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

Crumb, Robin John, age 79, of Cottage Grove, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 in his home surrounded by family.

He will be dearly missed and remembered as husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Barbara; children, Christopher (Nicole), Jennifer (Kevin), Jeremy, and Nathanial (Tracy); 10 grandchildren, Alexa, Zack, Curtis, Alyssa, Ryan, Mason, Dylan, Emma, Max, and Macie; and brother, Bradley.

Memorial Mass 11 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, October 14, 2019 at the Church of St. Rita, 8694 80th St. S., Cottage Grove, MN, 55016. Burial will follow at Newport Cemetery.

Arrangements are with Kok Funeral Home — www.kokfuneralhome.com 651-459-2483.

Elaine Joy Hanson, 92, a long-time resident of Owatonna, died Monday, September 23, 2019 at Columbine West Health and Rehab Facility in Colorado.

Elaine was born May 20, 1927 in Chamberlain, South Dakota, the daughter of Clarence and Anna Havlik. She graduated from Ellendale High School in 1945.  She married Kenneth Hanson on May 20, 1945 at Zion Lutheran Church. The couple farmed near Ellendale for 22 years before moving to Owatonna in 1964. 

Elaine worked at Josten’s and later retired from Wenger Corporation. She was the epitome of what an executive secretary exemplified to Wenger Corporation executives.

Elaine and Ken built four different houses in Owatonna.  Elaine loved decorating as was apparent by the beautiful interior finishes in each of her homes.   She felt that Owatonna was the greatest place to live.

She loved all her friends in Owatonna and the surrounding towns and enjoyed all the fun activities involved in those friendships. Elaine and Ken thoroughly enjoyed their social relationships with other couples in the community and at their church. She is most remembered for her beautiful smile, sparkling blue eyes and great personality.

Funeral Services for Phyllis I. Toft will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 2, at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea. The Reverend Todd Walsh will officiate. Interment will be in First Lutheran Cemetery, Ellendale. Visitation will be one hour before services at the funeral home.

Phyllis Irene Toft passed away on September 28th at Thorne Crest Senior Living in Albert Lea, MN. She was born on Mother’s Day, May 12th, 1929, the daughter of Irvin and Cora (Gunderson) Toft.

She was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale, MN. Phyllis graduated from Ellendale High School in 1947, as Valedictorian, received her BA in Business Education from Mankato Teacher College, Mankato, MN, and Masters Degree in Counseling and Guidance from Fresno State in CA. She taught in MN (Blue Earth, Waterville, and Bemidji), LaJunta, CO, and the last 31 years at Taft, CA, with classes in Hawaii and a sabbatical in Copenhagen, Denmark, retiring from teaching in 1987.  After retiring she taught GED at the Community Correctional Facility near Taft, returning to live in Minnesota near family in July of 2015.

Clark Wilford Nelson, age 85 of Austin, passed away peacefully Sunday Morning, September 29, 2019 at Good Samaritan Society in Albert Lea, MN. Clark was born on August 5, 1934 in Geneva, MN to Wilford and Verna (Jensen) Nelson. He grew up in Geneva and attended Ellendale schools. On May 6, 1955, Clark was united in marriage to Dawn Sauke at the Geneva Community Lutheran Church. Together they raised two children. He worked for Hodgkiss Drainage, was a ditch digger and worked at the Geneva Elevator. He then was a supervisor for Ulland Brothers Inc. from 1957 to 1986 performing heavy highway construction until he became disabled. Clark enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, fishing, camping and never missed an opportunity to tell jokes. His sense of humor will be missed by all who loved and knew him.

Survivors include his wife, Unita Dawn Nelson of Austin, son Wade A. (Carolyn) Nelson of Austin, MN and his daughter, Wendy L. Burch of Austin, MN., and a granddaughter, Angela M. Burch and many other wonderful relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; Wilford and Verna Nelson; sister, Janet Johannsen, nieces; Maeta White and Tammy Johannsen; father and mother-in-law, Herman and Grace Sauke; brother-in-law, Donald Hope; and sister-in- law, Cheryl Sauke.

Remembering Margaret L. Loven….

Funeral services for Margaret L. Loven, of Owatonna, formerly of Ellendale, will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, September 23  at the First Lutheran Church in Elllendale. The Reverend Richard L. Sliper will officiate. Interment will be in First Lutheran Cemetery, Ellendale. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Bonnerup Funeral Service is assisting the family.

We lost our beautiful, hilarious, strong, wonderful, matriarch on Friday morning, September 20, at the Koda Living Center in Owatonna. She was 94.

She was born on November 23, 1924, in Steele County the daughter of Irwin and Minnie (Miller) Muri.

Margaret graduated from Ellendale High School. She was united in marriage to Lloyd J. Loven, during the time he was serving our country in the US Army. They were married on January 7, 1944, in Minneapolis, MN. After the war they made their home and raised their family in Ellendale.

Margaret had worked for JC Penney in Owatonna and Lerberg’s Store in Ellendale.