DEATH NOTICES

ELAINE M. MIKKELSON

  Elaine M. Mikkelson, 83, of Glenwood, died peacefully at home  April 28, 2019. A memorial service, officiated by Rev. Randy Chrissis,  was held Monday, May 6 at Glenwood Lutheran Church. Inurnment in Glenwood Lutheran Cemetery took place following the service. Arrangements were with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.
 

Sheila Rae Jeffery
February, 22, 1948 • May 2, 2019

Sheila Rae Jeffery, 71, of Benson, Minnesota died Thursday evening, May 2, 2019, at Scandi Haven Village in Benson. Visitation was held Thursday, May 9, 2019 at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; with a 7:00 p.m. Parish Prayer Service. Interment will be held at the St. Malachy Catholic Cemetery in Clontarf at a later date.
Sheila Rae Jeffery, was born February 22, 1948 in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the daughter of Ray and Alyce (Reardon) Amlin. She grew up and attended Elementary School in Clontarf, Minnesota. She graduated from Benson Senior High School in 1966.  After high school, she attended Business College in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

BERNICE RUTH RODI
October 30, 1925 • May 3, 2019

Bernice Ruth Rodi, 93, died Friday, May 3, 2019, at Gabriel House in Murdock, Minnesota.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, May 9, 2019, at Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson.  Visitation will continue from 10-11 a.m., followed by the Funeral Service at 11 a.m., Friday, May 10, 2019, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Swift Falls. Interment will be in the St. Pauli Cemetery in Swift Falls.

Bernice Ruth Rodi was born October 30, 1925, at home in Camp Lake Township, Swift County, the daughter of Bernt and Ruby (Hanson) Thompson.  She was baptized November 20, 1925 and confirmed June 11, 1937, at Rolling Forks Lutheran Church.  She grew up in Swift County and attended Country School District 73, Riverside School and Murdock High School.

LEO DALE WENTE
October 9, 1928 • April 30, 2019

Leo Wente, 90, died Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at Scandi Haven Village in Benson, Minnesota. Visitation was from 4-7 p.m., Friday, May 3, 2019, at Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson.  Visitation continued from 1-2 p.m., followed by the Funeral Service at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 4, 2019, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairfield Township.  Interment was in the Church Cemetery.

Leo Wente was born October 9, 1928, at the family farm in Fairfield Township, Swift County to Henry and Martha (Erdman) Wente.  He was baptized in October 1928 and confirmed March 29, 1942, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairfield.  He attended country School through the eighth grade at Dist. 51 in Fairfield Township.

MERLE FENNELL
January 26, 1934 • April 18, 2019

Funeral services for Merle Fennell of Cyrus, Minnesota were  Friday, April 26, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at Assumption Catholic Church in Morris with Father Todd Schneider serving as celebrant. Visitation was Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 5:00 and a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and for one hour prior to services at the church, Friday. Burial was in St. Malachy Catholic Cemetery in Clontarf.

Merle Thomas Fennell was born  January 26, 1934 in Clontarf  to Joseph and Eleanor (Bouta) Fennell.  Merle was baptized, made his First Communion, and was confirmed at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Clontarf. He attended Clontarf Elementary School, and graduated from Benson High School in 1953.

KYLE EDWARD OPOIEN
November 15, 1965- April 18, 2019
 
Kyle Edward Opoien, 53, of Miami, Florida, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 18, 2019 at his home in Miami.

A memorial in his honor will be held  Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Benson, Minnesota.

DALE EDWARD TOLIFSON
December 4, 1945 • April 23, 2019

   Dale Edward Tolifson, 73, of Benson, Minnesota, died Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.  Visitation was from 4-7 p.m., Thursday, April 25, 2019, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson.  Visitation continued  from 10-11 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., Friday, April 26, 2019, at St. Francis Catholic Church.  Interment was in the Church Cemetery.  

Dale Edward Tolifson was born December 4, 1945 in San Luis Obispo, California, the son of Olen E. and Dorothy M. (Hornickel) Tolifson.  Dale grew up on the family farm north of Benson, the second of five kids.  He attended country school and graduated from Benson High School in 1963.  

MARY MARGARET COLLINS
May 14, 1924 •  April 22, 2019

Mary Margaret Collins, 94, died Monday, April 22, 2019, at Meadow Lane Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Benson, Minnesota.  Visitation was from 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, April 24, 2019, with a Prayer Service at 6 p.m. and a Rosary at 7 p.m., at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in DeGraff.  Visitation continued from 9:30-10:30 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 25, 2019, at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church. Interment was in the Church Cemetery.

Mary Margaret Collins was born  May 14, 1924, the daughter of James E. and Mary G. (Sheridan) McNellis, in DeGraff, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in DeGraff. She grew up in DeGraff and attended DeGraff grade School and then graduated from Benson High School in 1942.  

JANET I. MATTHEISEN
May 21, 1955 - April 16, 2019
 

Janet I. Mattheisen of Benson, Minnesota, died Tuesday evening, April 16, 2019, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud.

Visitation was held Tuesday, April 23, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Benson, and continued  Wednesday, April 24, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 24, at the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Benson.

Janet Idette Mattheisen was born May 21, 1955 in Benson, the daughter of Jerome “Jim” and Adeline (Reuss) Birch.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Janet was raised in the Danvers area and graduated from Benson High School in 1973.  Following high school, she received training and was employed as a nurse’s aide at Benson and Morris area nursing homes.  She later attended Willmar Technical College where she studied bookkeeping.  

ARLAN ANDERSON
July 19, 1957  •  April 16, 2019
 
Arlan Anderson,  61, of rural Murdock, Minnesota died Tuesday evening, April 16, at the Swift County-Benson Hospital in Benson.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2019, at Scandia Lutheran Church in rural Glenwood.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be in the church cemetery at a later date.  

Arlan Wilton Anderson was born July 19, 1957, in Benson, Minnesota, the son of Norine and Theodora (Gronseth) Anderson.  He grew up in rural Murdock and attended school in Benson.  Arlan worked at Die Cast in Starbuck and also assisted area farmers.  He was a member of Scandia Lutheran Church.  He was also a member of the Sunburg Trolls Car Club and enjoyed working on old cars.