Obituaries

Gwendolyn (Gwen) Fae Hartlep (Prahm), of Fulda, MN, passed away on July 24, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society in Westbrook, MN, aged 90 years, 4 months and 9 days. Gwen was born in Chandler, MN, on March 15, 1935, to Elmer and Jennie (Swart) Prahm.

Alice Knutson, 100, of Oakdale, MN passed away at The Waters of Oakdale on Monday, August 4, 2025. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at St. Ann’s Church in Slayton at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the church on Tuesday. Interment is at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Slayton, MN. Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton is entrusted with arrangement. To view online obituary and send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.

Robert Gerdes 72 of rural Brewster, MN passed away on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at his sister’s home in rural Fulda, MN. A private graveside service was held at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Brewster, MN on Friday, July 25, 2025.

Cyril Thier Jr., age 80, passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at his residence in Worthington, MN. Visitation was held on Monday, July 28, 2025, from 4:00 p.m.

Ronnie Schreier was born on February 26, 1941, in Slayton, Minnesota to Peter and Alice Beach Schreier. He grew up on the family farm near Currie, MN and attended IHM Catholic School in Currie. Ronnie graduated from Slayton High School in 1959.

Ronald “Ron” Fay Behrends (1947 - 2025) passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025, surrounded by his family in Slayton, MN. He was born on August 9, 1947, in Slayton, Minnesota to John and Evelyn Nord Behrends. Ron grew up on the family farm in Fenton Township and graduated from Chandler High School in 1965. Following graduation, Ron continued his education at Jackson Vo-Tech where he graduated from the Automotive Specialists Program in 1967.

In the early 1940s, a young Freddie Schneekloth would meet and soon marry Violet Hoffman. Harlo Kent Schneekloth, their son, was born February 18, 1943. Named for Jene Harlow, he was an only child. After a complicated and chronic pulmonary condition, Harlo passed away at his home on July 11th, 2025 at the age of eighty-two.

Rev. Robert Dwain Moritz, the eldest son of Hans and Edna (Jorgensen) Moritz, was born May 29 1935, near Estherville, IA. Bob passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and love, on July 14, 2025, at 90 years of age. Bob grew up on his family’s 210-acre farm north of Estherville, where he helped run the Moritz Jersey Dairy alongside his mother, Aunt Martha, and brothers after his father Hans’s sudden passing in 1946. Those early years shaped his strong faith, work ethic, and deep commitment to serving others.

Maxine I. Heinrichs, age 101, of Glencoe, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Glencoe Regional Health in Glencoe. Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, July 18, 2025, at 1:00 P.M. at the Church of St. Pius X in Glencoe, with interment in the Glencoe Catholic Cemetery. Clergy Officiating: Father Bob Mraz; Pianist: Carrie Knott; Song Leader: Shari Templin; Musical Selections: “Ave Maria,” “Prayer Of St. Francis,” “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman,” “How Great Thou Art”; Casket Bearers: Todd Cramer, Paige Lacatena, Devin Hunt, James Heinrichs, Matthew Ober, Clarissa Leiseth, Garrett Ober; Honorary Casket Bearers: Payal Cramer, Anthony Lacatena, Amanda Heinrichs, Christopher Hunt, Erin Lux, Adam Norby, Camille Heinrichs, Mason Leiseth, Makiah Ober.

Roger Smith, 80, of Chandler, MN passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, July 14, 2025. Visitation was Thursday, July 17, 2025 at the Chandler Reformed Church from 5-7 PM and a funeral service was held on Friday, July 18, 2025 at the Chandler Reformed Church at 11:00AM. A private burial service took place prior to the service.