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

 Funeral services for Thomas Wayne Wasmoen, age 74, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at Concordia Lutheran Church of Pickerel Lake. Rev. Peter Soli of Concordia Lutheran and Rev. Don Malinsky, Chaplain of St. John’s Lutheran Community will officiate. Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com. 

Tom died Thursday, November 2, 2017 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease at Cottagewood Senior Community in Rochester.

Thomas Wayne Wasmoen was born March 22, 1943 at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, the son of George and Nylene (Hanson) Wasmoen. He grew up in Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High School.

On December 8, 1962, he married Paulette Schwemmler. They lived in Albert Lea for a short time before moving to their farm in rural Albert Lea where he farmed until his retirement. He also worked at Streaters for a short time.

Tom was a member of Concordia Lutheran Church of Pickerel Lake. He served on the Church Board, Conger Creamery Board, and served for the Freeborn County Dairy Association. He was an avid Twins, Vikings, and Gophers fan.He was a member of the Southern Minnesota Parkinson’s Support Group. Tom loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and watching them in their activities and sports. He enjoyed bowling in Kiester, snowmobiling, fishing, playing blackjack, loved traveling and spending time at his cabin near Detroit Lakes. Tom was proud to be an instigator of Landmark for the former Albert Lea High School by the class of ’61.

Betty Mae Berg, formerly of New Richland, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 15, 2017 at Whispering Oak in Ellendale. She was 93 years old.

Betty was born on October 5, 1924 to parents George and Ella (Christenson) Anderson in Winona, Minnesota. She was raised in New Richland and graduated from New Richland High School. After graduation, Betty moved to Washington D.C. for three years to work as a file clerk with the FBI.

On October 28, 1945 she married Oscar “Buddy” Berg and they made their home in New Richland. She was an active member at LeSueur River Lutheran Church.

Betty was a homemaker for many years before employment at E.F. Johnson and Brown Printing in Waseca. She retired and became a travel guide for Waseca County Tours. She had a love for traveling and visited many parts of Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, and the U.S. Her other hobbies included shopping, reading, and spending time with her family. Betty also belonged to the Legion Auxiliary.

Funeral services for Dorothea J. Neumann will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, October 27, 2017 at St Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Richland, MN. Reverend Scott Williams officiating. Interment will be in St Peter’s Cemetery, New Richland.

Dorothea Jane Neumann was born in Wells, Minnesota to Elmer and Helen (Malakowsky) Schroeder on October 10, 1926.  She attended Owatonna Public Schools until she was 12 and also a country school in Wells for a while, then returning to Owatonna School.  She spent time in her younger years playing along in her father's concertina band where she discovered her natural love and talent for music. She enjoyed spending time in Wells at Oma's and in New Richland at her uncle Andy Mucha's farm where she helped out. Here she met the love of her life- Raymond, who also helped out at their farm. They were married on June 25, 1944 at St John's Lutheran Church in Owatonna. Raymond and Dorothea lived a short time with Raymond's parents before moving to "Cherry Hill Farm" near New Richland. Soon thereafter they moved to their permanent residence across from Raymond's parents where she resided the remainder of her life. Dorothea was employed several places - the Hemp Plant, the Knitting Mill, Bird’s Eye, and lastly Brown Printing - retiring after 30 years of service. Dorothea's passion being music, she was also employed as organist at St Peter's Lutheran Church in New Richland for around 65 years, although that was for her enjoyment and labor for the Lord and she never considered a minute of it as work. She also played for many weddings and funerals, which she always considered an honor and a blessing. She taught Sunday School for 20 years and played piano for Sunday School.

Herman William Miller, 88, of rural Waldorf, Minnesota, was called home by his Savior Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at the Mapleton Community Home after a short battle with cancer. A funeral service with military honors by the Waldorf American Legion Post #587 to celebrate a life well lived will be held Monday, October 30, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf, MN, where he has been a faithful member for over 64 years; Pastor Michael Mathews officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, October 29 from 4-7 p.m. at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells, MN, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Burial will be at the First Lutheran Cemetery in Waldorf. Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Wells is assisting the family. The family prefers memorials to First Lutheran Church in Waldorf. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.brussheitner.com.

Herman William Miller was the fourth of five children born July 16, 1929, to Wilhelm and Emma (Bareiss) Miller in rural Good Thunder. He was baptized on August 11, 1929, and confirmed in the Christian faith on April 2, 1945, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Good Thunder. He attended school in rural Good Thunder and served his country as a Corporal in the Korean War from April 10, 1951, until his honorable discharge on January 10, 1953.

Ed F. Gaul, lifelong resident of Owatonna, died Thursday, October 19, 2017 at his home. A memorial service was held Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna with Rev. Amanda Weinkauf presiding. Burial followed at Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends greeted the family from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church. 

Ed was born April 13, 1932 in Berlin Township the son of Walter and Grace (Panzer) Gaul. He attended country school in Berlin Township. Ed was united in marriage to Donna Newgard in 1955 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Ed worked in lumber retail all of his life which includes 35 years of service at Alexander Lumber Company. In retirement, Ed enjoyed working in his shop and tinkering around the house. Ed enjoyed most of all spending time with the grandchildren, annual fishing trips, collecting toy tractors and taking trips with his wife, and hosting people at their cabin.