Obituaries

Donald Glenn Nielsen was born on August 16, 1947, in Tyler, Minnesota to Everett and Martha Pouwe Nielsen. He grew up in the Ruthton area and graduated from Ruthton High School in 1968, that same year Don was drafted and joined the United States Navy serving in Vietnam. Don served 29 years in the United States Navy. On October 20, 1973, he and Marlys Gunnink were married at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson, MN. Following their marriage, they made their home in Lake Wilson where Don did over the road trucking until opening his mechanic shop in Lake Wilson. He sold the business in 1990. Don then went to work for the City of Lake Wilson not long after starting with the city the Chandler/Lake Wilson tornado hit Lake Wilson. Don was tasked with the enormous city-wide clean-up of city property. Don retired from the city in 2018.

Gaylen Walter Jensen was born on July 16, 1935, to Walter and Grace Verdeck Jensen and raised on the family farm in Lyon County. After graduating from Milroy High School in 1953 and briefly enrolling at Bethel College in St. Paul to attend Classes and play football, Gaylen enlisted in the United States Army. Following his honorable discharge in January 1957, Gaylen made his home in Mankato, MN. On January 2, 1958, he and Ann Stoltzman were married in Mankato. Following their marriage, they made their home in Mankato while Gaylen pursued a Bachelor of Education Degree at Mankato State. In 1964 they moved to Slayton, MN where Gaylen taught business classes and coached at Slayton High School. In 1986 he and Ann divorced. Gaylen retired from teaching in 1994. Although Gaylen had a deep passion for teaching, he was a farmer at heart and loved being on the land and caring for his pigs. Gaylen was a strong advocate for the underdog and loved being involved in the community which led him to serving as Murray County Commissioner from 1995 to 2002. Gaylen could be seen racing around town in his golf cart or in his pick-up always ready to lend a hand or help someone out. Due to failing health Gaylen moved to Our House Hospice in Slayton on June 9, 2025. He passed away there on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the age of 89, with his family by his side. He was a regular attendee of the First Reformed Church in Slayton. He was a member of US Veterans Affairs and the American Legion. In addition, he was a former member of the Slayton Optimist Club and the Slayton Kiwanis Club. Gaylen (or Grandpa Piggy, as he was loving called by his grandchildren) enjoyed spending time with his family, farming, draft horse shows, racing, Sudoku, reading, coffee with friends at Slayton Bakery, and riding around town in his golf cart.

The Slayton North Cemetery is home to the only columbarium in Murray County. Located just north of Slayton, across from the golf course on highway 59, the North Cemetery stretches from the highway back to a creek at the edge of the property. Towards the back of the cemetery, cremated remains are housed in an aboveground granite structure called a columbarium.

Mass of Christian burial for Rodney “Butchie” Joseph Krueger, 72, of Slayton, MN took place on Friday, June 13, 2025 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy, MN beginning at 11:00 a.m. Public visitation began one hour prior to the funeral mass. Upon conclusion of the funeral, a luncheon was provided at church. Private family burial will take place at a later date.

John Thomas Rzeszutek was born on August 16th, 1942 in Minneapolis, MN to Frank and Margaret (Shudy) Rzeszutek. He grew up and attended school in Spring Lake Park, MN. John entered the U.S. Army in June of 1964 course trained in Engineering with an Expert Rifleman badge. He was honorably discharged and moved on to become a Millwright/ Supervisor. Throughout his career he worked as a held foreman/supervisor level positions in metal fabrication, welding and metal fabricator, engineer liaison for finalizing structural prints and installation of bridge cranes, monorails, service rails, conveyors, and various construction positions. John often succeeded in projects through his innovation, creativity and his ability to build and construct. He built garages, outbuildings, numerous playhouses and portable fish houses.

Lee Julius was born October 2, 1941 on the family farm near Ellsworth, Minnesota to Henry and Lillian Renken Julius. Lee attended Adrian School and later worked as a farm hand. On November 12, 1959, he and Karen Thompson were married at the Lutheran Parsonage in Slayton, MN. Following their marriage, they made their home in Slayton and Lee worked for Louis Beal Distributing (Grain Belt) starting out too young to deliver beer, so he did the soft drinks route eventually switching to the Grain Belt Beer truck route and later becoming route manager. After 17 ½ years Lee left and went to work for Oak Grove Dairy for two years before taking a job with Hadley Farmers Elevator for 25 years. He retired in 2004 due to health reasons. On June 4, 2025, Lee moved to Our House Hospice Home in Slayton. He passed away there on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at the age of 83. He was a member of Faith Community Lutheran Church in Slayton, and a former member of Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton. Lee enjoyed reading, penny slots, and tinkering in his garage and yard.

Douglas “Doug” James Scholtes age 49 of Wilmont, Minnesota passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the Sunset Hospice Cottage in Worthington, MN surrounded by his family. Doug was born on August 21, 1975, in Worthington to Lowell and Cynthia (Synder) Scholtes. As a young boy, he and his mother moved to Oregon. But he later returned to the Wilmont, MN area in the late 1980s. He graduated from Worthington High School in 1993 and went on to study auto body repair at Jackson Vo-Tech, graduating in 1995. Doug began his career with Rupp Construction in Slayton and later joined the Rock County Highway Department, where he worked until retiring in October 2024 due to health reasons. On May 28, 2010, Doug married Karrie Reasonover Hyvari in Slayton, MN. He was a devoted husband and father who loved spending time with his family and friends, Doug had a passion for the outdoors he enjoyed fishing, hunting, racing, playing cards, and Gun Bingo. He took great pride in working on his cherished Super Bee. Doug’s warmth, humor, and generous spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Tom Fitzgerald was born on January 20, 1954, in Slayton, Minnesota to Harold “Holly” and Doris Gilbertson Fitzgerald. He grew up in Iona, MN and attended St. Columba Catholic School and graduated from Slayton High School in 1972. On August 30, 1975, he and Debra “Deb” Schettler were married at Our Lady of Counsel Catholic Church in Wilmont, MN. Following their marriage, they made their home in Iona where they raised their three children and created an amazing life together. Tom worked for Highland Manufacturing in Worthington, MN retiring in 2016. Due to failing health Tom moved to South Shore Care Center in Worthington, MN on April 9, 2025. He passed away there on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at the age of 71. He was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church in Iona until it’s closing in 2024. He also was a member of the Iona Volunteer Fire Department for over 20 years and a proud member of the NRA. Tom enjoyed spending time with family and friends, hunting, gardening working in the garage and gambling.

Dennis Frank Klein was born on November 1, 1943 to Anthony “Anton” and Johanna (Vortherms) Klein in Le Mars, Iowa. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1962 in Alton, Iowa. Dennis was in the Air Force from 1962 to 1966 and was stationed in California and Greenland where he worked in a warehouse and orchards. Dennis achieved the rank of First Class (Regaf). Dennis met Julie Bohlke at the VFW in Wilmont, Minnesota while attending a wedding dance of friends. On February 1, 1969 Dennis and Julie were united in marriage after their first attempt to have a wedding was delayed due to a snowstorm. After living in Westbrook, Minnesota for three years, they moved to Iona, Minnesota in 1972. Dennis was a hard-working and dedicated farmer for over 50 years, raising livestock and grain. After retiring, he helped other farmers and was a dishwasher at Generations in Luverne. On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Dennis died peacefully after a short fight with cancer at the Hospice of Murray County facility in Slayton, Minnesota at the age of 81 years, 5 months, and 8 days.

Rosemary York was born on April 15th, 1959, in Owatonna, Minnesota to Eldred and Mary Trettel Phillips. She grew up on a farm in Deerfield Township, Steele County MN. She attended Medford Public Schools, graduating in 1977. After high school, she studied at Mankato State University for four years, graduating in 1982 with a degree in elementary education. She spent the next few years teaching. In 1985, Rosie moved to Lake Wilson, MN working as a special education teacher for Chandler-Lake Wilson Schools. Rosie met James York, a Lake Wilson farmer, in 1985. They were married on August 1st, 1987. Then in 1989, Rosie finished her master’s degree. Jim and Rosie had a son, Mark, and two daughters, Laura and Linnea. Rosie was a dedicated special education teacher to hundreds of students at Chandler- Lake Wilson Schools and Murray County Central Schools until her retirement in 2015. She taught for 33 years. Rosie loved being the wife of a farmer and a mother to her three children. Outside of work, Rosie enjoyed making hot dishes for her family, gardening, hanging laundry outside in the summer, playing piano, going to church, and going for walks. She also was a very competitive Kings on Corner card player. Rosie fought Parkinson’s for over a decade while keeping a cheerful attitude and a strong faith in God. She continued to be a homemaker, spend time with her family and grandkids, and travel through it all. She passed away on Palm Sunday, April 13th, at the Pipestone County Hospice Home with her family by her side at the age of 65.