Obituaries

Thelma Ellingson, 97, once of Hesper

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Wed, 03/20/2019 - 3:25pm

Thelma O. Ellingson died Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah. 

Thelma Othilda Stoen was born March 23, 1921, the Wednesday of Holy Week, in Spring Grove, the daughter of Henry J. and Martina (Sollien) Stoen. She was baptized April 17, 1921, and confirmed June 3, 1935, both at Big Canoe Lutheran Church, rural Decorah. Her great-great-grandfather, Halsten Stoen, had emigrated from Norway in 1850 and homesteaded in Pleasant Township, donating the land on which the original church and cemetery were located.

Joanna Mensink, 53, of rural Spring Valley

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 03/19/2019 - 10:40am

Joanna Elaine Mensink, 53, of rural Spring Valley, died peacefully on Monday, March 11, 2019, surrounded by her family and friends. 

Joanna was born May 1, 1965, in Dixon, Ill., to Roberta and John Smith, Sr.  Joanna and her family settled in Minnesota in 1992. On June 3, 1995, Joanna married Brent Mensink at Saetersdal Lutheran Church in Harmony.  Together they united their families and raised three children and many animals.

Melissa Benson, 70, of Lanesboro

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 03/14/2019 - 10:57am

Melissa Marie (Donehower) Benson, 70, of Lanesboro, died on peacefully Monday, March 4, 2019, surrounded by her loving family following a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was born in Saint Paul, the daughter of Dr. Clifford and Rosemary (Galvin) Donehower.

She grew up in West St. Paul and graduated from Sibley High School in 1966.

She attended Hamline University in St. Paul, where she met the love of her life and her husband of 50 years, Duane Dean Benson.

Karen Erath, 58, daughter of Lanesboro woman

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 03/14/2019 - 10:56am

Karen Sue Erath, 58, of Dexter, died peacefully on Saturday, March 9, 2019, surrounded by her family at her home.

She was born on Oct. 5, 1960, to Keith and Norma (Johnson) Koch in Maquoketa, Iowa.

She graduated from Wykoff High School in 1979.

She was united in marriage to Jeffrey Erath on June 30, 1999.

She settled in rural Sargeant for 28 years, then moved to Dexter in 2010.

Diana Schlinger, 75, sister of Preston woman

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Thu, 03/14/2019 - 10:54am

Diana R. (Gross) Schlinger, 75, of Pine Island, died on Sunday, March 10, 2019, at Pine Haven Care Center.

She was born on Nov. 2, 1943, in Hayfield to Ray and Mae (Johnson) Gross.

She was raised on the family farm and graduated from Hayfield High School in 1961.

She worked various jobs before marriage and then became a full-time homemaker.

She married Daryl Schlinger on Jan. 26, 1963.

Melissa Benson, 70, of Lanesboro

Published by lniemeyer@bluff... on Tue, 03/12/2019 - 11:14am

Melissa Marie (Donehower) Benson, 70, of Lanesboro, died on peacefully Monday, March 4, 2019, surrounded by her loving family following a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was born in Saint Paul, the daughter of Dr. Clifford and Rosemary (Galvin) Donehower.

She grew up in West St. Paul and graduated from Sibley High School in 1966.

She attended Hamline University in St. Paul, where she met the love of her life and her husband of 50 years, Duane Dean Benson.

Kevin Hegna, 58, father of Fountain man

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Wed, 03/06/2019 - 9:22am

Kevin Lynn Hegna, 58, of Stewartville, died on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, from complications of a lengthy illness with cancer, at his home with his family by his side.

He was born on July 26, 1960, in Rochester to Dennis and Marilyn (Poole) Hegna.

He grew up in Rochester, attended school there, graduating from Mayo High School in 1978.

He began his long career as a flooring installer at Jerrys Carpets in Rochester.

He was married to Rhonda J. Nelson on Aug. 17, 1985, on the Juilus C. Wilkie Paddleboat in Winona.

Georgia Hebrink, 86, mother Harmony man

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Wed, 03/06/2019 - 9:21am

Georgia Alberta Hebrink, 86, died of Alzheimer's on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, at Brookdale Memory Care in Lacrosse, Wis.

She was born to Ernest and Fannie (Stockdale) Tibbals on Jan. 7, 1933, in rural Lime Springs, Iowa.

She attended Lime Springs schools and graduated from Lime Springs High School in June 1951.

Immediately after graduation, she married the love of her life, Arlin Hebrink, and the couple farmed in the Lime Springs and Cresco areas before moving to the Granger area.

Dale Torgerson, 77, of Mabel

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Fri, 03/01/2019 - 10:25am

Dale L. Torgerson, 77, of Mabel, died unexpectedly on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at his home.

He was born near Lenora on Sept. 10, 1941, to Orvin and Myrtle (Davidson) Torgerson.

He attended the Canton High School.

As a young man he started painting and later got into drywall and making signs. He was a painting subcontractor at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa for many years and still enjoyed going to work.

Richard Thompson, 86, of Lanesboro

Published by tlittle@bluffco... on Fri, 03/01/2019 - 10:23am

Richard Paul Thompson, 86, of Lanesboro, died peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019, at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield.

He was born on Jan. 19, 1933, in Cresco, Iowa, the only child of David and Vinona (Schneckloth) Thompson.

He attended Gribben Valley and Whalen schools in Lanesboro and graduated from Lanesboro High School in 1952.

He was a farmer, but mostly loved the outdoors from beekeeper to hunting, fishing, trapping, and he was always there to lend a helping hand for whoever need it.