Obituaries

Suzanne Rasmussen Klein, daughter of Leonard (Lang) and Ethelyn (Holm) Rasmussen, was born on June 23, 1939, in Clarion, Iowa. She was baptized into the Christian faith on June 15, 1941, and confirmed her faith on June 3, 1957, at the Methodist Church in Kanawha, Iowa. She was raised in Kanawha, where she attended school and graduated from Kanawha High School in 1957. Sue continued her education at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and began her teaching career as a Kindergarten teacher in West Bend, Iowa.

Teresa Lee Lovre was born on July 6, 1955, to Marlo “Mike” and Carolyn (Hanson) Holck in Slayton, MN. She spent her childhood in Ruthton, MN and music was an important part of her life from an early age. Her mom and dad had a piano and organ in the home where she learned to play and sing. She was baptized on August 14, 1955, at Bethal Lutheran Church in Ruthton and confirmed in June 1968 at Peace Lutheran Church in Ruthton. She graduated from Ruthton High School in 1973.

The Lord welcomed Kenneth Michael Bassett (Mike) on August 20, 2026. He was born on January 27, 1948, to Esther (Forsberg) and Raymond Bassett. His parents and siblings farmed in and around Currie, MN, all their lives. He attended Immaculate Heart of Mary schools, graduating in 1966. He enlisted in the Army in 1967, becoming a medic and serving in Vietnam. He was very proud of his service and his ability to serve. Upon his discharge, he attended both Jackson and Canby Vocational schools for Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and appliance repair. He started his own business, making home in Currie. In 1972, Ken married Jean Neimeier from St. James, MN, having met her in Vo-Tech. During their marriage they were blessed with two children, Erin and Michael. They divorced in 1980. In 1985 he spent a year in Arizona, during a visit home to MN, he met Deborah Silvernale Reynolds, who was also divorced. Her parents, Robert and Maxine Silvernale were also raised in Currie, so the two families were familiar with each other. Ken and Deb became instant friends and Ken returned to Currie, re-establishing his business. They married October 17, 1987, at the little Presbyterian Church, with all their siblings and children taking part in the ceremony. Deb brought three children, Daniel, Jennifer and Cody, into the union. Ken discovered he had diabetes in 1972 however it didn’t slow him down. Like his father, he worked hard and was determined to fix anything and everything. He was strong as a horse, but mild mannered. He was always kind and honorable. Collections were his least favorite part of his job, often charging less than he should have. He would often join his older clients for coffee and conversation. He was often seen flying down the road, faster than necessary, with his beloved Bassett hound, Rosie, head out the window, her ears flying in the wind. His health took its toll and he retired in 2009. He enjoyed wintering in Mexico and Arizona in the RV, cruises and road trips, fishing in Canada with is cousins and spending time with family. He loved a good argument with his siblings, playing cards and telling stories of growing up on the farm to the grandkids. He was a devoted member of the American Legion, Currie Fire Dept., VFW and Currie Town and Country Booster Club. He stayed true to his Catholic upbringing; however, he attended church with Deb, out of respect for hers. Ken took a bad fall in January 2020, breaking his neck and back. He was hospitalized for months, returning home in April, using a walker and wheelchair. Life after that was difficult, due to boredom and his inability to fix things. Luckily, they lived with Deb’s daughter Jennifer and family, making it possible for him to be home a lot longer.

Rodney “Butch” Huerkamp, 71, of Avoca, MN passed away on Monday, August 31, 2026, at his home in Avoca. A family services will be held at the Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton, MN on Saturday, September 19, 2026, with a public graveside service at 12:00 PM at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery in Avoca.

Shirley Jean (Engesser) Martin, age 91, passed away on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Prairie View Nursing Home in Tracy, Minnesota. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 4, 2026 at Garvin Congregational Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at church. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery, rural Garvin. Memorials in Shirley’s memory may be sent to https://www.unitedcapmn.org/ donate/ Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice. com. Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Ronald Lenard Baumgard, 80, of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Sanford Medical Center, surrounded by the love of his family. Ron was born onApril 7, 1946, in Worthington, MN, the son of Herbert and Grace (Scotting) Baumgard.

Kenneth Bassett, 78, of Luverne, MN passed away at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, MN on Thursday, August 20, 2026. Memorial services will be on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at IHM Church in Currie. Visitation will be on Friday, September 4, 2026, at the church in Currie from 4-6 pm. and one hour prior to the services at the church on Saturday. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements. To view online obituary and send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome. accorded by the Currie American com Military Honors Legion Post.

Wilhelmina “Minnie” Beukhof, 100, of Willmar, died Sunday, August 23rd at St. Therese of Oxbow Lake in Brooklyn Park. Her funeral service was at 11:00 am, Friday, August 28th at First Reformed Church in Willmar. Visitation was one hour prior to the service. Burial was at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar. Memorials are preferred to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Her service will be live-streamed on the church’s Facebook page. Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Home in Willmar, www.hafh.org Minnie (Wilhelmina) Beukhof went peacefully to be with the Lord on August 23, 2026, at the age of 100 years old. Minnie loved the Lord and she shared her faith and life story with many through conversation, talks at churches and social gatherings and through her book “Sheltered Under His Wings”. Through the many trials and challenges in her life, God was always there to guide and protect her. She always shared the message of hope through her saying “May the Joy of the Lord be your strength!”

Dianne Jennifer Johnson, beloved by family and friends, passed away peacefully on August 9th, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of love and quiet strength. Dianne was born February 6, 1947, in Tyler, Minnesota, blessing her parents, Arthur and Viola Lamb, with her bright blue eyes and angelically placed dimples. She spent her childhood as the oldest of nine rambunctious brothers and sisters, growing up on a small family farm near Dovray, MN. She attended elementary school there and later graduated from Westbrook High School in 1965. It was during these early years that she began to develop the skills, interests, and passions that would remain a part of her throughout her life. Dianne loved simple, beautiful things. She loved her white kitty figurines and her water globes, of which she received countless numbers from family and friends over the years—and then lost countless numbers to the clumsy little fingers of grandchildren who also thought they were pretty. Every year, she planted beautiful flowers to soften the grain-bin scenery that surrounded her. She tended a large garden that helped feed her growing family, with a little “help” from her children, also known as bean snappers and corn shuckers. She served as the pianist at Hadley Lutheran Church for much of her adult life. She always had a book or two within reach. In her early years, it was romance novels; later, she gravitated toward Minnesota history and pretty much anything else she could get her hands on. Her library card never had a chance to accumulate dust. Dianne loved people. She especially loved caring for those in need, a calling she had been answering long before she became an LPN. In May 1976, she graduated from Worthington Community College and began a long and deeply meaningful career in nursing. She served in many roles in Slayton, working at the nursing home, the DAC, Murray County Memorial Hospital, and, after retiring from the hospital, several years as the contract nurse at hospice. When her children had left the nest, Dianne was finally able to fulfill another dream: becoming an RN. She graduated from Southwest State in December 2004, making her family incredibly proud. On March 22, 1975, she married the love of her life and her perfect companion, Brent Wayne Johnson. He could not have been prouder to be marrying the Homecoming Queen of Westbrook High. They complemented each other beautifully and built a life filled with kind words, romantic gestures, faith, and plenty of playful banter, with God always at the center. Their life together was filled with family picnics, hikes, bike rides, camping trips, and vacations, many of them fueled by laughter and Spam sandwiches. As their children grew older, Brent and Dianne were able to enjoy quieter vacations, focusing on each other and exploring more of the country together. In January 2020, they took their last big trip together, traveling to Israel to explore its history and holy lands. Dianne was poised and classy most of the time, but every now and then, her quick wit would make an appearance— usually in response to Brent’s gentle teasing or one of his famously long-winded stories.

Roxy Hakeneis was born on November 15, 1946, in New Ulm, Minnesota to Frank and Irma Schwartz Schwantes. The family moved to northeast Minneapolis, MN and later to Fridley, MN where Roxy graduated from Fridley High School in 1964. In 1972 the family moved to Fulda, MN and purchased Lanoue Bowling Lanes renaming it Fulda Recreation and Café. Roxy worked at the café with her parents for many years. On May 19, 1973, she and Keith Hakeneis were marriage at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fulda. Following their marriage, they made their home near Fulda before settling on a farm northeast of Fulda and raising their two sons. Roxy worked at several area restaurants throughout the years like the Corral, T-Tommy’s, the Fulda Drive-in to name a few. She also could be found at the local farmer’s market selling her homemade baked goods. Roxy passed away unexpectedly at her home on Monday, August 10, 2026, at the age of 79. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fulda. Above all else, family was her greatest priority. Roxy enjoyed quilting, playing board games with her grandkids, baking, and gardening.