Obituaries

Mary Ellen Lund was born on July 19, 1931, on the family farm near Avoca, Minnesota to Rose and John E. Legler Magnus. She grew up on the farm and attended Avoca High School. On August 26, 1951, she and Manley Lund were married at her parents’ home near Avoca. Following their marriage, they made their home in Fulda, MN until 1957 they then moved to Adrian, MN. Mary worked at the Adrian School in the cafeteria. She later worked at the Adrian Senior Center preparing meals. Manley passed away December 8, 2010. Mary retired in 2016 and in 2018 she moved to Slayton, MN to be near family. In 2021 she moved to the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, MN. She passed away there on Friday, December 15, 2023, at the age of 92. Mary was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Adrian until it closed in 2022. Mary enjoyed spending time with her family, baking, camping, being outdoors, walking and playing Bingo.

Ann Helmke was born on June 6, 1923, on the family farm in Lowville Township, Murray County Minnesota to Lars and Margaret (Vallance) Aga. She attended Country School District 72, graduating from Lake Wilson High School in 1941, and furthering her education with one year of business college in Minneapolis. Ann married Ralph Julius Helmke on September 26, 1942. They lived in Minneapolis while Ann worked as one of the first women to make boxes at the Armour packing plant in St. Paul. They moved back to the area, living on the farm and then “Midway Store” between Lake Wilson and Ruthton. After selling the store they lived in Ruthton, Pipestone, and finally settled back in Lake Wilson. Ann was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the WELCA. She joined the Eastern Star in 1941 and continued until the local chapters disbanded. She belonged to the Lake Wilson American Legion Auxiliary and was an active member of the Hadley Lioness. Ann worked outside the home her entire adult life, Gert’s Cafe and Johnson’s Grocery Store, and later joined Ralph at the Buffalo Ridge Bar. For some time, Ann worked at all three jobs. She eventually worked exclusively at the Buffalo Ridge Bar and retired at 65. Not being ready for retirement, she returned to the bar and continued part time until she was 85. She took pride in working that bar as if it was her own. She enjoyed all the friends she met during those years. Ann spent many years as a Bison baseball fan and ran the concession stand. Sundays were spent getting the concessions ready and following the Bison wherever they went. At 98 she was blessed to watch her great grandson pitch for the Chicago White Sox against the Minnesota Twins. She loved to dance, and she and Ralph would spend a great deal of time dancing in their younger years. She loved outings with her friends, as she outlived most of those friends, she found new groups of girls to do things with and treasured those trips and outings for years as well as many with her family. Ann enjoyed playing cards she especially loved playing pinochle and golf with her family. Ann seldom missed a Happy Hour at the BRB or Hadley. She loved socializing and enjoyed that so many considered her “mom” or friend. When she could no longer drive, Ann looked forward to going with her son Scott and his wife Debbie, making her last visit on her 100th birthday. Ann loved a party especially one of her own! As time went on, she spent time playing solitaire, reading, working crossword puzzles, and watching(critiquing) polka on Saturday nights. Her love of music continued as she could often be heard singing along with hymns at Our House. Ann also enjoyed having pets, the last being her best friend, Alley Cat. Ann started receiving care from Murray County Hospice in her home in September of 2021, moving to Our House in June of 2022, passing away there on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, with family by her side.

Mark Daniel Hoines, 57, passed away on December 12, 2023, at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Services are pending at this time.

Mary Ellen Lund was born on July 19, 1931, on the family farm near Avoca, Minnesota to Rose and John E. Legler Magnus. She grew up on the farm and attended Avoca High School. On August 26, 1951, she and Manley Lund were married at her parents’ home near Avoca. Following their marriage, they made their home in Fulda, MN until 1957 they then moved to Adrian, MN. Mary worked at the Adrian School in the cafeteria. She later worked at the Adrian Senior Center preparing meals. Manley passed away December 8, 2010. Mary retired in 2016 and in 2018 she moved to Slayton, MN to be near family. In 2021 she moved to the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, MN. She passed away there on Friday, December 15, 2023, at the age of 92. Mary was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Adrian until it closed in 2022. Mary enjoyed spending time with her family, baking, camping, being outdoors, walking and playing Bingo.

Ann Helmke was born on June 6, 1923, on the family farm in Lowville Township, Murray County Minnesota to Lars and Margaret (Vallance) Aga. She attended Country School District 72, graduating from Lake Wilson High School in 1941, and furthering her education with one year of business college in Minneapolis. Ann married Ralph Julius Helmke on September 26, 1942. They lived in Minneapolis while Ann worked as one of the first women to make boxes at the Armour packing plant in St. Paul. They moved back to the area, living on the farm and then “Midway Store” between Lake Wilson and Ruthton. After selling the store they lived in Ruthton, Pipestone, and finally settled back in Lake Wilson. Ann was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the WELCA. She joined the Eastern Star in 1941 and continued until the local chapters disbanded. She belonged to the Lake Wilson American Legion Auxiliary and was an active member of the Hadley Lioness. Ann worked outside the home her entire adult life, Gert’s Cafe and Johnson’s Grocery Store, and later joined Ralph at the Buffalo Ridge Bar. For some time, Ann worked at all three jobs. She eventually worked exclusively at the Buffalo Ridge Bar and retired at 65. Not being ready for retirement, she returned to the bar and continued part time until she was 85. She took pride in working that bar as if it was her own. She enjoyed all the friends she met during those years. Ann spent many years as a Bison baseball fan and ran the concession stand. Sundays were spent getting the concessions ready and following the Bison wherever they went. At 98 she was blessed to watch her great grandson pitch for the Chicago White Sox against the Minnesota Twins. She loved to dance, and she and Ralph would spend a great deal of time dancing in their younger years. She loved outings with her friends, as she outlived most of those friends, she found new groups of girls to do things with and treasured those trips and outings for years as well as many with her family. Ann enjoyed playing cards she especially loved playing pinochle and golf with her family. Ann seldom missed a Happy Hour at the BRB or Hadley. She loved socializing and enjoyed that so many considered her “mom” or friend. When she could no longer drive, Ann looked forward to going with her son Scott and his wife Debbie, making her last visit on her 100th birthday. Ann loved a party especially one of her own! As time went on, she spent time playing solitaire, reading, working crossword puzzles, and watching(critiquing) polka on Saturday nights. Her love of music continued as she could often be heard singing along with hymns at Our House. Ann also enjoyed having pets, the last being her best friend, Alley Cat. Ann started receiving care from Murray County Hospice in her home in September of 2021, moving to Our House in June of 2022, passing away there on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, with family by her side.

Mark Daniel Hoines, 57, passed away on December 12, 2023, at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Services are pending at this time.

Mark Leo Mohler was born on October 14, 1941, in Bemidji, Minnesota the youngest of seven boys born to Thomas and Wilhemina Mahn Mohler. As a young boy Mark would work with his father in the house moving business and went on to attend Bemidji High School. On March 19, 1960, he and Sharon Tamke were married in Cass Lake, MN. To this union two children were born Patrick and Karyl. In 1965 the family moved to Springfield, OR and Mark worked at Weyerhaeuser Timber Company. He and Sharon later divorced, and Mark retuned to Bemidji working at Bemidji Candy Co. for 13 years and Thorson Inc. for 3 years. Mark then went to work for Daggett Truck Lines out of Frazee, MN for 13 years driving 3,000,000 miles accident free. Something Mark was very proud of. On October 12, 1991, he and Margaret “Midge” Vollmer Anderson were married, and he became the stepfather to Midge’s four children. Mark passed away on Monday, December 11, 2023 at his home in Garvin, MN at the age of 82. In his younger days Mark was a member of the Bemidji Fire Department, the Bemidji Moose Club, Bemidji Eagles, and the Paul Bunyan RC Flyers.

Loren John Diekmann was born on June 14, 1938, in Adrian, Minnesota to John and Margaret Balluff Diekmann. He grew up on the family farm near St. Kilian and graduated from Worthington High School in 1956. On December 1, 1957, Loren enlisted in the United States Navy. Following his honorable discharge on June 12, 1959, he returned to the family farm. On December 26, 1960, he and Mary Sauer were married at St. Gabriel’s Church in Fulda, MN. Following their marriage, they made their home on a farm northwest of Wilmont, MN. While farming Loren also work as a smokehouse operator at Huisken’s Meats in Chandler, MN until 1995. In 2000, Loren and Mary moved to Worthington, MN. Loren had retired from farming but continued to work at Shopko and later Runnings in Worthington. Loren was known for his knowledge of parts and the know how to fix any problem. Customers would walk in and ask for him by name. In 2009 they retired once again and moved to Wells, MN to be near family. In 2021 they moved to Oak Terrace Senior Living in North Mankato, MN. Mary passed away on August 10, 2022. Loren passed away on Friday, December 8, 2023, at Oak Terrace at the age of 85. He was a lifelong member of St. Kilian Church in St. Kilian where he sang in the choir, served as cantor and Eucharistic minister. Following their move to Wells they joined St. Casimar Church in Wells. In his younger days Loren was a member of the St. Kilian Saints amateur baseball team. Loren enjoyed family time, golfing, bowling, hunting and sports he especially liked watching the Minnesota Wild, Twins and Vikings.

Marcella Gail Hoekman was born on June 3, 1942, in Leota, Minnesota to Peter and Bertha VanDyke Kooiman. She grew up near Leota and graduated from Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton, MN. She went on to attend Dordt University in Sioux Center, IA. On September 15, 1960, she and Anthony Hoekman were married at the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota. Following their marriage they farmed southwest of Slayton, MN, until 1990 when they moved to a farm northwest of Hadley, MN. They remained near Hadley until the tornado of 1992 demolished the farm. They then made their home northeast of Heron Lake, MN, for 25 years. Marcella owned and operated Classic Wedding Expressions coordinating weddings throughout the surrounding area. They later moved to Tracy for a time before Marcella moved to Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, MN. She passed away there on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at the age of 81. She was a member of Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson, MN. Marcella enjoyed time with her family especially her grandchildren, flowers, birds, butterflies and traveling.

Rita Marie Tisdel was born on April 24, 1939, in Dell Rapids, South Dakota to Michael and Catherine (Van Dam) Weinacht. She grew up in Dell Rapids until the mid 1940’s when the family moved to Sioux Falls, SD. Rita attended Cathedral High School in Sioux Falls. On July 14, 1962, she was united in marriage to Arland Tisdel at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Sioux Falls. Following their marriage, they made their home in Volga, SD. They then moved to Madison, SD, and Rita focused on raising their family. They later returned to Volga, where Rita worked as a nurse’s aide. In 1978 they moved to Redwood Falls, MN. In 1980 the family moved to Iona, MN and Rita worked at Huisken Meats until her retirement in 2004. In 2022 she moved to Glenoaks Care Center in New London, MN. She passed away there on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at the age of 84. Rita was a member of St. Columba Church in Iona. Rita enjoyed quilting, her house plants, listing to country music, collecting bird figurines and traveling. Rita especially loved crocheting Afghans for each of her great-grandchildren.