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

Linda Anderson Kofstad, 84, Hartland, MN, passed away Thurs- day, December 22, 2022 at SMP- Health Ave Maria, Jamestown, ND. 

Linda Anderson was born Janu- ary 29, 1938 to Lester and Isabelle (McDaniel) Anderson on their farm near Juanita, ND. She was raised on their farm south of Glen- field, ND and attended grade school at Eastman #1. Linda grad- uated from Glenfield High School (Class of ’55). She received a Bachelor’s Degree from the School of Journalism at the University of North Dakota in 1959 and a Master’s Degree in Library Science at the University of Wis- consin in 1960. 

After working for the CIA and the Library of Congress and later the Washington, D.C. public li- brary as a reference librarian, she returned to North Dakota to work as a reference librarian in the Jour- nalism Department in the Chester Fritz Library at the University of North Dakota. She later moved to St. Paul and worked as reference librarian in the Journalism Depart- ment at the University of Minne- sota. 

Eugene L. Hagen, age 90 of New Richland, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on December 4, 2022. 

Eugene was born July 1, 1932 to Lawrence and Evelyn Hagen at home in Waseca County. On June 27, 1954 he married the love of his life, and as he would say “the social director”, Phyllis Hanson – better known as “Snooky”. Together they had five children; Randy, Chuck, Steve, Kari & Michelle. 

From 1955 to 1956, Eugene served in the Army. He was stationed in Georgia for three months, then New York for one year, where he and Phyllis had their first born, Randy. Six months later they moved back home to Minnesota where Eugene started his farming career. He and Snooky became grain and dairy farmers while raising their family. In 1974 they sold the cows and focused on farming the land. Eugene’s love for farming lead him to be a very successful farmer which was passed on to the following generations. Even when he retired, he never stopped farming; in his words he “farmed 24/7”. 

Gertrude Hattie Elaine Johnson, 93, of Owatonna, MN passed away peacefully on November 21, 2022 at the New Richland Care Center, New Richland, MN. 

Gertrude was born on Sep- tember 15, 1929 to Carl and Edith Johnson in New Richland, MN. She was raised on the family farm in New Richland and attended New Richland District #85 country school. She attended the Minne- sota School of Business in Minne- apolis for two years and following her college graduation moved to Owatonna. She was employed at Knodes Laundry in Owatonna, MN as an office assistance and Federated Insurance in Owatonna, MN until her retirement. 

Lola Ann Supalla, 72, passed away on December 6, 2022 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN, with family by her side.

Lola was born on June 9, 1950 to Bradford and Ione (Burmeister) Spear in Mankato, MN. She was raised in southern, rural Minnesota towns until settling in Hartland with her family in her teenage years. She graduated from New Richland – Hartland High School in 1968 and then attended college at Mankato State University for a short time. Lola met the love of her life, Dennis Supalla through her brother, Butch, and other mutual friends and they were later wed on August 3, 1974. Lola and Dennis continued to make Hartland their home where they raised their two children, Jeremy and Tara. In 1977 they built their forever home where they have created countless memories with their loving family and closest friends. Their home also became the hangout for all of the Hartland kids throughout the years as Lola always made sure everyone was well fed and taken care of. She was an excellent cook and was well known for her famous potato salad.

Jean Lois Ahlstrom, 91, of Geneva passed away on November 21, 2022 at Whispering Oaks Living in Ellendale, MN with her loving girls by her side. 

Jean was born on June 20, 1931 to Lawrence and Magdalene (Larson) Bartsch in Albert Lea, MN.  She attended and graduated from Ellendale-Geneva High School. Following her graduation, she attended Austin Community College in Austin, MN where she took business classes.  She had a career in the banking business and retired from the Geneva State Bank.