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

The memorial service for Marian Helen Abbott Knudsen will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2018 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester with Rev. Russell Scepaniak and Rev. Thomas Loomis officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Burial will be at a later date in Grandview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Rochester.

Marian was born to Walter and Ester Abbott in Waseca, MN on July 23, 1937 just minutes after her twin sister, Margaret. She was raised in Elysian, MN and graduated from Waterville High School in 1955. After graduation she worked at Federated Mutual Insurance in Owatonna for six years and then in Minneapolis for Johnson, Drake, and Piper Construction for three years.

She married the love of her life, Douglas E. Knudsen, on November 28, 1964 at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Elysian, MN and they have made their home in Rochester, MN. She worked at Dayton's in Rochester for 23 years and retired in 1999. She thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at the Mayo Clinic for 15 years and was an avid helping hand at Safe Haven animal shelter.

Marian enjoyed being with all her family, traveling (especially cruises which she went on with her beloved husband and sometimes friends). She loved having coffee or a lunch with her friends anytime or any day, word find puzzles, and most of all her cats. She was a member of St. Pius Council of Catholic Women and the Dayton's Retiree Group. She was a life-long member of St. Pius X Catholic Church since 1964.

Phyllis Jean Smith/Farnsworth/Handegard, age 83 of Eagle, Idaho, formerly of Austin, Minnesota, died peacefully encircled by the strong women she helped bring into this world and listening to Amazing Grace on Sunday, January 28, 2018.

She is survived by her three children, Jeff (JoAnn) Farnsworth, Cathy (Dave) Larson and Bethany (Tom) Gadzinski; her brother and sister, Randy (Kim) Smith and Delores Gemmel; 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She is now in the arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her mother and father and her two sisters and brother. 

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, February 9, 2018 at Worlein Funeral Home, 1801 4th St. NW, Austin, MN 55912. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2018 at the Worlein Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Tim Smith officiating. Lunch will be provided after the services with a committal service to follow at the Geneva, Minnesota cemetery.  Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.

Samuel Myron Peterson, 72, of Ellendale, died Monday, January 29, 2018 at St. Mary's Hospital. 

He was born December 7, 1945 in Berlin Township the son of Selmer and Myrtle (Smith) Peterson. Sam graduated from Ellendale High School in 1963.  Following school, he served 4 years in the US Navy. On February 1, 1969 Samuel married Sharon Wiese at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie. The couple has lived and farmed in the Ellendale area since their marriage. While farming, Sam also owned and operated the Straight River Inn.  He also worked as an auctioneer with Tracy Holland and enjoyed hosting a spring and fall auction on his farm just outside of Hope.

Sam was a member of First Lutheran Church in Ellendale, the American Legion in New Richland and the Minnesota State Auctioneer's Association. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and family gatherings. Sam’s love of music started at an early age. He shared his musical talents with family and friends as well as performing with the Windzor 5 band. He loved being a part of his grandchildren's lives and attending their activities.

He is survived by his wife Sharon Peterson of Ellendale; daughters, Stephanie Peterson of Geneva, Shannon (and Troy) Pederson of Owatonna; grandchildren, Andre Hill, Avery Hill, Collin Pederson, Casey Pederson; sister, Shirley (and Tyler) Hansen of Rush City; brother, Mike (and Carol) Peterson of Citrus Heights, CA; sisters-in-law, Cheryl Peterson of Ellendale, Marilyn Gordon of Blooming Prairie, Karen Wiese of Blooming Prairie and several nieces and nephews.

Kelli Strom Nov. 1970-Jan. 2018

In Northern Minnesota born and raised, near Lake Superior she spent her early days. Chilling out maxing, relaxing all cool – spinning some flags outside of her school. When a guy in a van, always up to no good, starting cruising around in her neighborhood, she took one little look and hopped right in and that is how her future life begins.

Heaven is a little brighter today. Kelli passed away Sunday morning January 28th in her home., peacefully and serenely after a four-year fight against esophageal cancer. She was a valiant, humble, stubborn, but most obviously a beautiful soul. Everyone that met her liked or loved her immediately.  

She was born in Duluth, the city she loved and yearned to return to as often as she could. She graduated from Richfield High School where she met her future husband. She continued her education at Normandale Community College when said future husband asked for her hand in marriage. Proving she was a little insane she agreed. She wed her high school sweetheart and joined him in Kansas while he finished a hitch in the Army. They returned to Minnesota to be back with family and friends and start their lives together. She blessed him with four daughters who are currently growing up to be best of them both. Aurora, Karenna, Lorelei, and Josie.

Funeral services for Lucille F. Kampen will be held at 11 a.m.on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at the St. Peter Lutheran Church, New Richland. The Reverend Scott Williams will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will take place in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Lucille passed away on Monday, January 29, 2018 at the New Richland Care Center. She was 90 years old.

Lucille Fern (Baker) Kampen was born on February 2, 1927 to William and Cora (Hatch) Baker in Byron Township in Waseca County. She would graduate from New Richland High School. On May 4, 1949, she was united in marriage to George E. Kampen at Trinity Lutheran Church, New Richland. The couple was blessed with one son, Paul.  

The family would move to Waseca, where Lucille would work for E.F. Johnson’s for a number of years. She held numerous other jobs as well; baking for Erickson’s bakery being a favorite. The family would move back to New Richland in 2000. Lucille loved being at home. She would spend all of her free time crocheting numerous things, making doilies, and sewing – as you can tell she was a very talented seamstress. Lucille was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, and was also a member of the Eagles Auxiliary in Waseca.