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Private memorial services for Donna J. Ferguson will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church in New Richland, MN, with Rev. Scott Williams officiating. Burial will follow at St. Peter Cemetery. The memorial service will be livestreamed to the public beginning around 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2020. To view the livestream, go to www.bonnerupfuneralservice and click on her obituary page.
Donna passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at New Richland Care Center. She was 84 years old.
Donna JoAnne (Hill) Ferguson was born on March 11, 1936 in Eagle Grove, IA to parents James G. and Lucille L. (Lamb) Hill. She graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1954. She began her career teaching Elementary School in Lu Verne, IA, where she would meet her future husband. On July 23, 1960, she was united in marriage to James Robert Ferguson in Blue Earth, MN. The couple moved the family to New Richland in 1967.
Donna worked for E.F. Johnson’s in Waseca for 28 years. When she wasn’t working, Donna never had a problem finding things to do! Whether she was bowling, gardening, canning, doing puzzles, or playing dominos with her best friends, Donna was always having fun. It was hard to catch Donna without a smile on her face. She was fun-loving, kind, and a little bit sassy! Conversation and fellowship were always important to Donna, and you never left her house hungry. She was a mother figure to everybody, inheriting the nickname “Ma Fergy” Donna had an innate ability to listen to anybody that needed an ear.
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Remembering Julie Rae Johnson….
On Friday, May 15, 2020 Julie Rae Johnson, loving mother of Mitchell, passed away at the age of 56.
Julie was born August 22, 1963, in Waseca, MN, to Gale “Pickle” and Sharon (Lysne) Johnson.
Graduating from Ellendale-Geneva High School in 1981, Julie pursued her education and found travel, landing her job with MLT Vacations in the Minneapolis area where she was employed for 16 years.
She later returned to her Southern Minnesota roots with her son Mitchell where she worked for Hope Creamery, before finding her place at ABG/Intellicents.
Julie was an adoring and dedicated mother, proud hockey mom, loving daughter, sister, aunt, neighbor and friend. With a talent for crafting and cooking, Julie made many beautiful crocheted afghans and wool mittens to share with family and friends. She scoured many thrift stores to find the wool sweater to upcycle into those warm mittens. Julie treasured her time learning, cooking, baking and lefse making skills from the best, her mother, Sharon. Her greatest joy and cherished gift, her son Mitchell, was the light of her life. That proud hockey mom loved her son deeply relishing the friendships made between the teammates, parents and follow hockey lovers.
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Gloriann Barbara Rudolph, of Folsom, California, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Feb 6, 2020, at Kaiser Hospital after a valiant battle with pneumonia.
Born in Berlin Township, Steele County, MN, on May 24, 1935, and raised in New Richland, Gloriann was the oldest of two daughters born to Bernice (Reese) and Gordon Johnson. She was baptized at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale and confirmed at LeSueur River Lutheran Church in New Richland.
She reminisced frequently of her happy childhood growing up with her treasured baby sister,
Noreen, doting grandparents, and many, many cousins, aunts, and uncles. However, the premature death in 1949 of her adored father, Gordon, shadowed this and followed Gloriann forever. Family was her core.
After graduating from New Richland High School in 1953, Gloriann and girlfriends moved to Long Beach, CA, to begin her secretarial career. Returning a few years later to work in Minneapolis, she reunited with and married Daryle Rudolph, her childhood sweetheart, on February 19, 1958, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, Iowa. Thus began a 50-year marriage and adventure of family life and travel until Daryle’s passing in 2008. They lived all over the U.S., including Alaska, and Germany, during his military career while raising four children along the way. Gloriann continued her esteemed career throughout all of these relocations, working as an executive secretary to officials including military officers, physician groups, and oil and airline company CEOs. She retired in 1995 after 17 years of service as Executive Assistant to the City Manager of Folsom.
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Marian Christine Utpadel, age 96, of Owatonna, died Saturday, May 23, 2020 at the Homestead Hospice House, Owatonna.
Arrangements are being completed by the Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault.
Marian Christine was born on a farm near Ellendale on August 15, 1923 to James and Anna Johnson. She was the second of eight children.
On June 1, 1943 she was united in marriage to Anton Olson and they farmed for 31 years near Ellendale. Together, they had five children; Duane, Shirley, Alvin, Jeanne and Sonya. Anton died of a heart condition in 1974. In 1979 Marian married George Utpadel and they made their home in Owatonna. Since 1975, Marian did volunteer work at the Owatonna Hospital, Cedar View Care Center and delivery of Meals on Wheels. She was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Owatonna and was active in the Alter Guild and the Quilters. Marian helped with many quilts for church functions and to donate to those in need. Each family member also has a quilt made by Mom, Grandma or Great-Grandma. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as traveling and spending time at her cabin on the lake.
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Mary Jean Kaplan, 90, of Owatonna, died Saturday, May 16, 2020 at Owatonna Hospital.
Mary was born February 2, 1930 in Nevada, Iowa the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Cartin) Kotlaba. She was also baptized in Nevada. They moved to Blooming Prairie in June 1930 where Mary attended school from 1936-48. She received her college education from Winona State University and graduated in 1950 with a degree in elementary education. Mary taught 4th and 5th grades from 1950-52 in Murdock. She worked at Jostens Yearbook Company for two years. Mary met Lawrence Kaplan in 1952 and they married November 10, 1953. They moved to a dairy farm near Blooming Prairie and then to a dairy farm near Ellendale in 1955. Mary and Lawrence had six children before he passed away on March 13, 1970. Mary continued to run her successful farm until 1986, moved to Ellendale for a year and then to Owatonna, where she made her permanent home. She worked at Nelson’s bakery and Prange Way before retiring.
While living in Ellendale, Mary was a member of St. Aiden’s Catholic Church and Altar Society and the Ellendale-Geneva Schools PTA. In Owatonna, she was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and their women’s sewing group. Mary’s interests and hobbies included reading, sewing and traveling. She enjoyed her trips to Alaska, Virginia, Texas, and nine trips overseas to Europe, Israel and the Panama Canal.