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

Francis “Pat” Chicos, age 85, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 28, 2018 at St. John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea. Pat was born on April 23, 1933 to Thomas and Monika (Giese) Chicos. He graduated from Freeborn High School in 1950. After high school, he worked on the family farm outside of Freeborn until 1957 when he joined the Military Police for the Army and was stationed at Fort Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana.

While at Fort Harrison, he met and fell in love with Mary Eileen Carr. He and Eileen married on August 16, 1958 in a double wedding with Eileen’s twin sister Kathleen Carr and Thomas Hanley.

After serving in the Army, Pat and Eileen returned to Minnesota in 1959 to take over running the family farm. Pat was a lifetime member of All Saints Catholic Church in New Richland. He served the church as a lector and eucharistic minister in addition to helping with numerous church events and running the Bishop’s Lay Committee for many years.

Ethel Ione (Miller) Reistad, age 101 of Morristown was called to be with her Savior on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at the New Richland Care Center.

Ethel was born in Bath Township on June 1, 1917 to Edward O. and Ida T. (Johnson) Miller.  She was baptized in the Christian faith on July 8, 1917 at the Norwegian Lutheran Church in New Richland and confirmed in the faith on November 15, 1931 at North Freeborn Lutheran Church in Clarks Grove.  She graduated from Ellendale High School in May 1935.  Ethel was married to Vernon Roy Reistad on June 24, 1941 at First Lutheran Church in Ellendale.  They farmed near Morristown before retiring to Waseca in 1990.  Ethel spent her final years in the good care of the New Richland Care Center.  In addition to farming, Ethel worked first as a telephone operator for the Cannon Valley Telephone Company and then as a cook for 16 years at Morristown Public Schools.  She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Morristown where she was active in the Ladies’ Aid and served as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher.  She also sewed quilts for several years with the Red Cross Sewing Club.

Family and friends of David A. Bartness of Albert Lea will gather Friday, September 28, 2018 beginning at 4:00 p.m. with a service at 5:30 p.m. at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home.  Rev. Shawn Stafford will officiate. Military Honors will be accorded by local veterans’ organizations. Interment will be at Hartland Cemetery. 

David died Saturday, September 22, 2018 at his home surrounded by his family.

David Arvil Bartness was born on May 15, 1962 in Albert Lea, the son of Arvil and Beverly (Christensen) Bartness.  He grew up in Hartland, attending school in Freeborn and Albert Lea.  David was proud of his short time that he served in the U.S. Navy.  He worked as a foreman at Streaters until his medical condition forced him to retire after 30 plus years.  David was a member of the NRA and Carpenters Local 766.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

Funeral Services for Jerry Lee Neitzell, of Ellendale, will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 6 at the United Methodist Church in Ellendale.  Visitation will be from 4-7 on Friday at the United Methodist Church and also one hour before services on Saturday. Interment will be in Geneva Cemetery.  Military Honors will be accorded by the Ellendale Veteran’s Organization. Bonnerup Funeral Service, Ellendale, is assisting the family. Jerry died on Sunday, September 30 at Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.  He was 78.

Jerry Lee Neitzell was born on October 31, 1939 in Maple Island, Minnesota, the son of Olive Ethel (Smith) Neitzell and James “Jay” Phillip Neitzell.  His childhood was spent roaming the woods in the Maple Island area, attending the Congregational Church in Hollandale, and flying many combat missions with his sister Beverly in their fighter plane made of peach crates nailed to an old stump.  He attended elementary school in Hollandale and high school in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Benjamin Douglas Lutgens was born in Waseca on August 20, 1972. His parents were Nancy Olson Lutgens and Douglas Lester Lutgens. He attended Waseca schools and later graduated from Janesville High School. He then entered the U.S. Army. During this time he met and married Kristin Lauber in Canton, NY. They were later divorced. They had one son, Connor Lauber. After a nine-year career in the army, he returned to Minnesota where he worked for various companies as an IT systems engineer. It was at this time he met the love of his life Chris Stulc Grant. He always said the years with her and her children, Josie, 12, and Logan, 19, were the happiest of his life. He loved his family, friends and hot rods. He had a wicked sense of humor.