NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
Published every Thursday
Yearly Subscription: Waseca, Steele, and Freeborn counties: $52
Minnesota $57 • Out of state $64

Funeral services for Jean C. Johnson of Ellendale, MN, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at the First Lutheran Church in Ellendale, MN. The Reverend Richard Sliper will officiate. Visitation will be held Tuesday evening from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Bonnerup Funeral Service in Ellendale, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the First Lutheran Cemetery, Ellendale.

Mrs. Johnson died on Friday, January 25, 2013 at the Thorne Crest Retirement Center in Albert Lea, MN. She was 88 years of age.

Jean was born July 13, 1924 in Graceton, MN, the daughter of John and Clara (Huseby) Koranda. She attended public school.

Herbert Calvin Gahler was born on May 23, 1928, in Freeborn Township, Waseca County, Minnesota. He was the son of Herman and Laura (Roeker) Gahler. Herb was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed as a youth. He received his education at area rural schools in Waseca County and was a graduate of Waldorf High School.

In 1950, Herb was drafted into the United States Army. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1952.


The celebration of life for Cherri G. Bergland will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at Vibrant Life Assembly of God Church in Ellendale. Pastor Patrick Stitt will officiate. Visitation will be held from 9-10:30 at the church and interment will be in the Berlin Cemetery.

Cherri passed away on Tuesday January 1, 2013 surrounded by her family. She was 63 years old.

Cherri was born on February 22, 1949 in Owatonna, MN to Joe and Terrence (Erickson) Anderson. She attended Ellendale-Geneva School. On May 24, 1969 she was united in marriage to Robert “Bob” Bergland, and raised two children on the Anderson Family Farm, which the two took great pride in maintaining. Together Bob and Cherri owned and operated Bob Bergland Excavating.

Memorial services for Darrell Lowell Christensen of Albert Lea, MN, are pending with Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, MN. Interment will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Mpls, MN. 

Darrell passed away on January 5, 2013 at the Mayo Health Systems Albert Lea after a long battle with many medical issues.

Mary A. Spinler, 87, of Owatonna passed away on Dec. 31, 2012 at the Owatonna Hospital.

Mary was born on Oct. 15, 1925 to Edward and Agnes (Rajnet) Rysavy near Bixby in Blooming Prairie Township. She attended rural school district #64 and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1943. Prior to marriage she did clerical work for Jostens. On July 9, 1947 she married Justin Spinler at Holy Trinity Church, Litomysl. Following marriage, they settled on a dairy farm in Summit Township; Mary enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom and raising her own family.