Obituaries

Larry Garland was born April 25,1943, to Orval and Ethel Miller Garland in Bertha, Minnesota. He attended Lincoln Elementary School in Staples, Minnesota and graduated from Staples High School in 1961. Larry attended St. Cloud State College in St. Cloud, MN, graduating in 1965. On August 7,1965, he was united in marriage to Joyce Smith at the Alliance Church in Staples. They moved to Slayton, MN where Larry taught Trigonometry and Algebra at Slayton High School, he also coached seventh/eighth grade football. He furthered his education and became the Computer Coordinator at the high school, setting up computer labs and teaching computer classes. He also taught computer courses at Worthington Junior College. He enjoyed sports and was the score keeper for the basketball team for many years. Larry was honored for his explementary teaching with the teacher of the year award in 1994. Larry started his own construction business, he built many homes in the Slayton and surrounding areas during the summer months, which also provided employment for his teacher co-workers and some of his students. He built a dentist office and a house for his brother in Staples. He assisted with the construction of the Lake Sarah Baptist Church in rural Slayton MN. Larry was a member of the Slayton Assembly of God Church and served as a Board Member and Treasurer. He became a member of the Lake Sarah Baptist Church where he served as a Trustee. Larry went home to be with his Lord and Savior on April 18, 2026.

Ludema Dell (Hollingsworth) Kassel, age 103, of Tracy, formerly of Holly Township, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday April 11, 2026 at Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy under the care of Hospice of Murray County. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 17 at Walnut Grove United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held from 4:007:00 p.m. Thursday, April 16 at Walnut Grove Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to services at the church. A private interment will be held in the Walnut Grove Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice. Service – Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Marvin Arnold Arneson, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2026, at the age of 82. Marvin was born on May 20,1943, in Dawson, Minnesota, to Arnold and Marie (Hofseth) Arneson.

Joan Vasgaard was born July 2, 1948, to Norris and Iola (Gubrud) Kurtz. She went to see her Lord on April 10, 2026. She was greeted by her son, Dr. Joel Vasgaard. Joan loved living on the family farm near Elkton, SD and spent much of her time outdoors helping her father. She often talked about her early education in a one room schoolhouse called Parnel #9. Before her 8th grade year, the family moved to Hawarden, IA where Joan quickly adapted to the city life. The family later returned to Elkton where she graduated from Elkton High in 1966. Joan continued her education at SDSU graduating in 1970. While at college she worked at the housing office, played in the marching band all 4 years, pep band at home games, and was an RA at Pierson Hall for several years. Her senior year she joined a Joyfolk singing group at the University Student Center where she met her future husband. In the summer of 1970, she worked at Wilderness Canoe Center as a guide and counselor. She loved her time in the wilderness and forest. In 1971, she married John “Chuck” Vasgaard and the couple had almost 55 years of marriage. They lived in Baltic, SD for about 7 years. They were members of Baltic Lutheran Church. Joan started the children’s choir, and they performed musicals. She taught Sunday School, Bible School, sang in choir, and started an outdoor nativity pageant in a farmer’s barn. In March 1977, they moved to an acreage near Lake Wilson, MN. The family acreage always housed a variety of animals and Joan always had a big garden and shared her harvest with others. In 1997, Joan started to plan and designed a new family home, which the family built. Joan led an active and busy life being a wife, mother, and grandmother. She also was Cub Scout Leader for several packs. She helped start the Lake Wilson Community Theater, which did musicals each summer for 10 years. She played in community bands. She was on the Prairie Music Board. Joan was a Rural Mail Carrier for 17 years out of the Slayton Post Office. She developed many friendships and many experiences in that job. After her retirement she and Chuck took several bus trips as well as a trip to Switzerland. At the start of the COVID shut down, Sillerud Lutheran Church assigned to some of its members the task of writing to those elderly who could not attend. She started out with 7 and that number soon grew to about 28 letters a month. Leading to a devotion letter she created weekly and send out. Joan never missed a chance to make a new friend or make someone feel special. Her bubbly smile and warm personality will be missed.

Allan Leroy Woitaszewski, age 82, died on April 11, 2026, with family members at his side at Gable Pines Senior Living in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. Allan was born in Slayton, Minnesota on March 17, 1944, to Dennis and Cornelia Woitaszewski.

Annetta Legler, age 99, formerly of Woodstock, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, March 30, 2026, at Haven Homes in Maple Plain, Minnesota. Services will be Friday, April 10, 2026, at Faith Community Church in Pipestone, Minnesota. Visitation and luncheon will be from 11:00 AM -12:30 PM. Funeral service will be held at 12:45 PM with interment immediately following at Woodstock Cemetery. Annetta’s funeral service will be live streamed and viewable online at www.hartquistfuneral. com.

Jerry Platt was born to Louis and Doris (Bose) Platt on May 19th, 1951 at home in Lake Wilson MN. He passed away unexpectedly at his home on March 27th, 2026 at the age of 74. Jerry attended Lake Wilson Elementary School and graduated from Lake Wilson High School in 1969.

John Van Dyke, age 96, of Slayton, Minnesota, formerly of Lake Benton, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, Minnesota. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at 10:30 AM at the First Baptist Church in Lake Benton with visitation held one hour prior from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at the church. Interment will follow in the Memorial Hill Cemetery in Lake Benton.

Elnora Katherine Dierks, the daughter of William and Dora (Behr) Hardekopf, was born on August 18, 1926, in Seward Twp., Nobles Co., MN. She grew up on the family farm and attended school. She was baptized and confirmed at the Immanuel American Lutheran Church in rural Fulda. Elnora was united in marriage to Ervin Dierks on May 21, 1944, at Immanuel American Lutheran Church in rural Fulda. After their marriage they lived and farmed northwest of Fulda. In 1975 they moved into Fulda. Elnora remained at home after Ervin died in November of 1990. She entered the Maple Lawn Nursing Home in February of 2025. Elnora passed away on Friday, March 27, 2026 at the Maple Lawn Nursing Home in Fulda at the age of 99. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fulda where she was active in the Ladies Aid and Altar Guild. She enjoyed gardening (especially her roses), sewing, quilting and crotcheting.

Bonnie Jean Byrne was born on September 3, 1933, on her parents’ farm north of Dovray, Minnesota, to Peter and Jennie (Carter) Byrne. She graduated from Westbrook High School in 1951. On November 8, 1952, Bonnie was united in marriage to Clair Ackerman at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie, MN. Together, they raised 10 children on the Ackerman family farm. Clair passed away on February 1, 2016. Bonnie grew up embracing the values of hard work, faith, and family that are inherent in rural life, carrying these principles with her throughout her years. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, great-grandmother and greatgreat grandmother finding great joy in the presence of her family. Bonnie loved to bake and cook for those she loved, and she was especially known for her delicious cookies, bars, and her famous potato salad, all of which were favorites at family gatherings. She also enjoyed collecting cookie jars, salt and pepper shakers, and clocks with Clair. In her free time, Bonnie took pleasure in playing cards, embroidering, knitting, and crocheting, sharing her handmade creations with family and friends. Bonnie was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Currie, MN, and worked for Swift in Marshall, MN, for several years. Bonnie passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Home in Westbrook, MN. She reached the age of 92 years, 6 months, and 22 days. Blessed be her memory. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Westbrook Good Samaritan Home and Avera Hospice for the care and attention given to Bonnie during her time there.