Obituaries

Charletta Bennett was born on April 19, 1940, on the family farm near Slayton Minnesota to Charles “Billy” and Arleen Amundson Ireton. She grew up on the farm near Slayton until 1945 when the family moved to Slayton. Charletta graduated from Slayton High School in 1958. On October 3, 1959, she and Lloyd Bennett were married at the United Methodist Church in Slayton. Following their marriage, they made their home in Slayton until 1963 when they moved to Hadley, MN. Charletta worked at several area packing plants over the years like Campbells Soup, Swift in Marshall, Monfort/JBS in Worthington, and Ellison Meat in Pipestone, MN. She retired in the mid 2000’s but that did not last long soon she was cooking and cleaning at area restaurants like the Country Host, Chandler Cafe and the Hub Drive-In. She once again retired in 2019. Lloyd passed away on February 9, 2020. Charletta remained in Hadley until, entering Our House Hospice Home in Slayton on March 7, 2024. She passed away there on Friday, March 8, 2024, at the age of 83. She was a member of the Hadley Lutheran Church where in her younger days she sang in the church choir as well as for funerals and weddings. She was a member of the Avoca American Legion Auxiliary, Red Hats, Hadley Lioness, and the Hadley Lions where she received the Helen Keller Sight Award. Charletta enjoyed spending time with family and friends, knitting, crocheting, cooking, baking, planting flowers, gardening, coffee with friends, bus trips, watching the Hadley Buttermakers, playing cards, watching Hallmark movies, old TV shows, reading, and shopping.

Larry Byers was born on April 30, 1943, in Tyler, Minnesota to Guy and Florence Swan Byers. Larry was baptized and confirmed at the Slayton United Methodist Church and grew up on the family farm near Hadley, MN. Larry attended country school and Slayton High School where he played football and baseball and graduated in 1961. He enlisted in the United States Army on August 25, 1961, serving as a Sergeant in the National Guard until his honorable discharge on May 31, 1967. On April 11, 1964, he and Gail Onken were united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran Church in Slayton. Following their marriage, Larry worked for the REA for a short time, and they made their home on the Byers family farm until 1975 when they moved to a farm north of Hadley. Larry continued farming and they raised their three children there. Larry was a left-handed pitcher for the Hadley Buttermakers from the age of 16 and came out of retirement at age of 45 when the team reorganized. He was known for his fierce pick-off move to first base and had the opportunity to play in a game with Hall-of-Famer Satchel Paige in his barn-storming days. In 2016 Larry was honored to wear his original Buttermakers uniform and throw out the first pitch of the season to his grandson, James, who was on the team. Larry’s love of baseball included cheering for the Minnesota Twins and his Hometown Hadley Buttermakers. He was able to tour the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY and took a trip with his grandsons, Adam and James, to three other major league ballparks. Larry became a Dekalb seed corn dealer in the mid-1970s and brought his son-in-law, Eric, into the dealership in 1994, forming L&E Seeds. In 1997 Larry and Gail purchased the Stonegate Apple Orchard north of Slayton. Together they owned and operated the orchard until 2017 when they retired and moved to Slayton. Larry and Gail enjoyed traveling and travelled much of the United States including a favorite cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. They also enjoyed their cruises to the Caribbean and the Panama Canal and driving around in their 1966 Chevy Impala convertible. Gail passed away on March 27, 2019, and Larry continued to live in their home in Slayton. Larry passed away at Our House Hospice Home on March 9, 2024, after a lengthy and courageous battle with cholangiocarcinoma. Larry was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and attended services at the Presbyterian/Reformed Church. He was a member of the Lake Wilson American Legion, Hadley Lions, Hadley Buttermakers, and served on the Hadley Elevator Board, and the Lowville and Slayton Township Boards. He enjoyed spending time and playing cards, especially Phase 10, with his family, attending his grandchildren’s activities, helping his son-inlaw on the farm, coffee with the guys, and his calico cat, Molly.

Arland Tisdel was born September 16, 1939, in Sinai, South Dakota to Clifford and Aletta Tonsager Tisdel. He grew up on a farm near Volga, SD and graduated from Volga High School in May 1957. On July 14th1962, Arland was united in marriage to Rita Weinacht at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Sioux Falls, SD. Following their marriage, they made their home in Volga, where Arland worked at a local mechanic shop. They then moved to Madison, SD, where Arland worked at Sidles Company as a purchasing manager. Arland and his family later returned to Volga, where he worked for Sidles in Brookings, SD. In 1975 Arland attended SDSU and graduated in 1978 with a double major in Agricultural Business and Rural Sociology. In 1978, they moved to Redwood Falls, MN. In 1980 the family moved to Iona, MN and Arland worked at Western Implement in Worthington as a parts manager, until he retired in August 2004. In 2022, Arland moved to Belgrade Nursing Home in Belgrade, MN and resided there until he passed on Friday, March 8, 2024, at the age of 84. Arland enjoyed reading, gardening, traveling, and being outdoors. Arland especially loved woodworking and spending time with his family.

James Allen Klasse was born April 25, 1939, in Slayton, MN. He was the second of three children born to Melvin and Alice (Nordstrom) Klasse.

Pat was born on March 16, 1935, on a farm near Currie, Minnesota to Leonard and Marie Sollinger Campbell. She grew up near Currie and attended Sunrise Country School. On September 5, 1953, she and Harry Atkins were married in Currie. Following their marriage, they made their home on a farm northwest of Slayton and raised their two children. Pat was an accomplished seamstress and upholsterer. She also worked for a time at Penny Frock in Slayton. In 1982 they moved to Lake Wilson, MN. Harry passed away on April 30, 2016. Pat remained in Lake Wilson following Harry’s death. Pat passed away on Monday, March 4, 2024, surrounded by her family at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 88. Pat enjoyed time spent with family, sewing, making baby quilts, visiting with people, and spending time at the Lake Wilson Boutique.

Lennis Miller, age 87, of Marshall, Minnesota, died peacefully with his family beside him on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at the age of 87 years, 5 months, and 9 days at the Select Specialty Hospital in the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Funeral Services are 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2024, at First Lutheran Church in Marshall, Minnesota. Following a reception at the church, interment will be in the Sillerud Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Balaton, Minnesota. Visitation will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall. Visitation will continue one hour prior to his celebration, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 11, 2024, at the church.

Calvin (Cal) Carl Wurpts, 78, of Slayton, MN passed away unexpectedly on March 7th, 2024, after a brief illness. Cal was born March 13th, 1945, in Ellsworth, MN the son of Albert and Jennie (DeBoer) Wurpts. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth, MN. Cal graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1963. He attended Mankato State College, earning his bachelor’s degree with majors in Science and History, with a minor in Mathematics. Cal married Kathleen “Kathy” Hegler on August 16th, 1969, in Sioux Falls, SD. Married 55 years this August, they shared a lifetime of love, friendship, and (mostly) laughter as they built a life and a family together. Cal dedicated his career to education. After teaching two years in Rock Rapids, IA, he moved to Slayton, MN in 1970. There, he dedicated 43 years teaching science, chemistry, and physics at Slayton High School and Murray County Central. He also taught college chemistry courses through Southwest Minnesota State University. While these are not typically funny subjects, Cal found a way to use science humor to help capture his student’s attention, even if he was only funny “periodically” (get it?). He helped students build confidence with difficult subjects. He built routines around his teaching, which his students looked forward to each year, including his annual “eat lots of turkey” Thanksgiving break homework assignment and his infamous “Chemis-tree” at Christmas time. He went to school early and always ended his days grading papers at the kitchen table. He retired from teaching in 2012. He was a gifted teacher and was recognized with many awards, including Slayton High School Teacher of the Year in 1987, Murray County Central Teacher of the year in 2003 and Retired Educator of the Year in 2015. He was inducted into the MCC Wall of Fame in 2018. He was a lifetime member of the National Education Association. Beyond his retirement, Cal continued to support MCC arts and athletics, attending countless sporting events, concerts, plays and any fundraiser that included a hamburger. Cal had a love for carpentry and spent summers building homes alongside other teachers. He built his own home in Slayton, perfecting it throughout the years with remodels and additions. He enjoyed woodworking, building furniture, cabinets, and special projects for his church. Cal also helped build his community. He believed to build a community to be proud of, you must participate. So, he did. He served as Mayor of Slayton from 1995-2007. One of his proudest accomplishments during his tenure was the completion of Slaytona Beach West. He was active in community organizations, serving as president of Slayton Kiwanis. He was a member and chair of the Economic Development Authority and a Southwest Regional Development Commissioner. He loved Slayton and was proud to call it home. Cal was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church. Throughout the years, he served as church president and treasurer. He participated in various committees and was active in bible study. He was instrumental in developing the faith chest ministry. Despite his many accomplishments in teaching and community, Cal’s proudest achievement were his children and grandchildren. He loved his grandchildren and attending all their activities. The time he spent with his grandchildren brought him so much joy. He simply loved being a grandpa.

Eunie Ramert was born on February 13, 1932, on the family farm near Dundee, Minnesota to Erick and Mayme Kuehl Carlson. She grew up on the farm and graduated from Fulda High School in 1949. On August 28, 1950, she and Keith Ramert were married at St. Mary’s Church in Dundee. Following their marriage, they farmed “The Evergreen Farm”, the land Keith grew up on and raised their five children. Eunie was Keith’s right-hand man on the farm. In 1991 they retired and moved to a home on Lake Shetek. They continued spending their winter months in the warmth of the south until 2019. Eunie was an excellent cook and often did the hosting for the extended family holidays. In 2019 they moved to White Bear Lake to be near their son, Mike. Keith passed away on August 15, 2020. Following Keith’s death Eunie moved in with Stuart and Mary until January 2021 when she moved to Boulder Creek Assisted Living in Marshall, MN. She passed away there on Friday, March 1, 2024, at the age of 92. She was a member of St. Ann’s Church in Slayton, MN. Eunie also was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. She enjoyed cooking, bowling, fishing, her flower gardens and playing cards.

Arnold (Arnie) Stoel, age 90, of Brandon, South Dakota, formerly of Luverne, passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth, Minnesota at the age of 90 years, 3 months, and 2 days.

Wallace “Wally” Lee Runia was born on February 29, 1928, on a farm south of Chandler, MN. He was the 5th of 12 children, born to Ralph and Tryntje “Kate” (Zeylemaker) Runia. Wally grew up on a farm near Lake Wilson, MN, attending country school through the 8 th grade. He then helped on the family farm until moving to southern California for a few years to work on a dairy farm with relatives. Upon moving back to MN, he met Evelyn DeKruif and they were united in marriage on December 7, 1951, at her parents’ farm near Chandler. After farming with his father for a year, Wally joined the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Colorado Springs, CO and Fort Knox, KY.