DEATH NOTICES

VERNON GEORGE CHEVALIER
June 8, 1929 – January 17, 2019

Vernon “Bud” Chevalier, 89, Benson, Minn., died Thursday, January 17, 2019, at Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck.  Visitation will be from 4–7 p.m., with a 5 p.m. Rosary and 7 p.m. Prayer Service, Sunday, January 20, 2019, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson.  Visitation will continue from 10–11 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., Monday, January 21, 2019, at St. Francis Catholic Church.  Interment will be in St. Malachy Catholic Cemetery in Clontarf. 

JOSE LAZARO DE ORTECHO
June 15, 1930 – January 17, 2019

Jose M. Lazaro de Ortecho, 88, died on Thursday evening, January 17, at his home in Benson. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Interment will follow the service in the Benson City Cemetery. Zniewski Funeral Home of Benson is assisting the family with the arrangements.

KURT W. SIMMONDS
April 3 - January 16, 2019

Kurt W. Simmonds, 53, of De Graff, Minnesota died Wednesday morning, January 16, 2019 at his home in De Graff. Visitation was held Friday, January 18, 2019, at the St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in De Graff from 4-7 p.m. and continued Saturday for one hour prior to the service. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 19, at the St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in De Graff. Interment followed the service in the St. Bridget’s Catholic Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Glioblastoma-American Brain Tumor Association.

DOROTHY F. SCHLAGEL
August 19, 1927 • January 4, 2019

Dorothy Florence Schlagel, 91, of Willmar, Minnesota (formerly of Murdock) died Friday, January 4, 2019, at Copperleaf Assisted Living.  Visitation was from 10-11 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Murdock.  Interment will be in the church cemetery at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  

MARVIN DALE DIEKEN
February 7, 1934 • January 4, 2019

Marvin Dale Dieken, 84, passed away in the morning January 4, 2019 at home in Naples, FL surrounded by his family.
Memorial services are planned for Wednesday, January 9, 2019, 11:00 a.m. at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church in Naples, FL. Luncheon to follow at the church.

Marvin was the third son born to Richard and Lena (Boike) Dieken,  February 7, 1934 in Clara City, Minnesota.

He married the love of his life, Virginia Eid, October 6, 1956 at Bergen Lutheran Church, Montevideo. Together they were blessed with 62 years of marriage and three children.

CLINTON E. SCHUERMAN
February 11, 1944 • January 3, 2019
 
Clinton Eugene Schuerman, 74, of Danvers, Minnesota passed away peacefully surrounded by family January 3, 2019, at the Appleton Care Center, Appleton, Minnesota.

Visitation was held 1-2 p.m., followed by the Memorial Service at 2 p.m., Tuesday, January 8, 2019, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Benson. A private family burial will be held in Danvers at a later date.

Clint was born February 11, 1944, to Ervin and Viola (Loeschke) Schuerman with three siblings: Lavern (Mary) Schuerman, Jean (Jerry) Goff and Virgil (Marlene) Schuerman. Clint was baptized and confirmed at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Danvers. Clint grew up on the family farm in Marysland Township, attended Danvers Grade School and graduated from Benson High School in 1962.

MARY JOSIEPHINE JOHNSON
July 4, 1947 – January 1, 2019

Mary J. Johnson, 71, died Tuesday, January 1, 2019, at the Meadow Lane Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Visitation will be held Monday, January 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 1:00 p.m., at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Benson. Interment will be in Benson City Cemetery.

Mary Josiephine Johnson was born July 4, 1947, in Glenwood, Pope County, Minnesota, the daughter of James Myron and Norma Jannet (Thorson) Johnson.  She was baptized July 27, 1947, at Rolling Forks Lutheran Church in Pope County.  She was confirmed November 4, 1962, by Rev. Sucher at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Benson.  Mary grew up in Rolling Forks Township in Pope County and Benson and graduated from Benson High School Class of 1965.

JAMES A. LYE
December 11, 1942 - December 30, 2018

James A. Lye, 76, of Danvers, Minnesota, Marysland Township, Swift County, died Sunday evening, December 30, 2018, at the Swift County Benson Hospital.

Visitation was Saturday, January 5, 2019, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Big Bend Lutheran Church in Big Bend, followed by the funeral  service at  1:30 p.m. Interment was in the West Bank Cemetery.  

James Andrew Lye was born December 11, 1942, at the Swift County Hospital in Benson, the son of Bennie and Helen (Larson) Lye. He was baptized and confirmed at the West Bank Lutheran Church. He grew up in the Danvers area and attended country school in District #62 and Benson High School. James served our country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. After the war, he returned to the farm in Marysland Township.

Elna Vivian Hill
September 12, 1927 • December 25, 2018

Elna Vivian Hill, 91, of Morris, Minnesota, died Tuesday, December 25, 2018 at the West Wind Village in Morris.

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 31, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at the Federated Church in Morris. Pastor Lauren Hauger officiated. Visitation is Sunday, December 30, 2018 from 4 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, and for one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the Summit Cemetery in Morris following the service.

Elna Vivian (Hoyer) Hill, daughter of Louis and Melanie (Bach) Hoyer, was born September 12, 1927 in the Hoyer home in Morris. She grew up and attended school in Morris graduating in 1945.  Following graduation, she worked in various jobs in Morris until she was united in marriage to Bennie Hjalmer Hill, August 16, 1952.

ALLEN W. LESTEBERG
October 14, 1947-December 22, 2018

Allen William Lesteberg, 71, of DeGraff, Minnesota died at his home in Kildare Township Saturday morning, December 22, 2018. Visitation was held Saturday, December 29, at the Bethesda Lutheran Church north of Murdock, from 10-11 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Interment followed the service in the Bethesda Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Allen William Lesteberg was born  October 14, 1947, in Benson, Minnesota, the son of Walter and Isobel Casper Lesteberg. He was baptized at St. Francis Catholic Church and was confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Murdock. He grew up in Benson and on the farm north of Murdock, Minnesota. He attended country school District #66 and graduated from Kerkhoven High School. Allen served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He received the Purple Heart.