Obituaries

John Howard Geiwitz was born on May 11, 1926 to John Gustav and Minnie Elizabeth (Brattland) Geiwitz and died of complications from bone cancer on Wednesday, March 19, at the Prairie Home Hospice House in Marshall with Freida, his loving wife of almost sixty years, by his side. He was 81. With the exception of two years during World War...

Bertha Arlene (Lamb) Hodges was born on May 4, 1944, in Clark, SD, to Lyle and Bertha Warkenthien. She grew up in Willow Lake, SD, and graduated from Willow Lake High School. Arlene began college at South Dakota State University and later graduated from there in 1996. On February 8, 1964, she was united in marriage to David Hodges at...

MARSHALL – June Marie (Lanoue) Sovell, 92, died peacefully at the home of her son in Stillwater on Thursday. She calmly passed surrounded by all of her children. June had suffered a stroke the previous Saturday. Services for June will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Marshall....

Drake Philip Bigler was born on February 11, 2012, in Marshall, MN, to Brad and Heather (Smith) Bigler. His birth was one of great excitement, arriving two weeks early. He was healthy, beautiful, and full of energy with a signature smile that could light up a room. Drake loved to laugh and play with his siblings, Taleigha and Nash. He...

Roy John Enquist was born October 1, 1938, to Roy and Lena Enquist in Fosston, Minnesota. He grew up in western Minnesota, and graduated from Graceville High in 1956. He married Mary Kathryn Gilbert in 1960 and graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1963. Roy served in the Army Dental Corps at Fort Polk, Louisiana, before...

Irene Katherine (Lanners) Swedzinski was born December 10, 1922, in Omro Township near St. Leo to John and Catherine (Nosbusch) Lanners. Irene attended St. Leo Catholic School and Canby High School for four years graduating in 1941. Irene was employed at St. Leo Bank and Marquette National Bank in Minneapolis until her marriage. She was united in marriage to Raymond...

Orville John (O.J.) Wigness was born September 19, 1921 in Minneota, MN to John and Emma (Hanson) Wigness. Orville grew up and went to school in Minneota. During the World War II years, Orville worked in the San Diego air and ship yards. He married Joyce Hanson on September 23, 1951 in Minneota, MN. They moved to their farm in...

William Edward Giese was born on April 4, 1947, in Luverne, MN, to Melvin and Maxine (Smith) Giese. Bill’s family lived in Hardwick and Jasper, MN, before moving to Redwood Falls where Bill graduated from high school. Bill was a fun loving person who loved to hunt, fish, play cards and spend time with family and friends. He had worked...

Donald Elroy Kompelien was born November 24, 1928 to John and Esther (Larson) Kompelien on the farm north of Minneota. He graduated from the Minneota High School in 1946. He farmed with his Dad until he was drafted into the army during the Korean War. He served in Berlin, Germany as a Military Policeman where he met his future wife,...

Julaine Stienessen was born February 7, 1953 in Marshall, MN to Elmo and Emily (Verschelde) Richards. She attended grade school in Minneota and graduated high school from Minneota High School. Shortly after high school, on April 28, 1973 she married her true companion, Leonard Stienessen at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Minneota, MN and together they raised their son, David....

Jesse Joseph Javens was born on October 6, 1994, in Marshall, to Marty and Rita (DesLauriers) Javens. He was Baptized on December 23, 1994, at the Presbyterian Church in Milroy and Confirmed on November 19, 2006, at Christ Lutheran Church in Cottonwood. Jesse attended Lakeview Public School and was in the seventh grade when he, his brother, Hunter, and two...

Al was born on April 29, 1922, in Eidsvold Township to Cyriel and Juliana (Vanasta) Viaene. He farmed with his father near Taunton. In 1939, at age 16, Al moved with his family to a farm South of Cottonwood. In 1944, he married Delores “Stevie” Stevens at St. Clotilde Catholic Church in a double wedding ceremony with his sister Margaret...

That best portion of a good person’s life are their little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love… Blanche Veronica Kovash was born on January 22nd, 1928 in Dickinson, ND. She was the daughter of Anton and Katherine Privratsky. Blanche had 4 sisters and 5 brothers: Emma, Wenzel, Eddie, George, Charlie, (Blanche), Patricia, Margaret, Bob, and Fran. Blanche married...

Florence was born September 1, 1919 to August and Irene (Dobbelaere) Buysse. She attended St. Eloi Catholic School until her sophomore year when she became the housekeeper for her father and brothers for nine years. On November 13, 1943 she was united in marriage to Jules Van Keulen at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent. They lived on the Van...

Beatrice (nee Bot) Van Nevel was born on July 28, 1918, in Ghent to Henry and Gertrude (Peters) Bot. She lived in Ghent and later Lynd. On June 23, 1941, she was united in marriage to Edward Van Nevel at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent. Bea loved to sew, grow flowers, work on crafts and care for her family....

Donna Mae Roles was born on October 18, 1954 in Canby, to Gilbert and Ardis (Overson) Johnson. After graduating from Springfield High School, Donna was a cook at Darlene’s Café and also at the Silver Dollar Bar in Ghent. For many years, she was dedicated to serving the best food in town, also known for her famous shrimp salad. She...