Remembering the life of Alice D. Nelson...

Funeral Services for Alice D. Nelson, of Ellendale, MN, will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, February  21, 2012 at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Ellendale. Pastor Diane Butler will officiate. Interment will be in the Berlin Township Cemetery, rural Ellendale.

Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Ellendale, and one hour before the service.

Alice died surrounded by her loving family on Friday, February 17, 2012 at the Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna. She was 79 years old.

She was born on January 5, 1933, in Cuervo, New Mexico, the daughter of John and Delta (Foster) Ashley. Alice was raised in California and in 1949 she made Ellendale her home.

On September 19, 1952, Alice married Edward James Nelson.

They lived in Ellendale and her family was her main focus.  She was a “good cook,” an expert seamstress, making almost all the family clothing, and enjoyed needlepoint. Alice made and sold crafts at several area shows for many years.

She is survived by three sons: Edward J. Nelson Jr. and Wesley D. (Lori) Nelson, both of Ellendale, William C. Nelson of White Bear Lake, MN, grandson Tyler Nelson  of Ellendale and sister-in-law Bert Ashley of California, long time friend Nola Roberts of Ellendale and her son Jeremie of Owatonna.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Edward, two brothers Norman and John Ashley.

Robert D. Tesch, age 82, of Waldorf, MN, died Saturday, February 18, 2012 at Mayo Clinic Health System-Mankato, MN.  Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf, MN.  Visitation will be Monday, February 20, 2012 from 4-7 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.  Pastor Michael Mathews will officiate the service and burial will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery in Waldorf.  Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is assisting the family with arrangements.

Robert Dean Tesch was born October 6, 1929, the son and one of 6 children born to Wilhelm and Clara (Eichhorst) Tesch in Freedom Township, Waseca County, MN.  He was a life-long member of First Lutheran Church in Waldorf.  He was baptized Oct. 20, 1929 and was confirmed there on June 20, 1943.  Bob had served on the Church's finance board, was involved in choir and Couple's Club. 

Robert farmed his whole life near Waldorf.  On April 18, 1954, he was united in marriage to Erna Esther Mathews at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Blue Earth, MN.  He enjoyed farming and his family was important to him.  

Robert is survived by one son, Bert (wife Stephanie) Tesch of Waldorf, MN; grandchildren: Michael Tesch and Christina Tesch, both of IL; Melissa Tesch (special friend Abner Berrios) of Fayetteville, NC; Brandi, Katlyn and Michelle Johnson, and Jack Tesch, all of Waldorf, MN; two great-grandchildren: Ayana Gastelum and Julian Berrios; one sister: Lois (Verle) Paul of St. Paul, MN; sister-in-law: Dorothea Tesch of SD; along with several nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Erna in 2001; two brothers: Marlyn and Wilfred; and two sisters: Luella Schlaak and Norma Marquardt.

Harriet E. Paulson, 95, of Hugo, formerly of Owatonna, Minnesota, died Tuesday, February 14, 2012, at St. John’s Hospital, Maplewood, Minnesota.  

Harriet Hogaas was born July 31, 1916 in Berlin Township the daughter of Clarence and Lillie (Johnson) Hogaas.  She graduated from OHS in 1935.  Harriet was united in marriage to Clayton Paulson on June 22, 1937 in Pontoppidan Lutheran Church and the couple farmed in Lemond Township.  Clayton  died in May 1982.  Harriet continued living on the farm until moving to Owatonna.  In 2002 she moved to White Bear Lake to be closer to her family and later to Hugo where she made her home at Suite Living of Hugo.

Harriet’s heritage was important to her.  Being of Scandinavian decent she enjoyed making pancakes and lutefisk to name just a couple of her favorites.  She also enjoyed crocheting, quilting, bowling, watching and following sports.  She had a strong faith and was a member at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir and served as a Sunday school teacher.  She also volunteered at Cedarview Care Center.  Mostly though, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to many.  

She is survived by a daughter, Joan Paulson of Forest Lake; three sons, Craig (and Karen) Paulson of White Bear Lake; Archie (and Rita) Paulson of New Richland; Mark (and Nancy) Paulson of Gilbert, AZ;  seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.  

Harriet was preceded in death by her husband Clayton, her parents, and a sister, Borghild Hatle.

Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home on Friday, February 17, 2012 from 5 to 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service in the church.  Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church with The Reverend Sandy Miller officiating.  Interment will be in the Pontoppidan Church Cemetery in Lemond Township.  In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Pontoppidan Lutheran Church, the First Presbyterian Church, White Bear Lake or donor’s choice.

Remembering the life of Vernon S. Thompson….

The funeral service for  Vernon S. Thompson, of Albert Lea, formerly of New Richland, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Richland.  The Reverend Scott Williams will officiate.  Interment will be in Hartland Cemetery.  Military honors will be accorded by New Richland Veteran’s  Organizations.  Visitation will be one hour before services at the church on Saturday. Friedrich Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Vernon died  on Monday, February 13, 2012 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.  He was 94.

He was born on January 30, 1918, in Hartland, Minnesota, the son of Arthur and Caroline (Sibilrud) Thompson.  He attended rural country school and then proudly served our country He served in the U.S. Army from March of 1942 until his honorable discharge in December of 1945. When Vernon returned from the war he attended Dunwoody Institute where he attained training in auto body repair.

On May 21, 1950, Vernon married Bernice Kofstad in Hartland; they later made their home in New Richland. Vernon along with his brother Harold owned and operated Thompson Auto Body for more than 38 years before Vernon retired.  He and brother Harold also owned a trailer park in New Richland.

He was a member of St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church and had also been a member of the American Legion.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping with his family, and loved lutefisk and lefsa.

Vernon is survived by his children Harriet (Jim) Dietz of Faribault, MN, Jeff (Dawn) Thompson of Byron, MN; four grandchildren: Karrie Dietz (Mike Galligan) of Thialand, Shane (Anita) Dietz of Fort Myers, Florida, Jason (Ikeda) Thompson of Las Vegas, Nevada, Megan (Isaac) Johnson of Stewartville, MN, greatgranddaughter Isis Thompson of Las Vegas, Nevada; sister Mae O’Neal of Cedar Rapids, IA; brother Harold (Helen) Thompson of New Richland; sister’s-in-law and brother’s-in-law: Florence Thompson of Waseca, MN,  Florence Thompson of Utah, David Demmer of Owatonna , MN,  LeRoy (Bonnie) Kofstad of Hartland, MN, John (Pat) Kofstad of Mantorville, MN,  Harriet Light  of  Fargo, ND and many nieces and nephews.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Bernice;  sisters: Alice Rosenthal and Clarice Hendricks,  brothers: James, Arville, Elvern and George Thompson.

Vernon will be fondly remembered for his kind, gentle, easy-going spirit.

New Richland City Council

By JODY WYNNEMER

Staff Writer

There were no public hearings scheduled so the council proceeded to adopt the following resolutions:

• 12-05 Approving the issuance of general refunding obligation bonds.

• 12-06 Designation of a bequest from the estate of Adlyn Nelson to the city ambulance service in the amount of $42,500.

• 12-07 Designation of a bequest from the estate of Adlyn Nelson to the city fire department in the amount of $42,500.

• 12-08 Designating the First National Bank of Waseca as a depository of public funds.

Police chief Scott Eads noted his department responded to 92 calls for service with an additional 38 contacts in January. Eads reported the department is still seeing issues with snow parking when it actually snows. Several administrative citations have been issued and a substantially larger number of warnings have been given.

Ellendale City Council

By SCOTT GROTH

Contributing Writer

The Ellendale City Council met February 9 with Mayor Engel and all councilmen present. Also attending the meeting were Clerk Louks, Maintenance Supervisor Swearingen, Municipal Liquor Store consultant Gwen Reiss and Ed Reiss.

The council approved the contract with Steele County for law enforcement protection. The contract calls for a minimum of 19 patrol hours per week in addition to its regular county-wide obligations, with seven days coverage per week. Coverage will be close to 2.71 hours per day but shall be as evenly spread over the seven days as is practical. The city will pay to the county a monthly fee of $3,166 with the payments to be made quarterly. The contract will terminate on December 31, 2012 unless both parties wish to extend the agreement. The contract may be terminated by either party with a 90-day written notice.

Roger Swearingen was called upon for his monthly report. Swearingen started by telling the council he had received two quotes for a new overhead door for the property recently acquired by the city on 8th Ave.

The bids were $1100 and $924 for the door. The council approved the bid of $924. 

Whitey, LaJune Hagen have quietly said much in their 55 years together

STILL SWEETHEARTS — Fifty-five years after tying the knot, LaJune and Dwayne “Whitey” Hagen remain enamored with each other. (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

They call him Whitey. He was given that name in his early high school days when he played basketball for Freeborn High School because of his light colored hair. His given name is Dwayne. 

LaJune was the New Richland Homecoming Queen in 1953. Whitey graduated from Freeborn High School in 1950 and LaJune graduated from New Richland in 1954.

They were popular then and they're popular now. They just fit wherever and whatever they do.

How did these two great people meet? Their grandparents and parents knew each other. Whitey’s parents were Arnold and Vivian Hagen of Ellendale; LaJune’s parents were Art and Ella Strand of New Richland. Whitey had only one brother, Richard. LaJune had three brothers: Lyle, Dale and Vern, and one sister, Elaine.

Casually, they were both part of a crowd that hung out together. When Whitey came home after his tour of duty in Korea in 1954, they were all back together again. The closeness of family, mutual friends, some cousins, and their love of dancing were sort of a clincher. They became a pair and dated for about a year and a half before deciding to tie the knot.

PIN TO WIN — The Panthers’ Nathan Krohn tries to put WEM/JWP’s Mitch Wolter on his back during the 152-pound match at New Richland last Thursday. Krohn won by fall and the Panthers won the dual meet 42-27 to tie for the conference title. (Star Eagle photos by Chris Schlaak)

By JIM LUTGENS

Editor/Publisher

Conference champions.

Back in December, it was one of the goals for the NRHEG wrestling team.

As the season unfolded, however, it looked like a big hill to climb.

The Panthers reached the top of it last Thursday, defeating WEM/JWP 42-27 to capture a tie for the Gopher Conference crown.

“I was very happy with our guys,” said NRHEG coach Paul Cyr. “We have struggled with injuries all season long. The guys had a chance to tie for the conference title and they wrestled very well.”

A key, according to Cyr, was getting through the Grizzlies’ tough wrestlers in the lower weights. But, after falling behind 15-0, the Panthers reeled off six straight wins: Dustin Esplan, fall, 126 pounds; Tyler Logan, 10-5, 132; Jacob Staloch, 9-4, 138; David Lassahn, fall, 145; Nathan Krohn, fall, 152; and Dillon Parpart, 6-3, 160.