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

Roger Lee Dulas, age 88, passed away on Saturday, June 29, 2019, at his home in rural Ellendale, MN.

He was born on November 19, 1930, in Wells, Minnesota. His parents were Julius and Hedwig (Goraczkowski) Dulas. Roger attended country school in rural Wells until the 8th grade. After school, he worked on the family farm with his father.

He was united in marriage to Nadeane F. Burnett on November 24, 1951, at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells, MN. This union blessed him with three children. They moved to Ellendale from Wells in 1960 where he was involved with his love of farming to the end. Roger was a dairy farmer and crop farmer along with his wife and daughter, Julie.

He enjoyed dancing and listening to old time music, watching polka shows and sports on TV and enjoyed many family pets through the years. He especially enjoyed time that he spent with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends.  Roger will be deeply missed.

Roger is survived by his children, Dale (Vivian) Dulas of Morristown, Marie (Wayne) Dobberstein and Julie Dulas of Ellendale; grandchildren, Tracy (Robert) Davis of Mankato, Mark (Tira) Dobberstein of North Mankato, Dawn (Ted Tiller) Dulas of Peoria, Illinois, and Brent (Jessica) Dobberstein of Ellendale; great-grandchildren, Gretchen Davis and Derek Dobberstein; step-great-grandchildren, Jasmine and Trae Hancock of North Mankato; sister, Mildred Sette-Dulas of Rochester and many nieces and nephews.

Viola “Vi” Gunsolus, age 85, of Pemberton, passed away unexpectantly and peacefully with her children by her side on June 28, 2019, at Mayo Clinic Heath System in Mankato. 

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, at Medo Lutheran Church in rural Pemberton. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, July 1, at Starkson & Steffel Funeral Home-Arnoldt Chapel of Janesville. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. 

Viola Elizabeth was born on March 29th, 1934, in rural Pemberton to Clarence and Louise (Sodeman) Bjornson. She attended Pemberton High school and graduated with the class of 1952. Following her education, she worked in Minneapolis for a short time until being united in marriage to Neal Gunsolus on January 23, 1954. Together they made their home in rural Pemberton where they built a home and raised two children. Together they shared 37 years of marriage before Neal passed away in January of 1987. Vi worked various jobs, including: EF Johnson Company in Waseca, Gull Engineering in Minneapolis and Itron in Waseca. 

Mary Rose (Wenzel) Dinneen 83, passed away on June 18, 2019, at home.

Born to Pearl and Frank Wenzel on April 9, 1936, in New Richland, MN. Preceded in death by son Kevin; siblings Phyllis, David and Elaine. Survived by husband Dick Youngblood of St. Paul; son Sean Dinneen; daughters Shari (Dave) Fink and Molly Dinneen; grandchildren Kaitlin Fink, Kevin (Abby) Fink, Megan Fink; and great-granddaughter Lucy. Mary is also survived by her beloved brother Frank Wenzel; many nieces and nephews; step children Kent (Maggie) Youngblood, Ruth (Ron) Mandsager, Beth (Jeff) Kolanski; and former husband Keith Dinneen.

Mary was Valedictorian of her high school class and received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the College of St. Thomas. She loved finding just the right gift for her family and friends, gardening, reading, watching HGTV and collecting flow blue. She taught us to find beauty and joy each day, no matter how small. We are planning a remembrance for family and friends to be held later. A special thank you to her neighbors for building a small town on their Linwood Ave. block. Keep dancing, AnnaSophia.

Remembering the life of Russell “Russ” E. Reistad…

A Celebration of life of Russ Reistad, will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26 at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale. The Reverend Richard L. Sliper will officiate. Interment will be in First Lutheran Cemetery, Ellendale.  Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Ellendale, and one hour before the service at the church.

After a very brief battle with a very rare disease, Jesus came to escort Russ into his heavenly home on June 23, 2019. He was 76.

Russell E. Reistad was born on November 10, 1942, at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, MN, the son of Maynard and Esther (Brecke) Reistad.  He graduated with the Ellendale High School Class of 1961.

He was united in marriage to Lorna Pederson on October 24, 1964 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, MN.

Russ farmed with his dad on a farm east of Ellendale.  In 1991, together, Russ and Lorna opened Flowers and More by Lorna in Ellendale. He had also worked at the New Richland Care Center as maintenance director, worked in retail at D&D in Blooming Prairie, and enjoyed his years of driving the school van for those with special needs.

Loren V. Peterson, 88, died Sunday June 16, 2019, in Sun City, Ariz., after a long illness.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Lee Peterson (Raven); his daughters Karen Martinson (Bob) of Albuquerque, N.M.; Krissi Smith of Scottsdale, Ariz.; his four granddaughters, Jennifer Anderson (Tom) of Bismarck, N.D.; Dr. Lauren Martinson, DVM (Randy) of Santa Fe, N.M.; Lesley Caldwell (Kurtis) of Arlington, Va., Skylar Smith, Scottsdale, Ariz.; and great-granddaughter Persephone Anderson. He is survived by his sister, Lorene Kampf (Karl) of Blue Earth, Minn., along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Susan McDonough, nephew Jason McDonough and grandniece Zoey McDonough.

Loren was born in New Richland, Minn., to Lloyd and Mabel Peterson, and graduated from New Richland High School.

Loren joined the Navy in 1950 and was a veteran of the Korean War, proudly serving aboard the USS Valley Forge and the USS Boxer.

He was a member of American Legion Post 75 in New Richland and later transferred his membership to American Legion Post 56 in Albert Lea, Minn.