Obituaries

Clifford (Cliff) Jerome Deslauriers was born on February 13, 1941, on the family farm near Currie, Minnesota to Walter and Priscilla Beech Deslauriers. He grew up on the family farm and attended IHM Catholic School. On August 20, 1960, he and Lynnette Schoer were married at St. Ann’s Church in Slayton. Following their marriage, they made their home in Slayton until 1964 when they moved to Worthington, MN. In 1966 they moved to a farm near Currie and in 1972 they returned to Worthington for a year. In 1973 they returned to Currie where they owned and operated Cliffs Corner north of Currie. In 1984 they sold the business and moved into Currie. Cliff worked at Armour Meat Packing Plant which later became JBS in Worthington. He retired in 2008. Following retirement Cliff worked at Lake Shetek State Park for several years. In May 2021 due to declining health Cliff moved to Prairie View Senior Living in Tracy, MN for a short time before moving to Golden Horizons in Worthington. Cliff passed away on Monday, November 1, 2021, at the Sanford Worthington Hospital in Worthington at the age of 80. He was a member of IHM Church in Currie. He enjoyed trapping, hunting, fishing, gardening, seining for minnows and shooting pool.

Harry Jones, age 82, of Marshall, Minnesota, died peacefully on Sunday, October 31, 2021, at his home in Marshall, Minnesota. Memorial Services were held at 10:30 a.m.

John Richard Weis was born on March 16, 1947, in Tracy, Minnesota to Phillip and Catherine Zens Weis. He grew up on the family farm near Dovray, MN and attended Walnut Grove High School.

Arlyn Bentson was born on October 21, 1933, in Lismore, Township, Nobles County, Minnesota to Ole and Josephine Sunde Bentson. He grew up on the family farm near Kenneth, MN and attended country school. On August 11, 1954, he enlisted in the United States Army.

Myrtle Ramert, the daughter of Arthur and Gladys (Mahn) Carlson, was born on March 12, 1932 in Alta, IA. Her family moved to Fulda in 1947 and she graduated from Fulda High School in 1949. Myrtle was united in marriage to Dennis “Jim” Ramert on September 7, 1950 in Fulda, MN. They moved to Anchorage, AK in 1954, where Jim was employed with the FAA. They later moved to Champagne, IL and then to Watertown, SD. In 1964 they returned to the family farm near Fulda. Myrtle remained on the farm after Jim’s passing in April of 1968. She then attended the Worthington Community College, graduating in 1971. She moved to a home in Fulda in 1976 and worked for the Maple Lawn Nursing Home until her retirement in 1997. Myrtle entered the Maple Lawn Nursing Home in 2017 and passed away there on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at the age of 89. She was a member of St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Fulda. Myrtle enjoyed gardening, photography and baking.

James Schrantz, 91, formerly of Slayton, passed away on Oct. 10, 2021, at Pine Haven Care Center in Pine Island, Minn.

Cheryl Michaelson was born on November 7, 1955, in Worthington, Minnesota to Alfred and Thelma Ellefson McNab. She grew up in Rushmore, MN until 1969 when the family moved to Slayton, MN. Cheryl graduated from Slayton High School in 1973 and went on to attend Worthington Community College LPN Program graduating in 1977. On June 10, 1977, she and James Michaelson were married in Mankato, MN. Following their marriage, they made their home in Slayton until 1981 when they moved to Mesa, AZ. In 1987 they returned to Slayton and in 1995 they moved to Spirit Lake, IA retuning to Slayton in 2002. Cheryl worked at several hospitals, nursing homes and for hospice over the years. She most recently worked at the Colonial Manor in Balaton, MN. Due to failing health Cheryl moved to Our House Hospice Home in Slayton on October 12, 2021. She passed away there on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at the age of 65. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Slayton. Cheryl enjoyed bird watching, baking and Facebook.

Julie LaNet (Miller) Kennedy, 60, of Marshall, was born on September 28, 1961, in Marshall, to Lennis and Sharron (Moen) Miller. She was baptized at First Lutheran Church in Marshall, and confirmed at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, SD. While attending school in Aberdeen, she made close friends and enjoyed time riding and training horses. Midway through high school, Julie moved with her family back to Marshall where she made lifelong friends and graduated from Marshall High School in 1979. Julie was married to Kevin Kennedy on September 20th, 1980, and to this union was born son, Lennis. Kevin and Julie made their home in Houston, Chicago, and Columbus and enjoyed strong friendships and traveling. Julie moved home to be closer to her family in 1989. After returning home, she attended Southwest State University for a teaching degree and worked in Marshall and the surrounding communities as an early childhood teacher and child advocate.

Tom Byrne was born on April 30, 1951, in Slayton, Minnesota to Perry and Jeanne Gleason Byrne. He grew up on a farm east of Currie, MN and graduated from Tracy High School in 1969. In June 1969 Tom enlisted in the United States Navy. On August 26, 1969, he and Kathy Pattinson were married at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie. Following their marriage, they made their home in Norfolk, VA and later Long Beach, CA while Tom served in the Navy. Following his honorable discharge in December 1970 they moved to Walnut Grove, MN and Tom worked for Revere Milling. They later moved to the Byrne family farm east of Currie where he farmed and in 1987 Tom became a full-time mail carrier for the United States Post Office until he retired at the age of 62. After retirement Tom helped Schmitz Grain in the spring and fall. Tom passed away unexpectedly at his home on Friday, October 22, 2021, at the age of 70. Tom was a member of the Currie American Legion Post. He enjoyed being with his family, fishing, trapping, hunting, gardening and being with his dog, Red.

Betty Swan was born on July 17, 1928, in Pipestone, Minnesota to Walter and Beatrice (Ditmeyer) Lovell. The family later moved to various farms in Murray County, MN. Betty graduated from Slayton High School in 1946. She and Arthur Swan were married on June 19,1946 at the United Methodist Church in Slayton. Following their marriage, they made their home in Chicago, IL until 1948 when they moved to Slayton. She and Art opened Swan Electric, where she helped run the business until they sold it in 1973. Betty joined the Slayton Manor when it opened in 1966, and remained there for 40 years working in housekeeping and laundry. She continued living in the family home after Art’s passing on December 23, 1986. In 2015 Betty moved to the Maple Lawn facility in Fulda. She passed away there on Sunday, October 10, 2021, at the age of 93. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Slayton, where she taught release time and was active in the UMW. She also was a member of the Slayton VFW Auxiliary and the DAV Auxiliary. Betty spent many years volunteering with R.S.V.P. and Meals on Wheels. Betty enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling the world and visiting with people.