to his wife, Audrey Hemingway...

Mary Lucia Querna

Mar 11, 2024

Mary Lucia Querna, beloved mother, sister, friend and musician, left this world on her 69th birthday surrounded by her loving family in Edina, MN. Born in Waseca, MN on March 11th, 1955, to Paul and Mary (Doyle) Querna, Mary was one of seven siblings, who shared many cherished memories of growing up on their family farm in New Richland, MN.Mary...