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

Early morning on September 7, 2022, the Good Shepherd called Anita Crumb home at age 83.  She is survived by her husband, Richard Crumb; daughter, Helen (Dick) Crumb; grandson, David (Allison Bock) Schell; sisters, Carol Dupre, Marie (Donald) Peterson, Doris McClaine, and Donna Schlavin; brother, Paul (Joanne) Houle, as well as Rich’s children, Tovah (Lora Eckert) Rainsong, Kimberly John Crumb, Susan (Terry Foy) Crumb, Lisa Buckleton, and Rich’s grandchildren, Nicholas (Rose) Foy and Kaitlyn Foy, along with numerous other relatives and friends.  Anita is preceded in death by her parents, Walter Houle and Edna L’Allier; son, Terry Stolp, and brother, Frank Houle.  Special thanks to Oak Park Senior Living Memory Care staff for the dedicated care given to Anita during the past four years. 

Celebration of Life will be held on September 17, 2022, at 11:00, preceded by visitation at 10:00, and followed by light lunch at noon at Stillwater Evangelical Free Church, 7671 Manning Ave. N., Stillwater.  Family members will gather at 2:00 for interment at Scandinavian Cemetery, 1516 8th St. SE, Forest Lake.  Memorials preferred to Alzheimer’s Association. 

Betty Jane Morstad, age 95, passed away on August 25th at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Albert Lea, MN. She was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend to many. 

Born to Clara (Higge) and William Olson on July 14th, 1927 at Iron Mountain, Michigan, Betty grew up at the family’s Steele County country home.  She attended school in the District 22 school system.

She met Orvin Morstad and married him on November 2nd, 1947, in Lemond, Minnesota at the Pontoppidan Lutheran Church.  Together they farmed and raised a family, consisting of sons Jerry and Alvin, and daughter Corrine.

Bonnie Jean (Bell) Hood was a caring mom, grandma, sister, and friend. She went to sleep in Jesus on August 17, 2022 in Boise, Idaho at the age of 76. 

Bonnie was born in Waseca, Minn. to George and Doris Bell on May 23, 1946. She spent the first 13 years of her life experiencing adventures with her little brother, Danny, and cousins, before mov- ing to Berrien Springs, Mich. She loved family, and this move brought her closer to even more cousins, aunts, and uncles. 

After high school, Bonnie completed an LPN program in Hins- dale, Ill. She was a caregiver at heart and enjoyed her time working in hospitals and other facilities helping others. 

It is with great sadness, we announce the death of our beloved Mom, Nanny, Sister, Aunt and Friend, Mary Jo Powers. Even though our hearts are heavy; there is much to celebrate. For one, mom is dancing with dad, aka Papa/Chuck Powers, in heaven and we ALL gained an angel. 

Mom was affectionately known as Nanny to our children, and MJ to many others...but if you ever called her Mary, you could imagine the nature of her response! She left us an incredible legacy filled with loving hard, living hard, giving generously, and sewing into others as she did with her children, grandchildren, relatives, students, friends and countless others through the 12 Step programs.  

There are three things that drove Nanny daily...her family, her involvement in Al-Anon, and her compassion for others. She passionately attended countless events to support her children, grandchildren, past students, and many social causes that needed her voice. It was shared with us that “when you saw Mary Jo Powers at an event, you knew shit would get done”. That speaks to her tenacity and ability to lead, which has been passed on for generations to come.  

Verona Eileen (Randall) Winegar of Geneva, MN passed away peacefully on August 9, 2022 at Benedictine Living Community in Owatonna surrounded by family. Born on March 27, 1937 at the Owatonna Hospital, she was the youngest of five daughters born to Ralph and Myrtle (Ryan) Randall. Verona enjoyed life to the fullest and loved spending time with her family and friends.

She spent many weekends at her condo in Park Rapids, fishing every inch of Potato Lake during all seasons. In addition to fishing, she loved snowmobiling, time at the casino and playing bingo. It was also guaranteed that, whenever there was a benefit auction, she and her sister Ze were in the front row. Verona was a huge contributor at the Geneva Cancer Auction and was known for donating her fresh baked pies and warm lasagna meals.