Obituaries

James (Jim) Willard Post passed away peacefully at his home on October 7, 2023. Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023 from 5:008:00pm at the Chandler Funeral Home in Chandler, MN. A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 13, 2023 at 10:30 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Balaton, MN with burial service to follow at the St. Peter Lutheran Cemetery.

Leland Allen Lokker, better known by his nickname Kraut, was born November 5, 1952, and died June 6, 2023. Lee was born and raised in Slayton, MN, alongside his brother Donald. Lee was an outdoor enthusiast and nature conservationist who worked for the MN Department of Natural Resources for 36 years. He enjoyed trapping, hunting, and fishing with his animal and human companions.

Francis Gervais was born on November 13, 1955, in Tracy, Minnesota to Hugh and Louise Surprenant Gervais. He grew up on the family farm east of Currie, MN and graduated from Tracy High School in 1974. On May 16, 1981, he and Loretta Noomen were married at IHM Church in Currie. Following their marriage, they made their home on the family farm and raised their seven children. While farming Francis also worked for Sweetman Sand and Gravel in Currie. Francis passed away at his home with his family by his side on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at the age of 67. He was a lifelong member of IHM Church in Currie where he served as Church Trustee, Lector, and Eucharistic Minister. He also was a member of Currie Town and Country Booster Club. Francis enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, farming, playing cards, bowling, and raising cattle.

Elinor Bentson was born on January 6, 1933, on the family farm in Cameron Township, Murray County, Minnesota to Fred and Ruby Aaker Carlson. She grew up on the farm and graduated from Lake Wilson High School. In 1954 She and Robert C. Johnson were married on her parents’ farm. Following their marriage, they farmed in Lowille Township, Murray County, MN. To this union four children were born, Susan, Jane, Joyce, and Mark. Robert passed away on September 2, 1963. On December 1, 1967, she and Arlyn Bentson were married in Flandreau, SD. Following their marriage, they continued farming in Lowville Township and raised their family. Elinor was a vital part of the farming operation, whether it was helping with chores, bookkeeping or meals she was right there. Elinor enjoyed drawing up plans for remodeling a home or a room or building new and helped many family members with this task. In 2017 Elinor moved to The Meadows in Worthington, MN. Arlyn passed away on October 26, 2021. Elinor passed away at her home on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at the age of 90. She was a lifetime member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson, MN. Where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, served in the Ladies Aid, did church decorating and was a Bible Study Leader. Elinor loved spending time with her family, writing stories, sewing, baking, decorating, and being on her farm with her flower gardens. Now a word from Elinor “did you wash your hands?” Survivors include her three children and their spouses, Susan and Roger Oliver of Sioux Falls, SD, Joyce and Tom Bohn of Brewster, MN, and Mark and Kelly Johnson of Elkton, SD, one son-in-law, Rex Streff and Vicky Plaisance of Hadley, MN, 8 grandchildren, 11 greatgrandchildren, one great-greatgrandson, and two brothers and their spouses, Fredrick and Marion Carlson of Pipestone, MN, and Darwin and Sandy Carlson of Lake Wilson, MN. She is preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Robert Johnson and Arlyn Bentson, daughter, Jane Streff, greatgrandson, Pearce Forcier and sister, Carol Nadeau.

On August 12th, 2023, Richard (Rick) Illg, age 53, passed away at the St Cloud Hospital. Rick was born in Slayton, MN on November 9th, 1969. He graduated from Tracy High School in 1988 and Willmar Technical College in 1990, with an AA Degree in Electrical Engineering. Rick enjoyed coaching and attending his children’s sporting events, hunting, fishing, cooking, watching movies, and spending time with his family and friends. He was a gifted problem solver and craftsman who enjoyed taking on projects in his personal life and at work. A tribute to Rick from his family is “Rick was the kindest, most selfless person you could meet, as he thrived on giving back and helping others. His family, friends and community will miss him tremendously.”

Gary Swart was born on December 3, 1946, in Slayton, Minnesota to Lois Swart. As an infant Gary went to live with his aunt and uncle Connie and Jerry Scheerhorn. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Chandler High School in 1964. On January 1966 Gary enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. Following his honorable discharge on December 1967 he returned to the family farm in Fenton Township. On April 3, 1971, he and Deb Farrell were married at St. Ann’s Church in Slayton, MN. Following their marriage, they made their home in Chandler, MN for one year before moving to the Swart family farm in Fenton Township. Gary spent all but 2 years of his life on the Swart family farm, farming and raising his two children. Gary retired in 2010 but remained a vital part of the farming operation now being run by his son, Dave. Gary and his fishing buddies have fished every reservoir on the Missouri River with his last trip being in June 2023 in Montana. Due to failing health Gary moved to Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. He passed away there on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at the age of 76. He was a member of St. Columba Church in Iona, MN. He was a lifetime member of the Iona VFW Post which eventually joined with the Wilmont VFW Post. Gary enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, hunting, reading, playing cards, sports, coffee at Lloyds, shaking dice, watching the MN Vikings and Gophers and having a few cold ones.

Dr. William Clauson, age 78, of Brainerd passed away peacefully on September 10, 2023 in the comfort of his home. A memorial Service will be held on September 30th at Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd. Visitation will be at 10:30 followed by a service at 11:00.

Janet Comnick passed away at her home in Tucson, Arizona on Friday, July 28, 2023. She was born on March 7, 1939, to Harvey and Ina Mae (Owens) Smith in Slayton, MN. She attended Slayton High School. In 1956, Janet met and married LeRoy Comnick, the son of Elton and Eldora (Peterson) Comnick in Dovray Township, MN. To keep her promise to her father, she completed her senior year and graduated from Goldsboro High School in Goldsboro, North Carolina – where her new husband was stationed in the Air Force. Together, they had four children and traveled the world together for the 26 years while LeRoy served in the Air Force; they lived in seven states and four countries. LeRoy’s last assignment took them to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where they stayed for 18 years. In 2002, they moved to Prescott Valley, Arizona. In 2021, Janet moved to Tucson, Arizona to be closer to her daughters and to an airport for her many trips to visit family and friends.

Brian “Scooby” Schmidt, 62, of Truman, MN passed away peacefully Sunday, August 6th after a brief battle with cancer. Brian was born April 28, 1961 in Slayton, MN. At a very young age Brian enjoyed fishing with his dad, Reuben, and had fond memories of going out to the gravel pit to ride on his dad’s “dozer”. When Brian was 10, his dad passed away, leaving his sister Deb to help take care of him. In his early teens, Brian learned to play the drums. He played for the band Crystal Blue and later changed the name to Legend. Fitting.

Joan Herding was born on April 18, 1947, in Slayton, Minnesota to William and Bena Aeilts Herding. She grew up in Hadley, MN and graduated from Slayton High School in 1965. Following high school Joan attended vocational school in Minneapolis, MN graduating as a Lab Technician in 1967. On December 30, 1967, she and Phillip Peterson were married at the Hadley Lutheran Church in Hadley. Following their marriage, they made their home in Apple Valley, MN until 1990 when they moved to Sudbury, MA. In 1998 they moved to Northfield, MN. Joan worked as a Real Estate Agent for Coldwell Banker Real Estate and later for Edina Realty in Northfield. In 2020 she and Phillip divorced. In January 2023 Joan moved to Maplewood Courts in Fulda, MN. Joan passed away at the age of 76 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, MN while vacationing with her three children and their families. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, shopping, playing Bingo and spending winters in Arizona.