Obituaries

Jane Wagner, 87, of Slayton, MN passed away on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the Moments of Lakeville, MN. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at St. Ann’s Church in Slayton at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be on Monday, May 18, 2026, at St. Ann’s Church from 4-6 p.m. and one hour prior to the services at the church on Tuesday. Interment is at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Slayton, Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangement. To view online obituary and send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com

Muriel Loraine Veenhuis, 93, passed away on May 7, 2026. She was born on July 4, 1932 in Sanborn, IA to Lawrence and Theresa Glawe, and grew up in Slayton, MN alongside her siblings Henry (Eleanor), Virginia (Dick Portmann), and Judy (Leon Betz). Muriel developed her love for reading and learning at Country School District 77 and then at Slayton High School. She studied to be a teacher at Lamberton Teachers Normal School and later taught in the Dovray Country School and Avoca School.

Eleen LeRoy Johnson, Age 73, of Garvin, MN passed away May 7, 2026, after a brief stay at Luther Haven in Montevideo, MN. Eleen was born August 26, 1952, to Clarence L and Edith Rankin Johnson. Eleen grew up on the family farm near Lake Shetek and graduated from Tracy High School in 1970. On February 24, 1973, he and Shirley Schmidt were married at Tracy Lutheran Church in Tracy. Following their marriage, they made their home in Trimont, MN for a short time before returning to the Lake Shetek area. Eleen built a new home next to his parents’ home with the help of his brother-in-law, Butch and his boys. He and Shirley divorced in 1995. Eleen then moved down the road to the “Petersen’s place” where he made his home. Eleen worked for Lester Construction until moving on to work for the State of Minnesota he retired in 2011. Eleen could always be found helping a neighbor or a friend with cement work or construction projects that needed doing. He was known to the area for his hard work and his measure once attitude. He could also be counted on for taking the misfit kids and giving them summer jobs. In 2016, Eleen suffered a stroke and moved to an apartment in Tracy, where he lived until February 2026. He then moved to Montevideo, where he could spend his remaining time close to his son and daughter in law. Although, he didn’t always say it, he cherished his daily visits with them (some that started with a phone call by 6:00 am) and occasional outings. Even if it was only a trip across the parking lot.

Mary Kay Galles was born on August 19, 1949. The daughter of Bill and Marcella (Gengler) Frisk. She grew up in Avoca, Minnesota and attended elementary school there from kindergarten through 6th grade. She graduated from Slayton High School in 1967. Mary was united in marriage to Dale Galles on June 10, 1967, at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Avoca. After their marriage, they made their home on an acreage outside of Avoca for over 30 years. Those 30 years were filled with many great things including the birth of their 2 daughters. They also enjoyed raising horses and taking trips, one often being to the Grotto of Redemption. In 1978, Mary started working part time at the Avoca post office as a PMR-postmaster relief. She was promoted to Postmaster in 1984 and retired in 2012 after working 34 years. One of her favorite things was seeing all the town kids daily who came in for tootsie rolls and stamps on their hand. She was very proud of her entire postal career being right in her small hometown. She also served as trustee of the St Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery for over 20 years. In 2016, after 49 years of marriage, her husband Dale passed away. Mary continued to live in their Slayton home they had lived in for over 20 years, missing him every day. She enjoyed embroidering, shopping, going to antique stores/flea markets and watching the yellow finches and hummingbirds out her back window. She liked collecting dolls, cookie jars, cups and saucers, rocks and loved finding any memorabilia of Avoca. As she often said that was her “STUFF”. She loved attending every concert, birthday party and sporting event her grandkids had and never missed one until she could no longer attend. For many years, she also enjoyed little trips to the casino. One of the many things about Mary is she was not only a grandma to her grandchild and great-grandchildren but to SO many others over the years and she will be forever missed by all that knew her. She passed away surrounded by loved ones on April 29, 2026, at the age of 76 years old.

Arnie Guild was born on March 15, 1941, in Tracy, Minnesota to Clarence and Frances Magnus Guild. Arnie was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He grew up on the family farms near Avoca and Lake Wilson, MN. Arnie attended country schools near Avoca and Slayton. He later graduated from Slayton High School in 1959. After high school, Arnie attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. After college Arnie worked in Worthington, MN as an autobody mechanic. Later he was employed by Moorman’s Feed Company and People’s Express. On June 23, 1962, he and Marie Schwartz were united in marriage in Slayton, MN. Arnie and Marie lived in Worthington, MN until 1963 and then moved to Slayton, MN where he presently resided. Marie passed away on December 1, 2009. Arnie passed away peacefully at his home on May 6, 2026. Arnie was a member of Christ Lutheran Church and Faith Community Lutheran Church of Slayton. Arnie enjoyed spending time with his family. He enjoyed music, fishing, hunting, camping, spending time at the lake, playing cribbage and pinochle with his family and friends. He always had a story to tell. It would have been his 53rd year fishing up north at Voyageurs National Park. His grandchildren and great grandchildren meant the world to him. He enjoyed attending all their events.

Ester Swan was born on June 19, 1938, in Minburne, Alberta, Canada to Otto and Rosa Viola Andersen Anderson. She grew up in Lethbridge and Calgary Canada where she attended school. On October 12, 1960, she and Marvin Swan were married at Southminster United Lethbridge. Following their marriage they farmed near Hadley, MN until moving to Pipestone, MN where Ester ran an in-home daycare. Following retirement, they moved back to the farm near Hadley. In August of 2000 Ester had a stroke and moved to Lindenwood Assisted Living in Slayton. Marvin passed away on March 7, 2003. Due to a fall Ester moved to the Slayton Golden Living Center in Slayton until it closed. She then moved to the Minneota Manor and later transition to the Minneota Assisted Living both in Minneota, MN. She passed away there on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the age of 87. She was a member of Hadley Lutheran Church in Hadley, MN. Ester was a devoted Child of Christ and loved him very much. Ester enjoyed puzzles, crocheting, shaking dices, gardening, playing Bingo, flowers, reading, cross-stitching, sewing and her many cats.

Vicki Lynn Stoffel passed away on April 26. She battled with respiratory issues and complications from pneumonia. Vicki grew up in Lismore and attended St. Anthony school and graduated from Adrian Public School. She then attended Worthington Community College and graduated from Southwest State University.

Gen Felber was born on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1929, to Hjalmer and Bertha Mickelson Shonblom on a farm outside of Fergus Falls, MN. Gen attended country school District 31 for eight years, the only one in her class. In High School she worked at Woolworth’s in the candy and jewelry department as well as helping on the farm harvesting, haying, and milking morning, and night. She even worked the teams of horses in the fields. She loved working with her dad. Each summer she attended Mount Carmel Bible camp in Alexandria where she was Baptized and accepted the Lord as Savior. Gen graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1946. She then moved to Minneapolis and worked for Honeywell in the purchasing department for two and a half years. She met her husband Sidney at the Bus Depot in Fergus Falls as he was home for Christmas while serving as a paratrooper in the Army at the time. Sidney and Genevieve were married on February 17, 1949, at the First Baptist Church in Fergus Falls. They lived in Barrett, MN, Lake Wilson, MN and moved to Slayton, MN in 1966. Gen and Sid spent sixteen winters of their retirement years in New Port Richey, FL. and many summer days in Fergus Falls, MN at their lake cabin. They were blessed with 5 children, Sidney, Madilyn, Marilyn, Alan, and Bryce and were married for 60 years. Sidney passed away on June 20, 2009. Gen was a caregiver. She generously gave her parents and father-inlaw a home during the winter months, cared for her daughter Madilyn who was severely ill for many years and for Sidney who suffered from diabetes for most of their married life. She also helped raise three of Sidney’s younger siblings while also caring for three young children of her own. Gen was an expert seamstress and spent many hours sewing clothes for her family and continued to make beautiful dresses and costumes for the grandchildren as well as making quilts for each of them as they graduated from high school. She was a Girl Scout leader in Lake Wilson and Gen was a wonderful cook who baked many Norwegian favorites as well as birthday cakes too many to count! She worked outside the home at the Murray County Bank in Slayton and at the Slayton High School for thirteen years as secretary for the Superintendent. Gen was an avid sports lover, she attended high school sporting events throughout her life and later watched all college and professional sports on TV. She was devoted to her faith and shared her many talents at Lake Sarah Baptist Church. Gen faithfully attended services 3 times a week with her young family. Later she supported and assisted in training many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren attending AWANA, Adventure Club, Vacation Bible School, and Lake Sarah Bible Camp. She served as a Sunday school teacher, a leader for AWANA, a Deaconess, on the church board, she took part in many Bible study groups and served on the building committee. Gen was a member of the Home Builders Committee; she served as church treasurer and was President of the Women’s Missionary Society as well as many other activities. She was a member of the Lake Wilson American Legion Auxiliary. Gen was always there to listen, and to give support and advice. Gen shared a special relationship with each member of her family, loving them all and beginning and ending each encounter with the best hugs. Gen’s heart was always overflowing with love for the Lord as well as her love for her family. Gen lived at home until the age of 93, on December 20, 2023, she moved to Boulder Creek Memory Care in Marshall, MN on April 2, 2026, Gen moved to Our Houses Hospice Home. Gen went to meet her savior on Monday, April 27, 2026, having lived a life of 97 years and 27 days. Well done thy good and faithful servant. Matt 25:23 Genevieve will be dearly missed and is loving remembered by her three children Sidney and Joan Felber Blaine, MN, Marilyn Ruppert, Colorado Springs, CO, Bryce and Teresa Felber, Slayton, MN and daughter-in-law Beverly Felber Cave Creek, AZ. 15 grandchildren, Carly (Andrew) Neisen, Whitney (Kyle) Cobb, Sidney A Felber II, Sheri (Bryon) Van-Horn, Angie (Brad) Gates, Charles Green, Eryn Ruppert, Joshua Felber, Julie (Shane) Cunningham, Britt Felber, Alana Felber, Kelly Felber, Jacob Felber, Renee (Aaron) Larson, 21 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. Three sisters-in-law, Marvel Peterson, Tioga ND, Caroline Felber, Ventura, CA and Ruth Ann and husband Ronnie Fretland, Snohomish, WA as well as many nieces and nephews.

Rosemary LeTendre, the daughter of Jack and Lillian Applen Collins, was born in Austin, MN, on August 29, 1938. In 1942, her family moved from Blooming Prairie to Austin, where she attended St. Augustine Catholic schools, graduating from St. Augustine (Pacelli) High School in 1956. Rosemary graduated from Mt. Mary College in Milwaukee, WI, in 1960, where she was invited into two academic fraternities: Sigma Tau Delta, a National Professional English Fraternity, and Phi Alpha Theta, a National Honor Society for History. She began teaching English at Archbishop Murray Memorial High School, now Hill Murray, in 1960. In December 1960, she, and Joseph L. LeTendre were married at St. Augustine Church in Austin. In 1961, they moved to Brewster, MN, and then to Slayton, MN, in 1965. In addition to her full-time position as wife to Joe and mother to their five children, Rosemary served local schools as a substitute teacher. She provided assistance many times as a long-term substitute, helping out both the Slayton Public Schools and Fulda Area Schools. Her greatest achievement as an educator lies in her work with what was then termed “homebound” teaching. Rosemary was the sole provider of all education to students who were not able to, or in some cases not allowed to, attend school in the physical building. She worked closely with main classroom teachers to provide appropriate instruction in multiple content areas to students who came to her home. If coming to her home was not an option, she went to the student’s home. Through her efforts, she saw to it that over thirty students earned their high school diplomas! Having a special heart for students in need or crisis, she also taught at the Worthington Area Learning Center for two years. Additionally, her husband’s careers in education, advertising, emceeing, and writing were successful because they were a strong team; he was the creative one, and she was the one who made him, and his work look good by editing and proofreading his work! Rosemary was active at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in many ways. She was a Faith Formation teacher, served as CCW President, served as the Fall Bazaar Co-Chair, and was a Marion Medal Co-leader. She also served on the parish council, as a parish trustee, as a liturgy committee member, and as a sacristan when Mass was held at the Manor in Slayton. Additionally, she taught Vacation Bible School and alongside her husband, Joe, delivered the financial literacy class to engaged couples at Pre-Cana weekend retreats. Rosemary served as the Honorary Chair of the Murray County Relay for Life two separate years. She was a breast cancer survivor. Her hobbies included reading, baking, get-togethers with friends, and supporting family, friends, neighbors, and community members, especially with her famous foods: chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, BBQ, or goulash. She was dubbed a “prayer warrior” by family and friends. Rosemary passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Mary Galles 76 of Westbrook, MN, passed away on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society-Westbrook. Memorial services will be on Friday, May 22, 2026, at St. Ann’s Church in Slayton at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at the Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton from 4-6 p.m. and one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday. Interment is at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery in Avoca, MN. To send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome. com