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

Thomas (Tom) Albert Engesser left this earthly world to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus  on Saturday morning, April 13, 2019. Tom was born to Margaret (Robinson) and Emmett Engesser in St. Peter, MN on February 9, 1952. Tom arrived in New Richland in 1955 when his parents bought the New Richland Star from C.W. Brown where Tom began his printing career at the young age of 4.

Tom was involved in sports in high school where he played football, basketball, baseball and track. He was a member and active in the youth group at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and was involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was the first Eagle Scout in the New Richland troop.

After graduating from high school Tom attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. Following his years at Gustavus, Tom worked as a printer at Heinrich Envelope Company in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Tom received his Bachelor of Science Degree and worked with special education and at-risk students at St. Croix Camp in Danbury Wisconsin as well as at the Wilson Center in Faribault, MN.  Tom received his Masters in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin River Falls and received his Master of Divinity from Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul. He was ordained into the ministry on September 8, 1991 and went on to serve parishes in Butte, Montana, Heron Lake, Minnesota and Shell Lake, Wisconsin. He also supervised student teachers in Special Education for Minnesota State University, Mankato. Tom was an adventurer, herbalist and loved nature. He passed that love of nature onto his nieces and nephews. He was a true conservationist. He had a love for music and was self taught playing by ear the piano, guitar, banjo, and trombone.

Funeral services for Robert W. Dombroske of New Richland, MN, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, April 8, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. Pastor Paul Andree will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in St Olaf Cemetery, New Richland, MN.

Robert died Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at the New Richland Care Center. He was 87 years of age.

Robert was born February 20, 1932 in Wells, MN, the son of Leo and Thelma Dombroske. He graduated from Wells High School. On January 7, 1951 he married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Brigger. Together they lived in Albert Lea moving to New Richland in 1973. Robert worked as a diesel mechanic in New Richland for many years. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and the Albert Lea Moose Club. Robert enjoyed fishing, camping, playing cards, dancing and all Minnesota sports (especially the Twins). Good times were also spent with his cat, Toby.

Russell Clayton Anderson, age 85, of New Richland, MN, died Thursday, March 21, 2019 at his home. A funeral service will be held Thursday, March 28, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, MN. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Interment will be in the Freeborn Cemetery, and Pastor Paul Andree will officiate. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home of Wells is in charge of arrangements. Please see www.brussheitner.com to leave online condolences.  

Russell was born October 4, 1933 in Byron Twp., Waseca Co., MN, the son of Andrew and Carrie (Noftskar) Anderson. He married Jeanette Fetchenhier and to this union four daughters were born, and the couple later divorced. He married Avis Nelson on January 18, 1969 in Albert Lea, MN.  

Russell was always a farmer at heart and was proud of carrying on the Anderson family legacy that started in 1883. He retired from Streaters after 35 years. He was a loving father to four daughters and grandfather to seven grandchildren. He loved fishing, hunting and playing cards on Monday night. He was a very kind and generous person who always chose to remain anonymous. Russell was a faithful parishioner of Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. He had such a wonderful sense of humor and wit and was happy telling tales of his family’s history and the area in which he lived his whole life. Russell was a loving brother and trusted friend to all who knew him.  He lived his life on his own terms and passed away as he lived.

Robert “Swan” LeRoy Tollefson, age 82, of New Richland, passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning, April 2, 2019, at the New Richland Care Center. 

Funeral Service will be 11 AM on Monday, April 8, at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in Lemond with Rev. Richard Hegal, officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. 

Visitation will be from 4-7 PM on Sunday, April 7, at Starkson & Steffel Funeral & Cremation Service ~ McRaith Chapel of Waseca. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. 

Memorials are preferred to Pontoppidan Lutheran Church or Donor's Choice. 

www.wasecafuneral.com

Robert “Swan” Tollefson was born on July 14, 1936, in Waseca to Delmer and Beryl (Dodge) Tollefson. He was baptized as an infant and later confirmed in his faith in his youth all at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church in Lemond. He grew up in rural Ellendale where he attended country School. Swan was a 1954 graduate from New Richland Public School. Following his education, he began farming alongside his father as the 3rd generation farmer in the Tollefson family. He also worked as a field man for Owatonna Canning Company, drove milk truck for Land O Lakes and drove truck for Shurson Brothers. Swan was a dedicated farmer. He took pride in everything that he did, from growing crops to raising hogs, and milk cows. On October 12, 1957, Swan was united in marriage to Dorothy Schultz at Pontoppidan Lutheran Church. Together they continued to live on the family farm while raising two children. 

Mary Ellen Stenzel, age 70, of New Richland, MN, died Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, MN, surrounded by family. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, March 25, 2019 at 11 a.m. at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells with Fr. Matt Fasnacht officiating. Visitation was Sunday, March 24, 2019 from 2-5 p.m. with a 5 p.m. prayer service at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be in St. Casimir Cemetery, Wells, at a later date.

**The family prefers memorials to Mary’s granddaughter (Lili’s) college education. Please send memorials in care of her grandfather, Richard Stenzel.   Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is assisting the family. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.brussheitner.com.

Mary was born January 17, 1949 in Albert Lea, the daughter of Ernest and Loretta (Dylla) Johnson.  Mary graduated from Alden High school, the class of 1967, where she was also the Valedictorian of her class. She was united in marriage to Richard Stenzel, Sept. 23, 1978 at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Wells, where she was a lifelong member. Mary worked at Nordaas American Homes for several years.