Obituaries

Kenneth Miller was born on February 25, 1947, in Tyler, Minnesota to LeRoy and Doris Henkel Miller. He grew up on the family farm south of Balaton, MN and graduated from Balaton High School in 1965. Kenneth served in the Army National Guard from 1965 to 1988. On October 23, 1971, he and Audrey Vogt were married at Sillerud Lutheran Church in rural Balaton, MN. Following their marriage, they farmed the Miller family farm and raised their two children. Kenneth semi-retired in 2022 but in the words of Kenneth “Farmers never retire”. In November 2023 they moved to Marshall. Kenneth passed away at his home in Marshall on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at the age of 76. He was a lifelong member of Sillerud Lutheran Church where he was active in Bible Study, usher, council member, cemetery board, sang in the choir and Our hands God’s work. He also was a member of the Balaton American Legion Post, Cub Scout Leader and active in many farm organizations. Kenneth and Audrey hosted MAST students through the University of Minnesota helping many future agriculture students. Kenneth loved farming and was a loyal John Deere man, although he was most passionate about being a husband, father, and grandfather. Kenneth enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and other school activities. Kenneth was very proud to receive his 9-gallon pin from the American Red Cross for blood donation. Kenneth never met a stranger; he could strike up a conversation with anyone and loved visiting. He will be remembered for his kind and caring soul always willing to generously give of his time, talent, and resources.

Jerome “Jerry” Allen Pederson, age 78, of Moose Lake, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 26, 2024, at Solvay Hospice House with his family and care team by his side. Jerry was born June 21,1945 in Slayton, MN to Martin and Hilda Pederson.

Lorraine Mae (Hutt) Hoffman, of Wilmont, died Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the Murray County Hospice in Slayton. She was born July 20, 1929, in Ellsworth, to John Jr. and Nadine (Carr) Hutt. She graduated from Worthington High School in 1948.

John D. Meyer was born on September 26, 1945, in Tracy, MN, to Wayne and Lorraine (Furan) Meyer. He was a fifth generation farmer and was living and farming on the land that was homesteaded by his greatgrandparents. He was a farmer all his life and loved driving only John Deere Tractors. His favorite one was a ’70 John Deere that was his dad’s first new tractor.

Carol DeKam, age 85, of Leota, Minnesota, died peacefully on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at the Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, Minnesota. Carol Jean Vogelaar was born on June 20, 1938, In Sheldon, Iowa, to parents Teunis and Cora (Van Duyn) Vogelaar.

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.