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

Remembering the life of Rebecca M. Stephenson….

Memorial Services for Rebecca M. Stephenson, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at Ascension Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Reverend Mark Boorsma will officiate. Interment will be alongside her husband at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Visitation with family will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea and one hour before the service at the church.

Becky died from complications of cancer on Friday, September 14, 2012 at Good Samaritan Center in Albert Lea. She was 84.

Brian Renstrom, 35, of Karlstad, Minnesota passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Friday, September 7, 2012. Brian Michael Renstrom was born May 4, 1977 in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the son of Timothy and Leone (Walz) Renstrom. He was a 1995 graduate of Tri County High School in Karlstad, Minnesota. On August 14, 2004 he married Courtney Hultgren at Grace Lutheran Church in Hallock. Brian did concrete and sheetrock construction work until 2008 when he began working for Central Boiler in Greenbush, Minnesota. He was a member of the Karlstad Volunteer Fire Department.

Family members include his wife, Courtney; a daughter, Isabelle; his brother, Randy (Lauren) Renstrom, Eden Prairie, MN; his biological father, Randy (Diane) Fox, New Richland, MN; four nieces, Kiersten Renstrom, Jocelyn and Keria Anderson and Harper Weller. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Erinn and his biological mother, Pam Fox.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 2 p.m.


Juanita E. Matejcek, 69, of Owatonna, died Friday, September 7, 2012 at her home in Owatonna. 

She was born January 28, 1943 on the family farm in Geneva Township, Freeborn County, Minnesota the daughter of Ferris and Eleanor (Hojberg) Peterson.  She was baptized and confirmed at Geneva Lutheran Church.  She attended country school and Blooming Prairie High School.  Juanita then worked as a nanny for a family in Owatonna for several years.  She married Burgess Matejcek in October of 1963.  They had three children, Randy, Lori, and Marcia.  They later divorced.  She worked for Cedar Valley Services for many years, cleaned elderly women’s homes, and did foster care.  

Funeral services for Regina Mildred Kalis of New Richland, MN, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 15, 2012 at the All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland. Father Swami and Father Eugene Stenzel will officiate. Visitation will be held Friday evening from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Friedrich Funeral Home in New Richland and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, New Richland.

Mrs. Kalis died Sunday, September 9, 2012 at the New Richland Care Center. She was 89 years of age.

Regina was born December 15, 1922 in Faribault County MN, the daughter of Paul and Balbina (Chicos) Stenzel. She attended country school in Faribault County. In 1943 she was united in marriage to Alexander Kalis in Wells, MN.

Remembering  the life of John Arvid Westeng…

Memorial Services for John Arvid Westeng of Albert Lea will be held at 10 a.m. on

Saturday, September 15, 2012 at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea.  The Reverend

Todd Walsh will officiate.  Interment will be in Hartland Cemetery.

Military Honors will be accorded by Albert Lea Veteran’s Organizations.

John died on Sunday, September 9, 2012 at St. John’s Lutheran Home.  He was 94.