Obituaries

Henry M. (Jack) Van Dam passed away on Tuesday, April 8. A Visitation will be held at the Chandler Funeral Chapel in Chandler, MN on Friday, April 11, 2025 from 4-7PM. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the Chandler Reformed Church at 10:30AM with burial to follow at the Chandler Memorial Cemetery.

Joan Heather Harmsen, 100, of Salem, Oregon died on March 19, 2025 in the loving embrace of family. Joan was born December 21, 1924 in Melbourne, Australia to Angelina Challen and John Clement. She was raised and graduated high school in Adelaide, Australia. She met John Vincent Harmsen while he was in the service, stationed in Australia during WWII. They married on May 17, 1944 and she left her homeland to settle with him on the Harmsen family farm outside of Lake Wilson, MN. While there they had two children, Linda and John. After a few years they moved into town and had three more children, Heather, David and Victoria. Joan was a member of many civic organizations, enjoyed volunteering at church and school, and gave tap dancing lessons. One of her proudest moments during these years was becoming a citizen of the United States, a country she admired and loved. Joan later worked outside the home doing office work and bookkeeping and by 1971 had saved enough to take her children to meet their grandparents in Australia. Upon Vincent’s retirement in 1980 they relocated to Independence, OR and in 1990, a few years after Vincent’s death, Joan moved to Salem, OR. A life-long advocate of higher education, Joan achieved her long-held dream of obtaining a college degree from Western Oregon University, at age 59, graduating with honors. She subsequently taught for a few years before retiring. In addition to possessing a strong compassion for others, Joan was a gifted performer and enjoyed participating in plays, especially if singing and dancing were part of the role.

Lois Patricia (Brink) Anderson, 92, passed away on March 16, 2025, in Mesa, Arizona. She was born on August 13, 1932, in Lura Township, South Dakota, to Melvin and Pearl (Jacobson) Brink.

Donald “Donnie” Schettler, age 81 of Tracy, formerly of Wilmont, passed away peacefully March 24, 2025 at his home surrounded by family and friends. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at church on Saturday. Interment will be held at Fort Snelling Cemetery at a later date. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice. com. Stephens Funeral Service - Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Linda (Baumgartner) Horn, age 69 of Tracy, passed away Sunday, December 8, 2024 at her home. Memorial Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 4, 2025 at the Tracy Area Funeral Home. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be held at Prairie Hill Cemetery in Fulda. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice. com. Stephens Funeral Service – Tracy Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Janet Sanderson was born on January 8, 1934, on the family farm near Currie, Minnesota to Walter and Margaret Nimifroh Deslauriers. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from IHM High School in 1953. On October 10, 1953, she and George Sanderson were married at IHM Church in Currie. Following their marriage, they made their home in Fort Campbell, KY while George was serving in the United States Army. Following his discharge in 1955 they moved to Tracy, MN. Janet was a busy stay at home mom raising their five children. In 1968 following the Tracy Tornado they moved to Currie. Janet worked at the Mushroom Plant in Currie until it closed. On January 23, 2016, George passed away. Janet remained in Currie until March 2022 when she moved to Lindenwood Assisted Living in Slayton, MN. In December 2024 Janet moved to Pipestone Good Samaritan Society in Pipestone, MN. She passed away there on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the age of 91. Janet was a member of IHM Church in Currie. She enjoyed gardening, crafts, fishing, sewing, puzzles, and embroidering. Survivors include her five children and their spouses, DeEtte and Rick Platt of Slayton, MN, Cynthia and Tom Bomgaars of Worthington, MN, Barb Tesch of Slayton, MN, Paul Sanderson of Wasilla, AK, and Kathy and Dennis Olson of Ruthon, MN, 15 grandchildren, 25 greatgrandchildren, one great-greatgranddaughter and another on the way in May and sister, Judy and Pat Donahue of the Village of Florida. Janet is preceded in death by her parents, husband, George, infant son, Marvin Sanderson, and brother, Denny Deslauriers.

Joanne Mary Klein, the daughter of Clarence and Harriet (Hoffman) Penning, was born on February 8, 1947 in Adrian, MN. She grew up southeast of Wilmont, MN and attended school in Wilmont. Joanne was united in marriage to Norman Klein on January 27, 1973 in Wilmont, MN. After their marriage they lived southwest of Fulda, MN. In 2009 they moved to a farm near Reading, MN. Joanne passed away on Monday, March 17, 2025 at the Our House Hospice Home in Slayton, MN at the age of 78. She was a member of St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Fulda. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, reading, baking and spending time with those she loved, especially her grandchildren.

Stuart E. Oberg was born May 13, 1929, to Emil and Mary Oberg of Hadley, Minn.

Ronald Joseph Ehleringer was born March 29, 1932, on the family farm near Currie, Minnesota to Bill and Agnus (LaPlante) Ehleringer. He grew up on the farm and attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School in Currie. RJ joined the United States Air Force in 1952. He spent 2 years stationed at Scott Field Base near Belleville, IL and 2 years at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, AK. After his military service he worked road construction and drove semi-truck. On May 4, 1957, he was united in marriage to Darlene Johnson. They had two sons. In 1959 he purchased his first semi-truck and owned and operated Ehleringer Trucking. On October 6, 1976, he was united in marriage to Marlyn Kuiper Schwarz. In 1978 he sold the trucking business, and they purchased a grocery store in Currie. Together they ran RJ’s Corner Store for 18 years. During this time RJ also drove tractor for local farmers during the spring and fall seasons. RJ passed away on Monday, March 10, 2025, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, MN, at the age of 92. RJ was a lifetime member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie. He also was a member of the Currie American Legion Post, Currie Town and Country Boosters, and the Storden Saddle Club. He enjoyed lake life for years at their home on Lake Shetek. He also enjoyed horseback riding, camping, threshing shows, auctions, and most of all visiting with friends and people in general.

Janet Sanderson was born on January 8, 1934, on the family farm near Currie, Minnesota to Walter and Margaret Nimifroh Deslauriers. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from IHM High School in 1953. On October 10, 1953, she and George Sanderson were married at IHM Church in Currie. Following their marriage, they made their home in Fort Campbell, KY while George was serving in the United States Army. Following his discharge in 1955 they moved to Tracy, MN. Janet was a busy stay at home mom raising their five children. In 1968 following the Tracy Tornado they moved to Currie. Janet worked at the Mushroom Plant in Currie until it closed. On January 23, 2016, George passed away. Janet remained in Currie until March 2022 when she moved to Lindenwood Assisted Living in Slayton, MN. In December 2024 Janet moved to Pipestone Good Samaritan Society in Pipestone, MN. She passed away there on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the age of 91. Janet was a member of IHM Church in Currie. She enjoyed gardening, crafts, fishing, sewing, puzzles, and embroidering. Survivors include her five children and their spouses, DeEtte and Rick Platt of Slayton, MN, Cynthia and Tom Bomgaars of Worthington, MN, Barb Tesch of Slayton, MN, Paul Sanderson of Wasilla, AK, and Kathy and Dennis Olson of Ruthon, MN, 15 grandchildren, 25 greatgrandchildren, one great-greatgranddaughter and another on the way in May and sister, Judy and Pat Donahue of the Village of Florida. Janet is preceded in death by her parents, husband, George, infant son, Marvin Sanderson, and brother, Denny Deslauriers.