Obituaries

Dora Obina Ziemke, daughter of Jovit and Antonia (Soares) Obina, was born on September 29, 1925, in Kohala, Hawaii. She graduated from Kohala High School. Dora was united in marriage to Bill Ziemke on February 23, 1952, in Hawi, Hawaii. Following their marriage, they moved to Minnesota making their home in Garvin until 1988 when they moved to a home on Lake Shetek. In 2005 they moved to Lake Wilson. Bill passed away on February 19, 2018. Following Bill’s death Dora moved to Boulder Estates in Marshall. Dora passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, at the Prairie Home Hospice Lockwood House in Marshall at the age of 96. Dora was a member of IHM Church in Currie. She was active in the church teaching CCD and as a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Dora was passionate about raising her children, fishing on the lake, crocheting, tending to her flowers, watching sports, and her trips to the casino. She adored spending time with her “favorite” grandchildren and “favorite” great-grandchildren (They were all her favorites!), and her friends and family. She also enjoyed dancing the hula and playing the ukulele at various social events.

Nancy Lorraine Blau, age 86 of Reading, MN passed away at South Shore Care Center in Worthington on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Nancy was born in Rock Rapids, Iowa on March 15, 1936 to Ray and Nancy (Klingenberg) Sudenga. Nancy’s mother died during childbirth, and now with Ray already having other children to raise, decided to have Nancy adopted by her uncle, William Klingenberg and his wife, Martha (Hassebroek). Nancy grew up on the farm near George, Iowa where she attended country school through the eighth grade. It was at a church picnic in which she met and eventually married Frederick D. Blau, also of George, on February 1, 1954. After Fred returned from serving in the Korean War, he and Nancy farmed in several communities in Northwest Iowa including Sibley, Ocheyden and Harris. It was in Northwest Iowa that Fred and Nancy raised their six children before buying a farm near Reading, MN in 1972 and moving there in 1975. Nancy was primarily a home

Larry Grimmius was born on February 8, 1948, in Slayton, Minnesota to Hilko and Jenny Schuur Grimmius. He grew up on the family farm east of Chandler and graduated from Chandler High School in 1966. Larry then attended Jackson Vocational College for Carpentry. On November 30, 1968, Larry was drafted to the United States Army and served in Korea. Following his honorable discharge on July 9, 1970, he returned to the family farm near Chandler. On July 2, 1976, he and Rhonda Bruxvoort were married at the Chandler Reformed Church in Chandler. Following their marriage, they made their home on a farm east of Chandler where Larry farmed. He also worked throughout the area doing carpentry work. He and Rhonda later divorced. Larry passed away unexpectedly at his home near Chandler on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at the age of 74. He was a member of the Iona Presbyterian Church. He also was a member of the Lake Wilson American Legion Post and a past member of the Chandler Lion Club. Larry enjoyed carpentry work, helping his friends, tinkering around the farm, and being outdoors.

Joyce Mulder, age 86, of Luverne, Minnesota, died on Thursday, March 17, 2022 at Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne. Joyce was born July 24, 1935 in Adrian, Minnesota to Ben and Tina (Tjepkes) Rust.

Dr. Walter H.

Edna Miller, 94, of Marshall, formerly of Balaton, died on March 12, 2022, at Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall. Edna Mae Karna Miller was born in Skandia Township, Murray County, on February 5, 1928, to Olaf and Lillian (Edner) Hubbard.

Gerald Edward Kuecker was born December 27, 1942 to parents, Clarence E. Kuecker and Ruby E. Kuecker near West Bend, Iowa. After moving to Minnesota in 1952, Mr. Kuecker graduated from Slayton High School in 1960 and received his B.S. from South Dakota State University in 1964. He was commissioned in 1965 and completed fixed wing and rotary wing flight training in Pensacola, FL in 1966. As a Naval Officer and Naval Aviator he completed two deployments to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. Flying the UH-2C helicopter he rescued two downed U.S. Pilots. He was awarded two Air Medals, Navy Citation, Vietnamese Service Medal, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, two Naval Reserve ribbons, and National Defense Medal, and U.S. Navy Pistol Expert.

Mary Ann Martens, the daughter of Sylvester and Margaret (Fischer) Biegler, was born on February 14, 1941, in Worthington, MN and baptized March 2, 1941 in St. Columba Church Iona, MN. She grew up in Lake Wilson, MN and attended school, graduating from the Lake Wilson High School. Mary Ann was united in marriage to Richard Martens on October 24, 1959, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake Wilson. After their marriage they made their home in Lake Wilson and moved to Slayton in 1965. Mary Ann worked for over 50 years at the Murray County Hospital in Slayton, MN. She remained at home after Richard passed away in February of 2003. Mary Ann moved to the Good Samaritan Assisted Living in Pipestone and then to the Slayton Golden Living Center before its closure. Mary Ann then moved to the Crossroads Care Center in Worthington and passed away there on Friday, March 4, 2022, at the age of 81. She was a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Slayton. MaryAnn enjoyed fishing, landscaping, watching the cars go by from her garage and playing the nickel slots. Survivors include her son, Ricky (Ruth) Martens of Slayton, MN; 2 grandsons, Joshua Dierks of Renville, MN and Nick Dierks of Currie, MN; 2 brothers, Buddy (Louise) Biegler of Slayton, MN and Ronnie (Betty) Biegler of Lake Wilson and sister, Sylvia Lingen of Slayton, MN. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, daughter, Lori Dierks and brother-in-law, Terry Lingen.

Donna Rae Chambers, 72 of Aitkin, was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She passed away peacefully at home on March 2, 2022 after a courageous 3-year battle with cancer. Donna was born November 11, 1949, to Ray and Darlene Streff in Le Mars, IA. She grew up in Slayton, MN. and graduated from Slayton High School in 1967.

Roger Wilkison was born on December 24, 1932, in Egan, South Dakota to Kenneth and Ida Jensen Wilkison. He grew up in southwest Minnesota and graduated from Fulda High School in 1950. On September 10, 1952, Roger enlisted in the United States Air Force and on December 22, of that same year he and Arlene Dorpinghaus were married at St. Gabriel’s Church in Fulda, MN. Following his honorable discharge on September 9, 1956, he returned to southwest Minnesota where they farmed and raised their four children. Following their retirement, they made their home in Arizona and South Dakota before returning to Minnesota. Roger passed away surrounded by his family on Monday, February 21, 2022, at his home in Fulda, MN at the age of 89. He was a member of IHM Church in Currie, MN. Roger enjoyed spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, horseback riding and camping.