Obituaries

Floyd Knakmuhs, age 89 of Westbrook, passed away Saturday, January 20, 2024 at Good Samaritan Nursing home in Westbrook. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 25, 2024 at Grace Lutheran Church in Westbrook. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Interment will be in the Westbrook Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice. com. Stephens Funeral Service - Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Dennis Jay Sankey was born on October 23, 1959, in Pipestone, Minnesota to Willard and Eileen (Prins) Sankey. He grew up in Leota, MN and graduated from Southwest Christian High School in 1978. Following high school Dennis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He later attended Granite Falls Technical Institute. In 1985 he met the love of his life Carol Van Meveren and after 15 years together they married on August 5, 2000, in Wilmont, MN. They made their home in Wilmont and Dennis worked for Schwartz Farms tended to livestock. In 2023 Dennis retired due to health reasons. Dennis passed away on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at his home in Wilmont at the age of 64. Dennis enjoyed spending time with family especially his grandchildren, motorcycles, camping, cars, and tinkering on anything with an engine and suffering watching the Minnesota Vikings.

Gary “Seth” Wayne Sethney, 81, of Owatonna, passed away on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at Timberdale Trace surrounded by family. Gary was born June 15, 1942, in Fergus Falls, MN, to Sander and LeVonne Sethney.

Julie Fritzemeier, 68, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. Julia “Julie” Ellen Fritzemeier was born October 12, 1955, to Edwin and Maryellen (Wilson) Malde in Mitchell, South Dakota. She lived on the family farm southwest of Mitchell until the age of 7 when the family moved into town. She graduated from Mitchell High School in 1973, then attended Dakota Wesleyan University and graduated in 1977 with degrees in Elementary Education and Psychology. After college, Julie move to Howard, South Dakota where she was a Title I Reading teacher, 6th grade Teacher and Chapter I Reading and Math Coordinator for 6 years.

Roylyn “Roy” Ray (R.R.) Schoon was born in a sod house in Parkston, South Dakota, on July 27, 1943, to John and Eleanor (Bitterman Thomsen) Schoon. He died Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the Our House Hospice in Slayton, Mn after a year and a half long battle with lung disease. Roy graduated from Scotland High School, Scotland, SD in 1961. He then went on to the Springfield branch of the University of SD, graduating with a Mathematics degree in Secondary Education in 1965. After teaching for three years, he made a career decision to become a banker. During his banking years he also went on to receive his Graduate school of banking degree from the University of Wisconsin, in Madison. Roy’s banking career led him to work in many locations in South Dakota and Minnesota. He worked his way up the ladder from a “trainee” to ending his career as the Chief Executive Officer of all 16 United Prairie Banks in Minnesota. He retired from his CEO position, after 46 years of banking, on Dec. 31, 2006, but continued to be a director of the bank after retirement. Roy married Marjorie Herman on August 13, 1966, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, in Tabor, SD. To this union, he was blessed with two children. A son, Brian, born in 1967 and a daughter, Jennifer, born in 1970. Together they lived in many locations as his banking career developed. They retired in Slayton, MN in a home they built near the country club so they could be close to grandchildren. Roy was a member of many professional and civic organizations throughout his career. Yet his most valued position of his life was that of “Grandpa”. He loved to rock in the rocking chair, take rides on the golf cart, dig holes in the yard, swing, and eat ice cream. He gifted the grandchildren new bikes for their birthdays and gave out as many hugs as possible. His favorite saying was… “Come give Grandpa a hug, I haven’t seen you for lots of days!” Roy enjoyed family, yard maintenance, assisting at harvest, golfing, hunting, bird watching, and traveling. His favorite destinations were Southwest Florida and the Black Hills of SD where he made yearly trips for over 50 years.

Gwendolyn (Gwen) Jean Fuhrmann Olson, 92, of Balaton, MN, passed away peacefully with her family by her side at the Hospice of Murray County House in Slayton, MN on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at the age of 92.

Robin Hemmingsen was born on May 30, 1956, in Slayton, Minnesota to Walter “Wally” and Donna Taarud Scott. She grew up on a farm near Wirock, MN and attended St. Gabriel’s Elementary School and graduated from Fulda High School in 1974. On May 24, 1975, she, and Mark “George” Hemmingsen were married at St. Gabriel’s Church in Fulda. Following their marriage, they made their home in Fulda until 1978 when they moved to Slayton, MN where they raised their two children. Robin started working for Pennee Frock Manufacturing in 1974 later that same year she went to work at Finley Engineering. She retired from Finley in 2015 due to health reasons. In 2021 they moved to Olivia, MN to be near family. In December 2023 Robin moved to the Olivia Restorative Therapy and Nursing Home under hospice care. She passed away there on Friday, December 29, 2023, at the age of 67. She was a past member of Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton. Robin enjoyed camping, reading, playing Scrabble, crossword puzzles, and having coffee with friends. Most of all she loved spending time with her kid and grandkids.

Janet Elaine Byouer, age 78 of Tipp City, Ohio passed away Friday January 5, 2024. She was born September 24, 1945 in Slayton, Minnesota to Percival and Mabel {Carlson} Lundberg. Janet is preceded in death by her parents and her husband Clifton “Cliff” Byouer. She is survived by her children; William (Chris) Byouer of Juneau, Alaska, Gayle (George) Lovett of Tipp City, Ohio, and Brenda (Jack) Hall of Sunbury, Ohio, and sister; Darlene Payne of Angels Camp, California. Also surviving are grandchildren; Darriel, Alexis, Kandi, Trevor B, Terra, Cody, Trevor P, Ryan, Andrew and Amber and great grandchildren; Estrella, Alexander, Mason, Maverick and Montgomery.

Robert “Bob” Red” Bruce Snelling was born July 13, 1944, in Slayton, Minnesota to Leo and Edith Staples Snelling. He grew up in Slayton and graduated from Slayton High School in 1962. Following graduation Bob enlisted in the United States Army receiving an honorable medical discharge later that same year. Bob returned to Minnesota and moved to Minneapolis, MN for a short time before moving to Mason City, IA where he worked as a Licensed Masseuse. In 1968 he moved to Oxnard, CA and served as the manager of the Oxnard Airport. On May 13, 1969, he and Linda Catherman were marriage at the United Methodist Church in Slayton. Following their marriage, they made their home in Oxnard later moving to Fair Oaks, CA where Bob worked for the Fair Oaks Fire Department for 10 years. Following Bob’s early retirement, they moved to Shingle Springs, CA where Bob was a real estate agent. In 1981 the family moved to Washington State. He and Linda divorced. Bob remained in Washington running a cattle ranch until 1992 when he returned to Slayton. On November 20, 1994, he and Betty Natte Tyrell were married in Lake Tahoe, NV. Following their marriage, they made their home in Slayton. He and Betty enjoyed attending area dances. Due to failing health Bob moved to the Maple Lawn Nursing Home in Fulda, MN in November 2023. He passed away there on Friday, January

Richard “Dick” W. Kelley, age 89 of Tracy, died Friday, January 5, 2024 at the Cottagewood Senior Community in Mankato.