Obituaries

Gene Severeid was born on November 29, 1934, to Arnold and Etta Sowden Severeid on the family farm in Lincoln County, MN. Gene attended Lake Benton Country School, and Verdi School until he was in the 4th grade. The family moved to Lake Wilson in 1945 and Gene attended Country School District #69 in Cameron Township. He attended school through the 8th grade and then went to help his dad on the family farm. Gene worked for Archer Daniels Midlen, Corn Shellers and the railroad. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1958 and was stationed in Giesen, Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1960 with a letter of accommodation from the U.S. 7th Army for making a tool to straighten frames on artillery gun carriers. In 1963 Gene and his brother-in-law, Ken DeZeeuw bought the service station in Lake Wilson and changed the name to Gene and Ken’s Service. In 1977 Gene married Sharon Folkerts. They made their home in Lake Wilson and raised their two daughters. Gene and Ken ran the station until Ken’s death in 1985. Gene then changed the name to Gene’s Service. He remained working there until his retirement in 2002. Gene loved being a mechanic. Gene passed away on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at the Murray County Medical Center in Slayton, MN at the age of 87. He was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the Lake Wilson American Legion Post, and the Lake Wilson Community Club. Gene most enjoyed his family and watching his grandchildren grow. In retirement Gene enjoyed golf cart rides, Nascar, visiting with neighbors and attending happy hour with he and Sharon’s group of friends.

Ginny Krohn, 79, of Slayton, was surrounded by loved ones when she peacefully went to be with the Lord on Monday, September 12, 2022, at Our House Hospice Home in Slayton. Ginny was born on May 29, 1943, in Slayton, MN to Howard and Vivian Frick Schwartz. She grew up in Slayton and married Fred Christensen on April 9, 1960. Together, the couple had two children, Lisa Ann and Thomas Fred. Fred passed away on June 14, 1967, as the result of a car accident. Ginny was blessed to find love again with Terry Lee Krohn. The couple wed on June 29, 1968, in Las Vegas, NV. They also made their home in Slayton and to this union they had two sons, Brian Lee and Brent Michael.

Arvin D. Cohrs, age 80 of Westbrook, passed away Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Sanford Westbrook Medical Center.

LTC Robert John Short, 79, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 24 surrounded by his wife Carol and all their children. He was a devoted husband, dedicated father, as well as a respected friend and neighbor.

Ramona Kathleen Kuehl Larson, age 77 of Westbook, passed away Sunday, September 11, 2022. Ramona K.

Betty Ann Lee was born on December 26, 1928, on the Holm family farm north of Slayton, Minnesota to Antone and Vina Jones Holm. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Slayton High School in 1945. On November 10, 1947, she and Lyle Lee were married at her parents’ home. Betty was confirmed at the Lutheran Church in Slayton on May 16, 1948. Following their marriage, they farmed near Slayton and Betty worked at the Home Hospital in Slayton until 1950 when they moved to Walnut Grove, MN. They then moved to Tracy, MN until 1953 when they moved to Marshall, MN. In 1958 they moved to Balaton, MN, where Betty work for Dr. Bosley. She later went to work at the Tracy Hospital as a nurse and receptionist. They retired in 1991 and moved to Slayton. Lyle passed away on February 6, 2011. Betty remained in Slayton until moving to Mountain Lake, MN to be near her daughter, Lynda. In 2020 Betty moved to Pine View Assisted Living in Windom, MN. She passed away there on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at the age of 93. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton and was active in the Bell Choir, worked in the library, and was part of the quilting group. Betty enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening, flowers, word puzzles, crossword puzzles, sewing, cake decorating, walking, camping, and watching football and hockey.

Lois Reynolds, age 92, of Westbrook passed away Friday, September 2, 2022 at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. Lois was born August 9, 1930 in Tyler, Minnesota to Clyde and Minnie (Kunze) Meek. She attended school in Balaton. Lois was united in marriage to Leslie Reynolds on September 10, 1948 in Balaton. They lived in Balaton together for a short time before moving to Pipestone for three years. They then settled in Westbrook. Lois and Leslie were parents to six sons.

Sylvia Diane Disbrow was born on May 8, 1942, in Bakersfield, California to Walter and Anna Marie Sylvia Klien McCormick. She grew up in Lakewood, CA and graduated from Bellflower High School. Sylvia made her home in California where she raised her two children and worked for Southern California Gas Company.

Steve Illg was born on June 20, 1958, in Slayton, Minnesota to Richard and Theresa Ruppert Illg. He grew up in Currie and graduated from Tracy High School in 1976. Steve then attended Jackson Vo-Tech for Mechanics. Following graduation in 1978 Steve went to work at Slayton Auto. He and Toni Galvin made a home for themselves on an acreage west of Currie. Steve eventually branched out on his own and started Steve’s Alignment and Repair Shop in Slayton. He later joined Hegstad Equipment in Slayton. In 2021 due to health reasons Steve retired.

Wava Vickerman, age 91 of Tracy, passed away Thursday, August 25, 2022 at Prairieview Senior Living in Tracy. Wava Elvira (Carlson) Vickerman was born on Dec 20, 1930, in Slayton, Minnesota to Oscar and Violet (Coyle) Carlson.