Obituaries

Harvey D. Bjerke, age 89 of Lake Crystal (formerly of Hadley, MN), passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at Mayo Health System, Mankato. Harvey Dennis was born October 16, 1936 in Iona, MN to Everett and Josie (VanKlei) Bjerke. He attended country school through the 8th grade, and later enlisted in the US Army. After his discharge, he returned home and spent his life farming, as well as doing some trucking on the side. Harvey was united in marriage to Mary Jean Scholten in 1959. Together they had five children, and later divorced. He enjoyed fishing, camping, tinkering on the farm, wintering in Arizona with his family and always made time for a drink with family and friends. Most importantly, he enjoyed time with his family. Left to remember Harvey are his children: Connie (Ed) Betz, Wanda Bjerke, Charlene Bjerke, and Dennis (Jode) Bjerke; grandchildren: Kristi (Mike) Hawker, Angie (Mike Volk) Betz, Amy Bjerke (Matt) Lanford, Kyle Bjerke, Amber Woitaszewski, Jessica (Carlos) Serratos, Daniel (Analisa) Woitaszewski, and Samantha Bjerke; 22 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Margaret (Marlin) Emery, and son Daniel (in 1983).

Larry Joe Schindler, the son of Joe and Margaret (Deuschle) Schindler, was born on February 26, 1946, in Fulda MN. He grew up in Fulda and attended school graduating from the Fulda High School. Larry worked as a carpenter and built numerous houses over the years. Larry was united in marriage to Cleone Meyer-Hein on January 17, 1981, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fulda. They made their home in Fulda. Larry remained in Fulda after Cleone died in January of 1995. In 2023 he moved to the Maple View Estates in Fulda. Larry passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at the Maple Lawn Senior Center in Fulda at the age of 79. He had served on the Murray County Parks board and the Fulda Zoning Committee and the Murray County Pheasants Forever and Fulda Game and Fish Club. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, gardening and collecting guns.

Ricky Byers, age 68 of Dovray, passed away Thursday, February 19, 2026 at Our House Hospice of Murray County with family at his side. Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 27, 2026 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Dovray. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at church on Friday. Interment will be in Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery in Dovray at a later date. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice. com. Stephens Funeral Service - Westbrook Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Jerry Rund, age 78, of Marshall, Minnesota, died on Friday, February 20, 2026, at Hospice of Murray County in Slayton, Minnesota. Memorial Services were 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 27, 2026, at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Marshall, Minnesota. Following interment in the Marshall Cemetery, a luncheon was held back at the church. Visitation was held two hours prior to his celebration, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Friday, also at the church.

Jason “Jay” Baures of Grasston passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 50. Jason Jon Baures was born on July 4, 1975, to Ruth (Versaevel) DeSaer in Marshall, MN.

Betty Onken was born on July 18, 1929, in Tea, South Dakota, to Reiner and June Madden Johnson. The family later moved to Iona, MN where Betty graduated from Fulda High School in 1946. After graduation Betty moved to Slayton and worked at Murray County State Bank in Slayton. On July 18, 1948, she and Kenneth “Ken” Onken were married at the Slayton Presbyterian Church. Following their marriage, they made their home in St. Cloud, MN until 1953 when they moved to Thief River Falls. While in Thief River Falls, Betty attended Northland Community College. In 1975 they returned to Slayton, MN. Betty and Ken enjoyed spending their winters in Gulf Shores, AL. Betty loved making Sally Ann cookies, and for 68 years at Christmas she would bake gingerbread cookies for her growing family. Ken passed away on August 5, 2013. In 2018 Betty moved to Sunrise Terrace in Slayton. Due to failing health in August 2025 Betty moved to Prairie View Healthcare Center in Tracy and on February 17, 2026, she moved to Our House Hospice Home in Slayton where she passed away on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at the age of 96. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Slayton where she was a member of the Dorcas Society. Betty was an active member of the Slayton Community serving as past Secretary of the Worthington Circuit Missionary Society, hospice volunteer, past President of the Monday Study Club, Women’s Golf Association, A.C.E. volunteer, served as Election Judge and worked at the Murray County Fair for many years. Betty enjoyed family and church activities, needlework, playing cards, volunteering, Library Book Club, and coffee time with friends at the Slayton Bakery and Sunrise Terrace.

Jeanette C. Wieskus, age 89, of New Prague, formerly of Fulda, died peacefully with her family at her side on Friday, February 20, 2026, at her home at Praha Village. Jeanette was born on November 8, 1936, in Fulda, MN, to William and Agnes (Dorpinghaus) Odenbrett. She grew up in Fulda, graduating from Fulda High School and then a calling led to a degree as a nurse from St. Mary’s College in Rochester, with her career beginning on night shifts at St. Mary’s Hospital. After graduation, she worked for Jackson and Worthington Hospitals until the nursing home in Fulda begged her to come work for them. It was perhaps a bit of divine intervention that she met a dashing young man at a dance, who captured her heart almost immediately. She married Eddie Wieskus on June 7, 1958, at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Fulda. It was her greatest desire to have a large family, and they would be richly blessed with 12 children. Jeanette’s caregiving spirit found time to devote 42 years as a nurse at Maple Lawn Senior Care in addition to successfully raising her children.

Jeff Zea was born on January 4, 1962, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Darrell and Vida Pettis Zea. He grew up in Lakefield, MN and attended Lakefield High School. Jeff served in the Minnesota National Guard. Jeff made his home in Slayton, MN and worked as a Nursery Manager for Green Prairie Pork for 20 years until it closed. He then went to work for Monogram Food in Chandler, MN working in the cheese room. Jeff then found the jobs he was meant to do working as a clerk at Cenex and later Ag Plus both in Slayton. Jeff loved to visit with his regular customers as well as anyone that stopped in. Too many he was affectionately known as Cenex Jeff. Jeff passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 64. Jeff enjoyed coffee at Cenex with the guys, hunting, fishing, visiting with friends, auto racing and spending time with his bonus grandchildren.

Catherine (Post) Kuhl, age 87, passed away peacefully into the hands of the Lord on February 15, 2026. Kathy was born on October 18, 1938, on a farm near Chandler, MN to James and Jennie Post, the ninth child of ten. Cathy often said they never had extra money but they always had plenty of food to eat.

Gary Richard Hudson passed away peacefully at home on January 27, 2026, in Stillwater, Minnesota. He was born on July 26, 1946, in Stayton, Minnesota to Richard and Lois (Pommier) Hudson.