Obituaries

Ken Zabella was born on May 3, 1965, in Kouts, Indiana to Leonard and Judy Harp Zabella. He grew up in Bunnell, Fl and graduated from Flagler Palm Coast High School in 1983. After graduating from high school, Ken joined the Air Force, where he served as a Combat Arms Specialist and then as a Special Agent, Office of Special Investigations (OSI). While in the Air Force, he attended the Community College of the Air Force receiving his associate degree of applied Science, Criminal Justice.

Cornelius “Corny” Smit, 84, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 11, 2025, at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen, SD. Private burial was held at the Wilmot Cemetery in Wilmot, SD.

Betty Tyrrell Snelling was born on November 21, 1928, in Chandler, Minnesota to William “Bill” and Anna den Boer Natte. In 1929 the family moved to Slayton, MN. Betty grew up in Slayton and graduated from Slayton High School in 1946. On December 22, 1946, she and Lester “Bud” Tyrrell were married at the Slayton Presbyterian Church. Following their marriage, they made their home in Slayton and raised their three sons. Betty worked at several places in Slayton over the years like Buckles Variety, J C Penney’s, Worthmore Ice Cream, and the Murray County Sheriff Office. Most people will remember Betty as the bubbly and friendly waitress at the Hub Drive-In for over 20 years. Bud passed away on August 4, 1978. Betty and Robert “Bob” Snelling were married on November 20, 1994, in Lake Tahoe, NV.

Judy Holden, the daughter of Richard and Sophie Wanous, was born on May 23, 1943 in Hutchinson, MN. She grew up on a farm near Silver Lake, MN where she attended and graduated from high school. In 1965 she graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in Elementary Education. Her first teaching position was at Lakefield, MN, where she taught kindergarten for 3 years. Judy was united in marriage to Gary Holden on August 10, 1968 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Glencoe, MN. After their marriage they lived in Fairmont, MN and she taught in Sherburn, MN. In 1969 they moved to Fulda, MN to teach. Judy retired in 1995 after teaching kindergarten for 25 years in Fulda. Judy remained in her home after Gary died in February of 2002.

The funeral service commemorating the life of Raymond Jay “Ray” Kirk, 90, of Balaton, will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Balaton. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 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 will continue on Wednesday one hour prior to the service, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church. Interment with military honors will follow the service at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Balaton. A luncheon will follow the interment at the Balaton Community Center.

Sandra Rose (Barlund) Smit, 82, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2025, four months to the day after the passing of her beloved husband, Cornelius “Corny” Smit in Aberdeen, SD.

Ken Zabella 60 of Orlando, FL passed away on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the AdventHealth East Hospital in Orlando, FL. A memorial service will be on Friday, August 29, 2025, at IHM Church in Currie, MN at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, August 28 and one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday. Interment is at Calvary Cemetery in Currie, MN. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangements. To view online obituary and send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome. com

Mervin Junker was born on February 2, 1943, in Mountain Lake, Minnesota to Henry and Irene Gilling Junker. He grew up on a farm in Cottonwood County, MN until 1951 when the family moved to a farm near St. James, MN. Mervin graduated from St. James High School in 1962 and drove truck for Hormell. On February 3, 1964, he and Shirley Randall were married in Mountain Lake. Following their marriage, they made their home in St. James. To this union a daughter Shelley was born. The family later moved to North Mankato, MN where Mervin worked as a police officer before moving to Minneapolis, MN for a short time. They then returned to St. James and Mervin worked with his parents operating their Drive-In. After selling the Driver-In, Mervin returned to trucking. Mervin and Shirley later divorced. Mervin continued to live and work in the St. James area for a few years before moving to the Twin Cities and then to Afton, MN where he drove truck for different companies and later owned and operated his own trucking company. Mervin was a firm GOP member with a Pro-Trump and Pro-Life stance. He retired in 2015 and moved to Tracy, MN to be near family. Mervin passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at the age of 82. He attended Tracy Alliance Church. Mervin enjoyed spending time with his daughter and her family, riding his motorcycle, old country gospel music, and animals, especially his cats.

Bernice Stoderl was born on December 8, 1930, in Iona, Minnesota to Edward and Margaret Kellen Breitbarth. She grew up in Iona and graduated from St. Columba High School in 1948. Bernice then attended St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing in Mankato, MN graduating with a Nursing Degree. On August 1, 1951, she and Edgar “Oscar” Stoderl were married at St. Columba Church in Iona. Following their marriage, they made their home in Iona and raised their three children. Bernice worked at the Slayton Home Hospital until it closed, and the new Murray County Hospital was built. Bernice worked as a surgical nurse at the new hospital. Oscar passed away on March 25, 1995. Bernice retired in 1998 after 42 years of service. Bernice passed away at her home on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the age of 94. She was a member St. Columba Church in Iona until it closed. Bernice enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, playing cards, and casino bus trips. Bernice was known for her Christmas bags which were filled with her homemade treats like peanut clusters, Chex Mix, caramel corn, and her knitted hangers.

Scott Sandhurst, the son of Vincent and Marlene (Bruns) Sandhurst, was born on June 8, 1958 in Heron Lake, MN. He graduated from Fulda High School in 1977. After graduation, Scott went on to work for a water tower painting Company in Slayton, MN. On May 13, 1978 he fell 75 feet and crushed three vertebrae in his back, which left him with paralysis in his legs. Scott was able to walk with crutches for several years and he could still go fishing, which he loved to do. Scott eventually needed a wheelchair, and he continued to enjoy his love for fishing with the help of family and friends. Scott went to Auto Mechanics School in Pipestone, MN for 2 years. Another passion was to take things apart and fix them. For a short time, Scott had a motorcycle repair shop in Worthington, MN and that’s when he met Lori Harvey. They had a beautiful baby girl, Stephanie, a couple of years later. Scott helped Lori raise her two children, Jason and Teia; and he now had a family with three great kids. Scott did auto repair work for several years out of his garage at his home in Fulda. His health continued to decline over the years and Lori helped to care for him as long as she could; then Stephanie stepped in and helped care for her dad. Scott passed away on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at the Sanford Medical center in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 67. Scott was a good father, brother and son and he will be missed.