Obituaries

Aug 22, 2022

Lynn R Emrud, 65, passed away on Aug 22nd and was surrounded by her children, sister and companion. Lynn was born on Nov. 3, 1956 to Curtis and Beverly Emrud and was preceded in death by two brothers, Gene and Glenn Emrud, a grandson, Graeson Salzmann, and her parents.

Lynn enjoyed many hobbies including painting, antiquing, cooking...

Aug 20, 2022

Michael “Mike” Craig Willaby, 61, of Albert Lea, MN, passed away on August 20, 2022, at St. Mary’s, Rochester, MN.

Mike was born May 21, 1961, in Albert Lea, MN to Clarence and Margie (Waalkens) Willaby.  At a young age his family moved to Tecumseh, OK.  Mike attended grade school and high school and later moved back to the...

Aug 17, 2022

Bernice Marie (Kurth) Ellingson, 92, of Albert Lea, MN, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2022, at St. John’s Community, The Woodlands in Albert Lea, MN.

Bernice was born June 23, 1930, in Albert Lea, MN to Adolph and Ida (Urban) Kurth.  She attended Abbott Grade School and Albert Lea Junior and Senior high and graduated in...

Aug 16, 2022

Connie passed peacefully after her 2 year battle with Leukemia with family by her side, at Rochester Mayo Clinic on August 16th, 2022.  She was 55 years old.

Connie was born in Dickenson, ND on August 1st, 1967 to Les and Loretta Dingwall.  She moved to Ellendale, ND at a young age where she lived for the...

Aug 16, 2022

Mary S. Keating, 86, of Albert Lea, died on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at her home surrounded by family.

Born on Wednesday, January 8, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Stan and Angela (Bagan) Speltz. Mary was a loving wife, caring mother of nine, proud grandmother of 21 and great-grandmother of ten. Most important to...

Aug 14, 2022

Mavis Westergaard, age 82 of Oakland, passed away at home surrounded by family on August 14, 2022.

Mavis had a very strong faith and was a proud family woman, but her love of their family farm was not far behind. Her family called her daily life on the farm, “her living her dream”, which she spent raising...

Aug 11, 2022

Ruth S. Enzenauer, age 86 of Ellendale, passed away at home on August 11, 2022. Ruth was born August 19, 1935, daughter of Raymond and Ruby (Newby) Hill of Elmore, MN. She lived in Elmore, Ogilvie, Bricelyn before moving to Ellendale where she graduated High School. Ruth worked at Jostens until she married and spent her time as a...

Aug 9, 2022

Verona Eileen (Randall) Winegar of Geneva, MN passed away peacefully on August 9, 2022 at Benedictine Living Community in Owatonna surrounded by family. Born on March 27, 1937 at the Owatonna Hospital, she was the youngest of five daughters born to Ralph and Myrtle (Ryan) Randall. Verona enjoyed life to the fullest and loved spending time with her family...

Aug 6, 2022

Gordon “Gordy” Hacker, age 70, of Albert Lea, MN passed away on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.

Gordy served in the US Navy in the Vietnam War.  Gordy was proud to serve his country and was proud to be a veteran.  He was the only son of Albert and Helen Hacker...

Aug 5, 2022

Mitchel Dean “Mitch” Hill, 66, lifelong resident of Ellendale, passed away on Friday, August 5, 2022, at Abbott Northview Hospital in Minneapolis, MN, following multiple health complications. Despite his survivor’s spirit, his body grew tired of fighting on this earth.

Born on Friday, November 25, 1955, in Owatonna, MN, he was the youngest son of the late Aubrey Hill and...

Aug 2, 2022

Patricia “Pat” Ann Somnis, 88, of Conger, MN, passed away peacefully on August 2, 2022, at St Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Patricia was born on January 17, 1934, in Okeene, OK, to Harry and Evelyn (Blakely) Weisner.   At a young age, Patricia’s family moved to the Minneapolis area. She attended school and later met the love...

Aug 2, 2022

Maurice “Moe” Mullenmaster, 63, of Ellendale, MN, passed away at his home on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.

Maurice was born on December 18, 1948, in Morristown, MN, to Leo and Creta (Lonergan) Mullenmaster.  He was raised on the family farm in Onamia, MN and graduated from Onamia High School.  Following his graduation, he attended college at the...

Jul 26, 2022

Emmanuel Angel “Manny” Chavez, 16, of Albert Lea, passed away unexpectedly and entered Heaven on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at his home. He was welcomed into our Savior’s warm embrace.

Born on Friday, September 23, 2005, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, he was the beloved son of Robin Ramirez Chavez, and Troy Chavez and Natalie Lane, both of...

Jul 22, 2022

Michael Lee Morgan, 75, of Albert Lea, passed away on Friday, July 22, 2022, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Born on Sunday August 18, 1946, in Benham, KY, he was a son of the late Elmer and LaVonne (Edwin) Morgan. A proud veteran of the United States Navy, Mike worked as an Aerospace Engineer. An...

Jul 22, 2022

Dale Gustav Mrotz, 84, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2022, with his family by his side at his home in Ellendale, MN.

Dale was born on August 1, 1937, in Albert Lea, MN, to Gustav and Mabel (Franke) Mrotz.  He was raised on the family farm and graduated from Ellendale Geneva Schools in 1956.  Following graduation,...

Jul 19, 2022

Tami Jean Vokoun, 43, of Good Thunder, formerly of Albert Lea, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

Tami was born on September 19, 1978, in Albert Lea, to Ronald and Pamela Vokoun.

She was a lifelong member of the Oakland Lutheran Church. She was baptized and confirmed there. She also attended Sunday School classes, Luther...

Jul 19, 2022

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend Balentin “Val” Madrigal entered eternal rest on July 19, 2022, at the age of 76 at Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Balentin was born in San Antonio, Texas on February 14, 1946, to Ernesto Madrigal and Luisa...

Jul 16, 2022

Myron “Butch” Martin Schumacher, 90, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2022, with his loving family by his side at the New Richland Care Center.

Myron was born on August 4, 1931, to Carl and Loretta (Helget) Schumacher on the family farm in Leavenworth Township.  He attended school at the Leavenworth Township Country School.  When he finished...

Jul 15, 2022

Fern Urbatsch, 97, passed away with family by her side on July 15, 2022, at Thorne Crest Senior Living in Albert Lea, MN.

Fern was born on November 20, 1924, at home, to Roy Leonard and Eva Maurine (Molsberry) Harman in Plymouth, Iowa. She was baptized in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Plymouth. She graduated from Plymouth...

Jul 12, 2022

Colleen Politz, age 90, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones on July 12, 2022, at Mercy One Hospice in Mason City, Iowa. Colleen was born to Harry and Gladys Toenges on March 8, 1932, on a snowy day at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Colleen spent her childhood years living on a farm southwest...