Lorraine G. Clausen, age 79 of rural Pemberton, died on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at her home.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 19th at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf with Rev. Michael Mathews, officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Janesville, and will continue on Thursday morning for one hour prior to services, at church.

Lorraine Gertrude was born on March 19, 1933 to Walter and Elsie (Grams) Witt in Alton Township, Waseca County, Minnesota. She was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville. Lorraine graduated from Janesville High School in 1951. On January 2, 1952 she was united in marriage to David J. Clausen at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville. She worked for a short time in Waseca, and then devoted her time to raising her family and helping her husband on their family farm. She enjoyed helping her children with many sewing projects for 4-H. Lorraine was a believer in Christ, and a longtime member of First Lutheran Church in Waldorf. She loved playing the piano and organ, gardening, and spending time with her many pets. 

She is survived by her husband David Clausen of rural Pemberton; by her son, Roger Clausen of Mankato; by her three daughters, Denise (Gene Liner) Lorraine of Houston, TX, Judith (Tom) Shupien of Fridley, and Gloria Clausen of Baytown, TX; by her two grandchildren, Lee Liner of Houston, TX, and Caleb Clausen of Pennsylvania; by her sister Delores (Forrest) VanCamp of Mankato; by many nieces and nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; by her brother Lyle (Carol) Witt.

Casketbearers are:  Eugene Witt, Blake Meshke, Phil Brase, Dale Koplen, Melvin Meyer, Tom Shupien, and David Lienke. 

For online condolences go to www.mcraithfuneralhome.com.

Funeral services for Michael “Bass” Skov age 47 of New Richland/Manchester will be held on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home.  Pastor Scott Williams will officiate.  Burial will be at Carlston Cemetery rural Alden.  Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 – 7 p.m. at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the services on Thursday.  To sign the guestbook go to:  www.bayviewfuneral.com

Bass died on Saturday, April 14, 2012 as the result of an accident.

Michael Duane Skov was born on Feb. 19, 1965 in Albert Lea, MN., the son of Duane and Pat (Pedersen) Skov.  He was baptized at the Danish Lutheran Church, Alden and confirmed at Redeemer Lutheran Church.  Bass graduated from Alden High School and then attended Albert Lea Vo-tech for 2 years.  He worked for E.R. Carpenter for 25 years and then for the past 3 years, Bass has co-owned the Bend in the Road in Manchester.  He loved riding his Harley, playing practical jokes on his family and his many friends.  Bass had a very infectious laugh and enjoyed being with his family and many friends.

Survivors include his parents; Duane and Pat Skov, New Richland, MN., sister Linda (Dale) Enser, Alden, MN., nieces; Michelle (Tony) LaBerge, New Hope, MN., and Amanda (Greg) Born, Waseca, MN.,  nephew Dylan (Sarah) Enser, Conger, MN and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Bass was preceded in death by his grandparents; Harold and Erna Skov and Richard and Vanda Pedersen and niece, Holly Ann Enser.

William F. “Bill” Arneman, age 56, of North Mankato, died Thursday, April 12, 2012 at Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato.

 Funeral Service will be held 11 a.m., Monday, April 16, 2012 at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato.  Visitation will be held from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, April 15 at Northview - North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Diabetes Association.

 William Frederick Arneman was born November 10, 1955 to George W. and Edna C. (Randolph) Arneman in Mankato.  He graduated from New Richland High School in 1974, and later earned a degree in Agriculture from Mankato VoTech.  Bill married Karen L. Jongbloedt on June 12, 1999 in New Richland.  Growing up on the family farm, Bill was able to turn this into a lifelong career he loved.  He was a member of Hosanna Lutheran Church.  Bill enjoyed raising Great Danes, skiing, vacationing, gardening, landscaping, and farming.  He also loved his puppies, Sammie and Breezy, taking care of his yard, and enjoyed motorcycling. Bill will be remembered as a friend to everyone.

Bill is survived by his wife, Karen of rural North Mankato; stepmother, Barbara Arneman of Mankato; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Maurice and Charlotte Jongbloedt of New Richland; four step-children, Becky (Doug) Brown of Indiana, Shane (Carrie) Hagen of Mankato, Karie (Bob) Lauwagie of Eagle Lake, Chase (Cheryl) Hagen of Eagle Lake; four grandchildren, Taylor Hagen, Anthony Hagen, Zoie Burton, Xavier Lauwagie; four sisters, Faith (Dale) White of Columbia Heights, MN, Erna (Dale) Krueger of New Richland, Betty (Loren) Johnson of Arizona, Joan (Dennis) Anderson of Hartland; several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and extended family. 

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; brother, George Jr.; and grandson, Aaron Hagen. 

Marlowe B. Sorenson, age 84, of Richfield, MN, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 6, 2012.

He was born and raised in Ellendale, MN, preceded in death by wife, Helen; parents, Harry and Anna; brother, Bernard; sisters, Beatrice and Eryliss. He is survived by daughters, Marilyn and Ann (Keith) Broscoff; grandchildren, Nathanael (Danielle) Broscoff, Rachel (Kevin) Lueth and Joy Broscoff; great-grandchildren, Elijah, Autumn and Aubrey Broscoff; and other relatives and friends.

He was a proud Korean War Veteran stationed in England serving the U.S. Air Force and a lifetime employee of the U.S. Postal Service. He will be remembered for being an exceptional caregiver and loving husband, father and grandfather. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to SW Christian H.S. of Chaska. Funeral services have already been held in the Twin Cities and the interment took place at Dawn Valley Cemetery in Bloomington, MN.  Arrangements were made through the Washburn-McReavy Dawn Valley Chapel, 952-941-7686.

By JODY WYNNEMER

Staff Writer

Council member Anthony Martens was absent as the New Richland City Council convened their first meeting for the month of April last Monday evening. The evening’s agenda was approved. The consent agenda was also approved after the city newsletter was pulled for discussion.

Items on the consent agenda included:

• Minutes from previous meetings, accounts payable and financial documents

• Pay request from Abdo, Eick & Meyers for 2011 audit $4,350

• Estimate for repair of windshield city pick-up $288.38

• Pay request from Magney Construction for WWTF Improvements $57,343.90

Police chief Scott Eads reported a busy month of March with 80 calls and another 60 additional contacts.

“It was a busy month for disturbances, traffic and animal complaints,” said Eads.

BUSY WEEK — The Panthers’ Jade Waltz, left, takes the handoff from Raece Johnson in the 4x100-meter relay at New Richland last Tuesday. The relay placed second. It was one of two meets in three days for the Panthers. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)

The NRHEG track and field teams were in action twice this past week, hosting their Panther Invitational Tuesday, April 10 and traveling to the Waseca Invitational Thursday, April 12.

Albert Lea won the girls’ division of the home invite with 160 points. NRHEG was second with 116, followed by Medford with 86, WEM 75, Maple River 56 and LCWM/N 53.

Panther sophomore Carlie Wagner continued to shine, winning the 100, 400 and high jump while taking second in the 200. Other NRHEG places: Hailey Schuller, second, long jump, third, 300 hurdles and fourth, 100 hurdles; Danielle Krueger, second, 400, third, 200 and fourth, 100; Emily Eder, third, shot put; Katharine Lewer, third, 3200 and fourth, 1600; 4x200, third (Abby Crabtree, Gretchen Ramaker, Marnie Wagner, Raelin Schue); 4x100, fourth (Crabtree, Schuller, Ramaker, Schue); Paige Bolduan, fourth, high jump; 4x400, fourth (Ramaker, Aubrey Schlinger, Shanna Stencel, Shantaya Olson); 4x800, fifth (Crystal Olson, Kristy Possin, Stencel, Shantaya Olson; Crabtree, fifth, pole vault; Emmy Hobbs, fifth, pole vault; Shantaya Olson, sixth, 1600.

The NRHEG softball team had a lot of questions entering the 2012 season.

It appears many of them have been answered.

The Panthers have won two of their first three games, going 1-1 in Gopher Conference play.

On Monday, the Panthers hosted WEM and posted a 3-1 victory.

Anna Stork came up with a huge hit for the Panthers in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the game tied 1-1, two outs and runners in scoring position, Stork slapped a solid shot between third base and shortstop to drive in a crucial run. Tara Simon also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Also hitting safely for NRHEG were Makenna Thiele, Mandy Deml and Jade Schultz.

Schultz was the winning pitchers, allowing no earned runs on three hits, with 13 strikeouts and seven walks.

The NRHEG baseball team is off to a strong start, posting a record of 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Gopher Conference.

The Panthers picked up a big 11-9 victory over WEM at Legion Field Monday, coming from behind to claim a key conference win. The big hit was Mitch Akemann’s single in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Eric Sorenson was 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs, David Lassahn 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and two RBIs. Sam Lundberg tripled.

Lundberg started on the mound and went three innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits, with four walks and two strikeouts. Lassahn got the win, going four innings of relief while allowing no earned runs on two hits, fanning four and walking one.