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

Harold Lee Jensen, of Ellendale, passed away surrounded by family at the Owatonna Hospital on May 12, 2021. He was 88 years old.

Memorial service for Harold will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at Bonnerup Funeral Service – Albert Lea. Pastor Jamie Cameron will officiate. Family and friends may come to the funeral home one-hour prior for a visitation. Interment will take place at 2 p.m. that afternoon at the First Lutheran Cemetery in Ellendale.

Harold was born on the farm on August 4, 1932 to Oskar and Ellen (Olsen) Jensen. He spent his life in the Ellendale and Geneva area. Harold was baptized, confirmed and a member of the First Baptist Church of Clarks Grove. On August 16, 1952 Harold married Janice Muri, together the couple would raise 4 children.

Harold had many hobbies over his life.  He enjoyed horseback riding, being a member of the saddle club, snowmobiling, and playing cards.  After retiring Harold enjoyed gardening and canning, riding around town in his golf cart or sitting on his patio chatting with neighbors. 

He was a stoic man with a rough and tough exterior that covered a generous heart. He was the kind of man who would give the shirt off of his back and was a devoted and proud grandpa and great-grandpa. Harold was always keeping himself busy, even after retirement; he spent 2 years cleaning out the back woods. A highlight for Harold was seeing his grandkids and great grandkids. 

He will be missed.

Daniel Leo Donovan was born to Veronica (Adams) and Cyril C Donovan [both of Waseca County] 3 Sept 1933 in Minneapolis, MN, and died on 29 April 2021 in West Palm Beach, FL, from injuries sustained when hit by a truck on 22 April while crossing a street in his electric wheelchair. 

Dan had strong roots in Waseca County, spending some childhood summers in New Richland with his grandparents, Dan and Margaret (Haas) Adams.

He attended Minneapolis Central High School, graduating in 1951. While in high school, Dan helped found and organize CONTACT, a vibrant citywide Catholic Youth Movement organized through the schools under leadership of Father Joseph Baglio. Dan served as first CONTACT chairman for Central, working with Beverly Sievers, core organizer of the CYC, a friend of Dan’s until his death. 

Dan served 6 years in the U.S. Navy, then worked in the travel industry running his own travel agency. He oversaw the care of his parents as they aged. After their deaths, he sold their home and moved to West Palm Beach where he worked as a chemical dependency counselor until retirement.

Syvert A. Berg, age 70, of New Richland, MN, died peacefully, Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at his home in New Richland.  The public is invited to the Waseca American Legion Post 228 on Saturday, May 15, 2021 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the back hall to greet his family and to celebrate his life. Burial will be in LeSueur River Lutheran Cemetery at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, 2021, with Pastor Dan Kordahl officiating. Full Military honors will be accorded by the New Richland American Legion Post 75 and the Waseca County Veteran’s Group. Please bring a lawn chair for the service at the cemetery on Sunday. Please see brussheitner.com to leave an online condolence.  Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. 

Syvert Andrew Berg was born February 18, 1951, in Minneapolis, MN to Sig Haugo and Shirley Rea. He spent six months in an orphanage in Minneapolis before he was adopted by Sylvan and Lillian (Ausen) Berg. He was raised in a storybook setting on a dairy farm east of New Richland, MN. He graduated from New Richland High School, the class of 1970.  He joined the Coast Guard in 1972, and was a Finance and Supply Operations Specialist, retiring from the Military in 1995. His service detail took him all over the United States and abroad, from Sault Ste. Marie, MI, Key West, FL, to Estartit, Spain; New Orleans, LA, to Valdez, AK, finishing his service in California, he returned to Minnesota. He started driving semi, owning and operating his own transportation business, retiring from trucking in 2018.  He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, friends and family. Syvert possessed a phenomenal memory and was an exceptional story teller. He enjoyed tractors, driving down country roads as well as looking at them at the fair.  He was a member of LeSueur River Lutheran Church.

Wayne Melton Eckart, 84, died peacefully in his sleep at his home near Mapleton, MN April 27, 2021. Wayne was born January 12, 1937 to Leo G Eckart and Meletha (Schendel) Eckart on the family farm near New Richland, MN. Shortly after Meletha’s death in 1947, Leo moved the family into town and built a home, eventually marrying Evelyn Kauffman of St. Paul. During Wayne’s youth, the family embarked on numerous business endeavors which included renting out their farm, operating the local movie theater, and running the local “ready mix” plant - which eventually evolved into the Eckart Concrete Company. Wayne served the citizens of New Richland and the surrounding area for over 50 years, constructing Superior grain bins, steel buildings, and doing concrete work of all shapes and sizes, much of which can still be viewed and walked upon today. He attended New Richland High School where he played basketball, football, and trumpet, graduating in 1955. He then attended Mankato State Teachers College while also working for the family concrete business. On Nov. 22, 1958 he married Shirley Ann Prescher of Mapleton, MN. In 1960 he entered the United States Army, serving in W. Germany. It was there that his son Scott was born. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1963, he returned to Mankato State and completed his B.S. degree in Science. He first taught high school in Welcome, MN while residing in Fairmont, where his daughter Melissa was born. In 1970 he returned to college and completed a one-year Master of Science program at the University of North Dakota.

This is a story of Corrine Jean (Prestegard) Miller. Corrine was a wonderful woman that will be missed and will always be cherished. She was a wonderful and loving wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma and great-great-grandma and a baker of pies like no other could. Corrine died peacefully on Sunday morning, April 25, 2021 at Abbott Hospital, Mpls, MN 

Corrine was born in Owatonna, MN on September 20, 1934, the middle child to Evelyn and Julian Prestegard.  She graduated from Owatonna High School in 1952. Because of her love of dancing, she went to the Monterey Ballroom in Owatonna and met a handsome sailor on leave. Corrine married Robert F. Miller on August 28, 1954 in Owatonna. Shortly after that they moved to New Richland, MN where they were blessed with five children. They raised them on a fun-loving farm which became the favorite gathering location for family get togethers. Nobody ever went hungry because she was a marvelous cook, especially being noted as the “Dessert Queen.”  the early ‘80s they moved off the farm to Waseca, MN. After the passing of Robert in 2003, she relocated back to her roots in Owatonna, MN.  

Corrine worked at the New Richland Co-Op, E.F. Johnson’s, and her last role was at the Waseca County Courthouse as the County Zoning Administrator. She later worked part-time at Diamond Jo’s where she enjoyed meeting more new people.

Corrine’s love and zest in life was baking, dancing, socializing with others and most of all spending special time with her family.