Obituaries

Rogann Renee (Deslauriers, nee Kiihn) Peterson, age 50 of Tracy, formerly of Dovray, passed away Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Our House Hospice of Murray County in Slayton. Rogann was born November 20, 1971 in Westbrook, Minnesota to Roger and Eunice (Merkel) Kiihn.

Holt Thomas Engelkes, infant son of Greg Engelkes and Carissa Beldin was born on Monday, December 6, 2021, at the Pipestone Medical Center in Pipestone, MN. He passed away there on Tuesday, December 7, 2021.

Chuck Rachuy was born on June 8, 1956, in Worthington, Minnesota to Elgie and Delores O’Neil Rachuy. Growing up on a farm near Brewster, MN until 1957 when the family moved to a farm near Slayton, MN. In 1963 they moved to the current family farm south of Slayton. Chuck graduated from Slayton High School in 1974. He remained on the farm helping his father, Elgie until he retired, and Chuck took over the farm. In addition to farming in 1998 Chuck started working at the Toro Plant in Windom, MN. In 2019, he retired due to a cancer diagnosis.

Maxine Silvernale was born on July 10, 1925, on the Fox Lake farm in Shetek Township, Murray County, Minnesota to Ephraim and Rose Vahlsing Noll. Maxine grew up on the farm until her family moved to Currie, MN. Maxine graduated from Tracy High School in 1943. Following graduation the family moved to Vancouver, WA where Maxine worked as a nurse’s aide at the Northern Permanente Hospital (the Kaiser Shipyard Hospital). When the war was over, they returned to Currie and Maxine worked at the Old Tracy Hospital as a nurse’s aide.

Katherine “Margaret” Konkol passed away on November 23, 2021, at the age of 88 at the Murray County Medical Center. She was born in Onamia, Minnesota, on October 25, 1933, the fifth of twelve children born to John and Katherine (Kertzman) Vander Heyden. Margaret grew up on the family farm and graduated from Onamia High School in 1950. She attended St. Cloud State Teacher’s College and became an elementary teacher. Margaret taught third grade in Kimball, Minnesota, and that is where she met her husband, Howard “Jake” Konkol, who taught there as well. Margaret and Jake were united in marriage on June 18, 1955, in Onamia Minnesota, in a double wedding ceremony with her sister, Frances. In 1957, Margaret and Jake moved to Slayton where they raised their six children. After their youngest child went to school, Margaret returned to teaching as a paraprofessional and playground supervisor until her retirement in 1994. Besides her love for her family, Margaret had many hobbies. She loved gardening, crocheting, playing bridge, working crossword puzzles and Sudoku. She especially loved traveling and enjoyed going to Branson, Missouri, to listen to Daniel O’Donnell. She visited all fifty states and all Canadian Provinces. Her Catholic faith was very important to her as she taught CCD for six years, attended Bible study classes, was a member of Catholic Daughters, the prayer chain, and volunteered for coffee hour every Friday morning after church services. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Margaret also taught herself to play the piano and accordion. Along with her many hobbies, she always found time to attend her children’s and grandchildren’s school/sporting events and loved spending time with family. Margaret was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. It was her greatest blessing.

Lee Larson was born on November 28, 1954, in Slayton, Minnesota to David and Marge Dahlquist Larson. He grew up near Slayton and graduated from Slayton High School in 1973. Lee then attended Jackson Vo-Tech for Auto Mechanics graduating in 1975.

Marcus Stout and his twin sister Kayla, were born on November 30, 1993 in Maplewood, MN. The doctors said he would not survive, but he developed a fighting spirit on day one of his life. He grew up in St. Paul, MN and attended school there. Marcus was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic at age 5 and it became a lifelong fight for him. On November 9, 2003 Marcus and Kayla were adopted by Lisa Stout. They lived in Coon Rapids, MN and then later moved to Pipestone, MN where he was active in band, baseball and video games.

Jane McFarland was born on July 6, 1956, in Tyler, Minnesota to Clarence and Jacqueline Pamp Meyer. She grew up in Holland and graduated from Ruthton High School in 1974. That same year on December 7, she and Michael “Fuzzy” McFarland were married in Slayton, MN. Following their marriage, they made their home in Walnut Grove, MN until 1982 when they moved to Lake Wilson, MN. Fuzzy passed away on November 26, 1996. Following Fuzzy’s death Jane remained in Lake Wilson and raised their three children. Over the years Jane worked at Food and Fuel in Slayton, Hank’s in Pipestone, Cenex/Easy Street in Lake Wilson. She was currently working at McDonald’s in Pipestone. Jane passed away on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at the Pipestone County Medical Center in Pipestone, MN at the age of 65. She was a member of the Lake Wilson Community Club and served as a Lake Wilson First Responder. Jane enjoyed being with her children and grandchildren, being outdoors, camping, throwing darts. and motorcycle rides.

Grace Emmagene Jensen, 86, of Westbrook, died on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Grace was born on December 25, 1934, to Harold and Evelyn (Olson) Vind in Wisconsin Township, Jackson, Minnesota.

Nancy Faye McLellan Welle, 82, of Tracy, passed away at home, surrounded by family and friends on Tuesday, November 23. Nancy was born on February 19, 1939, in Trimont, MN, to Chrystobel (Marsh) and Thomas McLellan.