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Created: 05 July 2018

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Phillip Raymond Evenson, 82, of Owatonna, died Thursday, June 28, 2018 at his residence.

He was born October 26, 1935 in Berlin Township, Steele County, Minnesota the son of Raymond and Gladys (Thompson) Evenson. He was baptized into the Lutheran Faith at LeSueur River Lutheran Church in New Richland and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Hope.  Phillip attended grade school in Berlin and Hope and graduated from Owatonna High School in 1953.  He enlisted in the National Guard in 1957, and then attended Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1960.  In 1961, he transferred to the Army Reserves from which he retired as a Major in 1979.

On June 22, 1957, Phillip married Carroll King.  He worked at Jostens in Owatonna and Attleboro, Massachusetts as a production worker, engineer and supervisor.  He semi-retired in 1990, and then worked at Tandem Products, Inc. in Blooming Prairie for 18 months, Gandy Company in Owatonna for three years and completely retired in 1997.

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Created: 21 June 2018

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Ruth Ione Jensen, 79, of Owatonna, died Saturday, June 16, 2018 at Pleasant Manor in Faribault. Ruth was born Feb 17, 1939 in New Richland, Minnesota to Kenneth and Agnes (Wakefield) McColley. Ruth Graduated from New Richland High School in 1957.  She had her first job at Ole's Cafe starting at age 15, making 35 cents an hour starting wage. She worked there until graduation. Ruth helped teach Bible school also during this time. Ruth then attended Mankato Business College, where she graduated with a degree in Accounting. She came to Owatonna, for a job at OTC, and where she was set up on a blind date, meeting the love of her life, David Jensen. They were married Oct. 10 1959, in New Richland. They would have been married 60 years this October. From this union 4 children were born, three survived, Craig, Cyndy, Darrell.

Ruth also worked in the hospitality fields, working side by side with Dad at his first restaurant, then went on to work at the Owatonna Hotel, Spurgeons, JC Penney's in Owatonna. From there, Ruth went with Dad and helped with the Country Clubs, in Owatonna, Le Sueur, Mesa, Arizona, and Faribault. They bought their second business, The Birchwood Inn, in Aitkin, MN. In 1979, the family moved back to Owatonna to run, and later own, Jerry's Supper Club, selling it in 2000. Ruth also worked at Norwest, Wells Fargo Bank until her retirement in 2002.

Mom was an avid reader, loved to crochet and knit, enjoyed baking and gardening, loved family gatherings, and spent as much time with all her Grandchildren as she could. She never turned down babysitting! She always tried anything at least once!

Ruth was diagnosed with having Alzheimer’s in late 2002. Craig, David and Cyndy started The Owatonna in support of Alzheimer’s.  Ruth’s infant daughter will also be interred with her at the Danish Cemetery.

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Created: 21 June 2018

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Funeral services for Russell Ditlevson, age 96 of Ellendale, MN, were held on Friday June 8, 2018 at  2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Clarks Grove.  Pastor Jamie Cameron officiated.  Burial was at the Clarks Grove Cemetery. Visitation was one hour prior to the services at the church.  

Russell died on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at his home surrounded by his caregivers, Cindy Miller, Yvette Guerra, Karen Callahan and Elizabeth Latham

Russell Ditlevson was born on Feb. 7, 1922 in Bath township the son of Chris and Nora (Peterson) Ditlevson.  He attended District 64 school and Ellendale High School.  Russell was a lifelong resident of Freeborn county where he was a dairy and ag farmer all of his life.  His real passion was his family, his cats and his farm.  Russell enjoyed photography, bird watching and his church.  He was a member at the First Baptist Church for many years where he was an usher and served on the finance committee.

Russell is survived by his niece, Jean Uldrych, nephews; Ronald (Cynthia) Mach and their children, Taylor (Mandy) and Brennan, Richard (Deborah) Mach and their children, Philip (Kelly), Esther and David and Roger (Wassana) Mach and their children Jay, Joy and Lut.

He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Harvey, Alice, Thorvald, Walter, Laura and Marian Mach.

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Created: 17 June 2018

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Douglas Eugene Knudsen, 84, of Rochester, passed away on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Doug was born to Ege and Mary Ellen (Kiley) Knudsen in Blooming Prairie, MN on August 14, 1933.  He was raised in Geneva, MN and graduated from Ellendale High School in 1951. He graduated from Mankato State University in 1957. He worked at IBM Rochester for 32 years, retired in 1992 and has resided in Rochester since 1960.

He married the love of his life, Marian Abbott Knudsen on November 28, 1964 at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Elysian, MN and together they made Rochester their home.

He enjoyed his family, traveling to warm climates (especially cruises which he shared with his beloved wife), and working on his computer while later in life at the age of 80 he moved on to an iPad. He gave much of his time to St. Pius Catholic Church working bingo, donut Sunday, and preparing donations for the Haiti Mission. He would spend hours looking through his road atlas planning the next adventure he and Marian could go on, looking for the most interesting route to get there.

Doug is survived by his children, Robert Knudsen (Van) of San Fransisco, Charles Knudsen (Jerilyn) of Chatfield, and Jane Borgen (Mark) of Rochester; his grandchildren, Emilee Knudsen and Kayden Borgen; along with many nieces and nephews.