Obituaries

Carol Van Dyke of Edgerton, MN, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the Pipestone County Hospice House on October 31, 2025. A visitation was held at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton, MN on Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 5:007:00PM. A burial service was held at the Chandler Memorial Cemetery on Friday, November 7, 2025, at 9:00AM with a celebration of life service to follow at Bethel CRC in Edgerton, MN at 11:00AM.

The funeral service for Lois Ahlschlager, 85, of Balaton, will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Balaton. Visitation was held on Monday, November 3, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Balaton. Visitation continued on Tuesday, one hour prior to the service, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at St. Peters Lutheran Church. Interment followed the service at Lakeside Cemetery in Balaton.

Garry Dierks was born on December 1, 1944, in Worthington, Minnesota to Ervin and Elnora Hardekopf Dierks. He grew up on the family farm northwest of Fulda, MN and graduated from Fulda High School in 1962. While in high school Garry worked at Taarud’s Service Station in Slayton it was there that he met a young Mary Lucker. On July 9, 1966, he and Mary were married at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fulda, MN. Following their marriage, they made their home in Slayton and Garry worked for the Murray County Highway Department and operated Dierks Painting. He retired in 2009 after 43 years with the Murray County Highway Department. Garry then went to work doing road blading for Rock Lake Township, Lake Shetek Township, and continued painting. Mary passed away on May 24, 2019. Garry remained in Slayton until July 2025 when he moved to Good Samaritan in Mountain Lake, MN for rehab. He was moved to Ava’s House in Sioux Falls after a medical procedure. He passed away there on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at the age of 80. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Slayton where he served as President of the Congregation, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, and was an Elder. Garry enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, coffee with the boys, and visiting.

Garry Dierks, 80, of Slayton, MN passed away at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD on Sunday, October 19, 2025. Funeral services are Friday, October 24, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Slayton at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the church from 4-6 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. and one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday. Interment is at Slayton Memorial Gardens in Slayton. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements. To view online obituary and send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome. com

Marie Frandsine Henriksen was born September 17,1934 to Henrik and Esther (Sorensen) Henriksen near Tyler, Minnesota. After farming various sites in Lincoln County, the family settled in Lake Stay Township. After graduating from Ivanhoe High School, Marie attended and earned a degree in Home Economics from Mankato State College. She taught school in Tracy and Belle Plaine. In 1963, she spent seven months touring Europe, meeting family in Denmark, and doing factory work, manufacturing metal containers. She returned home and began working with University of Minnesota Extension Service for Murray County, in Slayton where she stayed for 28 years. She retired from her extension career in Lincoln County, in May 2000. Marie passed peacefully September 29, 2025, at Prairie Home Hospice, Lockwood House in Marshall, following her 91st birthday.

Bob Rachuy was born on September 1, 1950, in Worthington, Minnesota to Elgie and Delores O’Neil Rachuy. He grew up on the family farm south of Slayton, MN. Bob worked on the farm with his brothers, James, Chuck, and Larry. He graduated from Slayton High School and attended North Dakota State University where he participated in college football. Bob served in the United States Army, from May 27, 1971, to March 10, 1972. He was deployed overseas during the Vietnam War, and he received an honorable discharge.

Baylor Scotting was a Halloween baby, born on October 31, 2019, in Pipestone, Minnesota to Tyler and Stormi VandenBosch Scotting. Baylor was Baptized at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson, MN. He attended Murray County Central Preschool. Baylor loved snuggling, his paci, being outside, Mickey Mouse, Wallykazam, Blues Clues, Sesame Street, and reading with Myles. Baylor’s 5-year MSD journey will live on in a cure for future families.

Marie Frandsine Henriksen, age 91, of Tyler, Minnesota passed away peacefully at the Prairie Home Hospice Lockwood House in Marshall, Minnesota on Monday, September 29, 2025. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 18, 2025 starting at 2:00 PM with an hour visitation time prior to the service at Bethany Lutheran Church in Arco, Minnesota. Interment will follow the service at the Arco City Cemetery in Arco, Minnesota.

Larry Rachuy was born on March 28, 1960, in Slayton, Minnesota to Elgie and Delores O’Neil Rachuy. He grew up on the family farm south of Slayton and graduated from Slayton High School in 1978. Larry then attended Willmar Area Vocational Technical Institute for Ag Business graduating in 1980. From there, he took a position with Chandler Co-op in Chandler, MN until 2006. He and Heidi Jensen were married on December 3, 1983, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Slayton, MN. Larry and Heidi made their home in Slayton, MN raising their two children Erica and Cole. In May of 2006, he joined Krohn Farms, Inc., working with Jason and Aaron Krohn. Larry was a pit crew member of 7K Racing in Jason’s words, “He straightened a lot of my bent sheet metal.” He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton. He was also a past member of the Slayton Fire Department. Larry loved spending time with Heidi, calling her his “buddy”, the love of his life, and his best friend. His children and grandchildren were the best blessings given and he loved making all the memories he could with them. His hobbies included: broomball, dirt biking with his “dirt bike gang”, softball league, pool league for over 30 years, watching dirt track races, attending classic car shows, showing his classic cars, which also meant obsessively cleaning them and of course loving on their cat Leo. Larry passed away unexpectedly at the Murray County Medical Center on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at the age of 65.

Randall Warren Barrett was born on December 17, 1952, in Sioux Falls, SD, to Jacqueline (Lunstra) and Raymond Barrett. Randy, or “RB” as many knew him, was the second of five children and the only son. The family lived on a farm near Beaver Creek, MN, until 1958, when they acquired a farm in Lime Lake Township. Randy attended school in Slayton, MN, and graduated from Slayton High School in 1970.