Obituaries

Lester Dean DeGrote, age 85 of Lowell, MI, passed away on September 18, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, Reinder and Lydia DeGrote; brothers, Rhinard, Anthony, Wayne, James, Henry, Merle, LeRoy; sister Pearl (Jacobson); and great-granddaughter, Faith DeGrote. Lester is survived by his children, Dean (Deb) DeGrote of Lowell, Mark (Robin Baker) DeGrote of Smyrna, Beth DeGrote of Grand Rapids, Chris (Selena) DeGrote of Lowell; grandchildren, Anthony (Stacy) DeGrote of Hudsonville, Hailey (Jacob) Seaman of Lowell, Justin De- Grote of Lowell; great-grandchildren, Julia Kelly, Kristin Viss, Skyla and Ryan DeGrote; sister, Lois (Curt) Erickson of Slayton, MN; sisters-in-law, Rosella DeGrote of Fulda, MN, Dolores DeGrote of Pipestone; and many nieces and nephews.

William F. Bacon, age 84, of Avoca, passed away on Thursday, September 23, 2021, peacefully at home.

Franklin Edward Post, 88, of Chandler, was born on August 16, 1933. He passed away at the Murray County Hospice House in Slayton on September 22, 2021.

Brad Gertner, age 65 of Westbrook, passed away Thursday, September 16, 2021 at Sanford Sioux Falls Medical Center. Bradley Vernon Gertner was born August 19, 1956 in Windom, Minnesota to Vernon and Dolores (Ewy) Gertner.

James Ahlers, the son of Ben and Clara (Thorman) Ahlers, was born on June 24, 1935 in Adrian, MN. He grew up on the farm near Rushmore until 1939 when they moved to a farm near Worthington. He attended country school and graduated from the Worthington High School in 1953. Jim entered the U.S. Navy in 1955 serving on the USS Shangrila until his discharge in 1957. Jim was united in marriage to Mary Schnurr on May 23, 1959 at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Fulda.

Arlis Faye (Nepp) Doeden, wife of Douglas Duane Doeden (55 years) and mother to four angelic children, passed away on September 11th, 2021 at the age of 74 surrounded by her family. Arlis was born on July 19, 1947 in Pipestone, MN to Mahlon and Una (Lopau) Nepp.

Marlene Larson was born at the Home Hospital in Slayton, Minnesota on September 24, 1933, to Leonard and Gladys (Aspelin) Larson. She attended schools in Crookston, Currie, and Slayton where she graduated in 1951. She began her career as a Ward Secretary at the Murray County Hospital from 1951 to 1959. She then moved to Fresno, CA and worked as a Medical Records Librarian at the Sierra Hospital until 1960. She returned to Slayton and worked as a Medical Secretary at the clinic for Dr. Pierson until 1969. From there, she worked as a County Office Clerk with the USDA Farmers Home Administration until she retired in 1994 after more than 25 years. In 1975, she built a new home on Redwood Avenue in Slayton where she and her folks lived until they passed away in 1987. In 2017, she sold her home and has since resided in Assisted Living Facilities in Fulda and Sioux Falls. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton. Marlene passed away on September 2, 2021, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 87. Marlene enjoyed driving her John Deere lawnmower, plastic canvas crafts, sewing, reading, making cards on the computer, and traveling to many places including Alaska and Hawaii.

Ardyth Vos, age 86 of Huron and formerly of Granite Falls, MN, passed away on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at Huron Regional Medical Center in Huron. Ardyth Yvonne Vos was born on October 8, 1934 to Luther and Evelyn (Bose) Iverson in Slayton, Minnesota.

Charles Asman was born on May 1, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois to Michael and Magdalena Pommeret Asman. Charles was grew up in Chicago and attended Austin High School in Chicago graduated in 1946. Charles moved with his parents to Central Minnesota to farm near Parker Prairie. There he met and married Fern Lois Kalpin and was soon called to service that same year. Returning from his tour in Japan, Charles decided on his college career.

Dalton Bergman was born on September 6, 1933, at the Home Hospital in Slayton, Minnesota to Herman and Esther Nelson Bergman. The family farmed in Bondin Township and later moved to a farm in Lime Lake Township near Avoca, MN. Dalton was baptized and confirmed at the Swedish Lutheran Church in Avoca. He attended Avoca Grade School and graduated from Slayton High School in 1952. He served 2 years in the United States Army following the Korean Conflict spending his time in near Fairbanks, AK on an anti-aircraft site. An adventure he was always willing to talk about. Following his discharge, he returned to the family farm and worked with his father. On November 14, 1964, he and Joanne Kremer were married at St. Columba Church in Iona, MN. Following their marriage, they made their home on the family farm near Avoca. Dalton farmed and also worked part time township assessor for Lime Lake, Mason, Iona, Lake Shetek and Dovray Townships for over forty years. In 1999 they moved to Slayton. Dalton passed away on August 31, 2021, at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 87. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Avoca until it closed, and he joined Christ Lutheran Church in Slayton. Dalton enjoyed studying history, reading any non-fiction subject, playing 500, fishing, hunting, collecting stamps and coins and watching the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings.