Obituaries

John Vernon Smith

John Vernon Smith

Dec 15, 2024

John Vernon Smith, age 93, of Albert Lea, passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at Thorne Crest Senior Living Community. 

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, December 23, 2024, at the United Methodist Church in Albert Lea; visitation will begin one hour prior. John will be laid to rest at Concordia Lutheran Cemetery of Pickerel Lake. 

John...

Kenneth Ayers

Kenneth Ayers

Dec 20, 2024

Kenneth “KG” Ayers, 89, of Albert Lea, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2024, at his home with his family by his side. 

A funeral service will be held at 2:00PM on Friday, December 27, 2024, at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, with a visitation beginning one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Hillcrest...

William "Bill" Zezulka

William "Bill" Zezulka

Dec 14, 2024

William “Bill” Edward Zezulka, age 77 of Clarks Grove, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at his home with his wife by his side.

A visitation will be held from 4-6:00PM on Friday, December 20, 2024, at Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Services in Albert Lea, with a Rosary service beginning at 6:00PM. A memorial service will be held at...

Raymond "Bill" Bliss

Raymond "Bill" Bliss

Dec 13, 2024

Raymond “Bill” Bliss, age 80, of Albert Lea, MN passed away on December 13, 2024 at Whispering Oak Place in Ellendale.

A memorial service for Bill will be held at Bonnerup Funeral and Cremation Services in Albert Lea on Sunday, December 22, 2024, beginning at 2:00 PM; visitation will be held two hours prior. Bill will be laid to rest in...

Keith Mitchell Stensrud

Keith Mitchell Stensrud

Dec 12, 2024

Keith Mitchell Stensrud, age 70, of Albert Lea, went home to be with his loved ones on December 10, 2024 at the Mankato Hospital. He passed away from complications with pneumonia and diabetes.

Keith was born to Walter and Helen (Johnson) Stensrud in Albert Lea, Minnesota on September 24, 1954. Keith was a graduate of Albert Lea High School, after graduation...

Elwood J. "Woody" Hestness

Elwood J. "Woody" Hestness

Dec 12, 2024

 Elwood J. Hestness, fondly known as "Woody," passed away on December 12, 2024, at Mayo Hospital in Mankato, Minnesota. The third of eight children, Woody was born on August 10, 1927, in Lake Mills, Iowa, and was the last of Clarence and Albena Hestness' children to be welcomed back to their heavenly home. 

Woody served his nation with honor, enlisting in...

Beverly "Bev" Newgard

Beverly "Bev" Newgard

Dec 8, 2024

Beverly Joan Newgard left this world on December 8, 2024, at the Prairie Senior Cottages in Owatonna, Minnesota, after a life filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. Born on August 28, 1943, in Tyler, Minnesota, she was the daughter of William and Bernice Krause, and was raised alongside her brothers and sister in Lake Benton, Minnesota.

After graduating high school,...

Kenneth Earl "Kenny" Gossman

Kenneth Earl "Kenny" Gossman

Dec 7, 2024

Kenneth Earl “Kenny” Gossman, 86, of Albert Lea, MN, passed away on December 07, 2024, at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea, MN. 

A memorial service will be held at a later time. 

Kenny was born to William and Pearl (nee Sprunk) Gossman on November 27, 1938, in Columbus, Nebraska. His life was dedicated to agriculture and the profession of farming. He...

Holiday Service of Remembrance 2024

Holiday Service of Remembrance 2024

Dec 7, 2024

We invite you and your family to our Holiday Service of Remembrance at 1:00PM on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Services, 2210 E. Main Street in Albert Lea. 

This special event is centered on keeping memories of your loved one alive. It is our hope that this service offers you a sense of comfort and strength. A...

Harvey Brua

Harvey Brua

Dec 5, 2024

Harvey Brua, age 95 of Albert Lea, passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

A memorial service will be held at First Lutheran Church of Albert Lea on Saturday, December 21 at 11:00 AM with a visitation starting one hour prior. Following the memorial service, Harvey and his wife Donna will be laid to rest at Graceland Cemetery in Albert Lea.

Harvey...

Donna Joanne Bothum

Donna Joanne Bothum

Dec 5, 2024

Donna Bothum, age 92, of Bloomington, formerly of Albert Lea, passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2024. 

A memorial service will be held at Bonnerup Funeral and Cremation Services in Albert Lea on Monday, December 16, 2024, beginning at 12:00 PM; visitation will begin one hour prior. Donna will be laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Albert Lea.

Donna was born...

Earl Nielsen

Earl Nielsen

Dec 2, 2024

Earl Darrell Nielsen, age 94, passed away at home on the farm surrounded by his family on December 2, 2024.

Earl was born on April 29, 1930, in Albert Lea, MN to Laura (Andersen) and Kristin Nielsen. The youngest of nine children, he was known as Laura’s little angel. Earl attended the Itasca country school (near Albert Lea) through the eighth...

Russell VonHagen

Russell VonHagen

Nov 30, 2024

Russell Ray “Russ” VonHagen, 72, of Clarks Grove, passed away on November 30, 2024, at his home. 

Born on May 1, 1952, in Northwood, IA, Russell lived a life filled with joy, laughter, and unwavering love for his family. He was the son of Oliver VonHagen and Evelyn (Lindley) Bennett, both of whom instilled in him the values of hard work...

Carmen Yvette DeBoer

Carmen Yvette DeBoer

Nov 29, 2024

Carmen Yvette DeBoer, 63, of Albert Lea, MN, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 29, 2024 at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, IA, surrounded by family.

A memorial service will be held at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, December 10th at Bonnerup Funeral and Cremation Services in Albert Lea. The family will receive friends at a visitation to be...

Robert Phillip Breid

Robert Phillip Breid

Nov 29, 2024

Robert Phillip Breid, age 101, of New Richland, passed away on Thursday, November 28th, at the Mayo Health Clinic in Waseca, MN.

A Private Funeral Service will be held at Bonnerup Funeral and Cremation Services Ellendale Chapel, with a Private Interment to follow at Berlin Cemetery in Ellendale, MN.

Robert was born to Ferdinand and Anna Breid on August 13, 1923. While...

Harriet "Addie" Larson

Harriet "Addie" Larson

Nov 27, 2024

Addie passed away in Albert Lea, MN, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

If you dared to call her by her birth name, Harriet, you'd be quickly corrected with a firm, "It's Addie." A force to be reckoned with, Addie never let health challenges stop her; they only slowed her down. Her energy and zest for life were contagious, and she never...

Larry Lestrud

Larry Lestrud

Nov 23, 2024

Larry Duane Lestrud, 85, of Albert Lea, MN, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Good Samaritan Center - Albert Lea surrounded by family.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 6, 2024, at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea with a visitation one hour prior. The family will receive friends at a visitation...

Cheryl Wehrenberg

Cheryl Wehrenberg

Nov 22, 2024

Cheryl Ann Wehrenberg, age 72, fondly known as Cheri, moved on to her Heavenly home on Friday, November 22, 2024, in her home in Albert Lea, MN, from natural causes.

Services will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea on Monday, December 9, 2024, beginning at 2:00 PM; visitation will begin one hour prior. Cheri will be laid to...

Robert Oakland

Robert Oakland

Nov 22, 2024

Robert "Bob" Oakland, 83, of Glenville, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 22, 2024, at ThorneCrest Senior Living Community in Albert Lea, MN. 

A funeral service will be held at 11:00AM on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Service, with a visitation beginning one hour prior. The family will receive friends at a visitation on Tuesday, November 26,...

Larry Lee Richards

Larry Lee Richards

Nov 21, 2024

Larry Lee Richards, 89, of Ellendale, passed away on November 21, 2024, with his family by his side.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00PM on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at United Methodist Church in Ellendale, with Pastor Randy Cirksena officiating. The family will receive friends at a visitation to be held one hour prior to the service at church....

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