Obituaries

Evelyn Ackerman was born June 18, 1934 in Slayton, MN to Joseph and Rosella (Beech) Schreier. She grew up on the family farm near Currie, MN. On June 23, 1954 she married Daniel Ackerman at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Currie. Following their marriage they farmed together near Tracy, MN, and raised their 8 children. Evelyn passed away November 19, 2023 peacefully at Generations Memory Care in Mankato, MN, at the age of 89. Evelyn was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. She enjoyed square dancing, gardening, baking, and playing cards at the senior centers in Tracy, Garvin, and Balaton, MN. She crocheted many afghans and gave each grandchild one for graduation, she enjoyed spending time with all her children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. Her husband Daniel passed away September 30, 2020.

Joyce Bloemendaal was born on December 15, 1936, in Slayton, Minnesota to Wilfred and Beryle Stevens Martin. She grew up on the family farm south of Slayton and graduated from Slayton High School. On June 16, 1956, she and Peter Bloemendaal were married in the Chandler Reformed Church while Pete was on leave from the army. Following their marriage Joyce traveled with Pete while he served in multiple locations including Fort Bliss and the Quantico area where their son Steven was born. Joyce worked as a switchboard operator on the different bases. Following Pete’s discharge, they made their home on Pete’s family farm north of Lake Wilson, MN where they farmed until 1969 when they opened Pete’s Corner north of Slayton. Here they ran a gas station and bait shop while still farming and venturing into the marine and snowmobile businesses. In 1979 they branched out and opened Shetek Marine on Lake Shetek near Slayton where they expanded their boat and snowmobile business. Joyce was known far and near for having the best bait around as well as for her caramel rolls. People would stop not only for the necessities but just to see her and Pete. Joyce was still operating Pete’s Corner until November 8, 2023, when she entered Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Joyce passed away there on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at the age of 86. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Slayton. She also was a member of the Slayton Driftbreakers Snowmobile Club. Joyce enjoyed spending time with her family, bowling, playing cards, cooking, baking, snowmobile trips and Pontoon rides.

Eleanor Marlene Glawe was born on February 28, 1936, in Boyden, Iowa to Sylvester and Winnie Boersma Van Rooyen. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Sheldon High School in 1954. Following high school Eleanor worked at the telephone office as an operator for 3 years then in 1957 she moved to Minnesota. On May 2, 1963. She and Henry Glawe were married in Pipestone, MN. Following their marriage they farmed east of Slayton, MN for 41 years and in 2004 they moved to Slayton. Eleanor drove school bus for many years and worked at the Country Host. She and Henry loved spending their winter in Arizona. Henry passed away on March 22, 2014. In March 2023 Eleanor moved to Lindenwood Assisted Living in Slayton. Eleanor passed away at the Murray County Medical Center in Slayton on Monday, November 20, 2023, at the age of 87. She was a member of the United Methodist Church where she played for the Men’s Quartet and served on various church committees. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, and the Slayton Legion Auxiliary. Eleanor enjoyed spending time with her family, dice game with her great-grandchildren, neighborhood coffee parties, playing cards, sewing, quilting, scrabble, cooking, baking, fishing, and of course farming.

Julie Ann Klein was born on November 12, 1949 to Agatha and Edmund Bohlke in Slayton, Minnesota. She graduated from high school in 1967 from Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic School in Wilmont, Minnesota. On February 1, 1969, Julie married Dennis Klein. The couple made their home in Westbrook, Minnesota, for three years and moved to Iona in 1972. Julie was a busy mom and farmwife, helping Dennis with farming while also working at Huiskens/ Monogram Meat in Chandler, Minnesota. In 2013, she moved to Luverne, Minnesota, after retiring from Huiskens. While in Luverne, Julie worked parttime at the Senior Center as an assistant cook, volunteered

SHIRLEY L. PATCH .

Bob Schreurs was born on June 4, 1933, in Garretson, South Dakota to Mathew and Frances Kuhl Schreurs. He grew up on the family farm near Garretson and attended Country School District 101 and graduated from Garretson High School in 1951. Following high school, he farmed with his father until November 26, 1955, when he enlisted in the United States Army. Bob served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. Following his honorable discharge on February 24, 1956, Bob returned to the family farm and attended South Dakota State College graduating in 1960. On December 30th, 1957, he and Mariann Gacke were married at St. Mary’s Church in Larchwood, IA. Following their marriage, they made their home in Castana, IA and Madison, SD where Bob taught Agriculture Classes. In 1965 they moved to Alden, MN and in 1966 they moved to Slayton, MN, where Bob worked for USDA Farmers Home Administration (FmHA). Mariann passed away on December 10, 1973. Bob and Sandra Shore Taylor were married on June 20, 1980, in Slayton. They continued to make their home in Slayton raising their blended family of six. Bob retired in 1994. In 1996 Bob went to work for the Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton until his retirement in 2012. Sandra passed away on August 11, 2007. Bob moved to Lindenwood Assisted Living in Slayton on October 27, 2023, and passed away there on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at the age of 90. He was a member of St. Ann’s Church in Slayton and served on the St. Ann’s Cemetery Board and was caretaker of the St. Ann’s Cemetery for many years. Bob enjoyed time with his family, bowling, golfing, fishing, hunting, dancing, and attending Polka Fest. Bob was somewhat of a local celebrity appearing many times on the PBS Funtime Polka Party.

Amanda Leigh Suedbeck was born August 18, 1979 to Charlie and Gaylene Suedbeck in Slayton, Minnesota. In 1984, Amanda’s family moved from Slayton to Lester Prairie Minnesota, where she graduated from Lester Prairie High School in 1997.

Lori Walsh was born on July 3, 1965, in Sioux City, Iowa to Lars and Dorothy DenHartog Christensen. She grew up in Sioux City until the age of nine when her parents passed away and she went to live to her aunt, Jeannette Wilcox and her husband Ray in Milwaukee, WI. She graduated from West Milwaukee High School in 1986. In the early 90’s Lori moved to Luverne, MN and remained there until her marriage to Kenneth Walsh on July 21, 2012. Following their marriage, they made their home in Slayton, MN. Lori passed away at her home on Friday, November 10, 2023, at the age of 58. She was a member of Lake Sarah Baptist Church in rural Slayton, MN. Lori volunteered many hours helping with the Murray County Hospice annual rummage sale in Slayton. Lori enjoyed spending time with her granddaughter, gardening, and volunteering.

Delphia Merrie (Gilbertson) VandenBurg, 98, of Fulda, Minnesota passed away peacefully on November 1, 2023 at the Maple Lawn Nursing Home in Fulda, Minnesota. Delphia, best known as Del, was born August 11, 1925 in Rock County, Minnesota to Augustus Gilbertson and Edna (Schmidt) Gilbertson.

Bruce Hurd was born on March 2, 1947, in Tyler, Minnesota to Harold and Dorothy Myers Hurd. He grew up on the family farm near Lake Wilson, MN, and graduated from Lake Wilson High School in 1965. On June 11, 1967, he and Connie Platt were married at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson. Following their marriage, they farmed near Lake Wilson and raised their two sons. They later divorced. In addition to farming Bruce also did custom farming and worked at the Lake Wilson Elevator. Due to failing health on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, Bruce moved to the Pipestone County Hospice in Pipestone, MN. He passed away there on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at the age of 76. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Wilson where he served as usher and on the church board. Bruce also served on the Hillside Cemetery Board as President for over 40 years. Bruce enjoyed farming, racing, car auction and loved old western TV shows.