Obituaries

Jane Alice Wellington, age 75, of Hollister, Missouri, passed away February 15, 2024, with family by her side. She entered this life May 23, 1948, the daughter of William and Ruth (Oliver) Reader in St. Paul, Minnesota. Jane was born into a musically gifted family and embraced a love of music at a young age; she had her first church solo at the age of five and was baptized at the age of…

James A. Hamann, age 85, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, passed away suddenly on February 18, 2024. Jim was a 1956 graduate of Luverne High School. His career was in education as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent. He was with Edina Public Schools for 26 years. Services were February 27 at the Washburn McReavy Edina Chapel. Memorials are preferred to Luverne Dollars for Scholars,…

Patricia McCormick, age 92, of Luverne, Minnesota, died Monday, March 4, 2024, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Visitation will be Thursday, March 7, from 5-6 p.m. with a prayer service at 6 p.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, March 8, at 11 a.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Catherine Cemetery in…

  James A. Hamann, age 85, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, passed away suddenly on February 18. Jim was a 1956 graduate of Luverne High School. His career was in education as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent. He was with Edina Public Schools for 26 years. Services were February 27 at the Washburn McReavy Edina Chapel. Memorials preferred to Luverne Dollars for Scholars, noting…

Marta Jean Achterhof, 52, of Rochester, Minnesota, took her final bow on February 25, 2024. The last curtain fell on her inspirational, two-act life while she was at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, where she was surrounded by love and compassion. Act I of Marta’s life opened on May 16, 1971, in Luverne, Minnesota, when she became the third of four daughters born to Roger and Carole Achterhof. An…

Jerry Michael Hendricksen, age 65, passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at Crossroads Care Center in Worthington, Minnesota. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024, at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The family will be present to greet friends for a memorial visitation on Thursday, February 29, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. at the…

R. John Line, age 74, passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024, with his wife, Sonia, by his side and under the compassionate care of Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A funeral service was at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at Miller Funeral Home – Southside Chapel (7400 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls, South Dakota). Family was present for visitation from 5-7 p.m. on Monday,…

William Henry Vortherms, age 83, of Luverne, died Monday, February 26, 2024, at the Bethany Home in Brandon, South Dakota. A private family burial will take place at a later date with Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Luverne.

Linda Lee Beyenhof was born on October 26, 1938, to G. John and Harriet (Noteboom) Vander Maten on the family farm in Moulton Township, Murray County, Minnesota. She was baptized in her faith at the Christian Reformed Church. She was raised on the farm and attended Leota Christian Elementary School, then graduated from Southwest Christian School in 1956. She then started teaching at Hills…

Jane Fuerstenberg Nekali, 82, formerly of Luverne, Minnesota, died in Fountain Hills, Arizona, on February 24, 2024, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Jane was born October 7, 1941, in St Kilian, Minnesota, to Leo and Perry Etta (Lynch) Fuerstenberg, the third of five daughters. She graduated in 1959 from the Academy of our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic High School in Mankato,…

Gertrude Margaret Kooiker was born on August 18, 1937, to Peter and Clazina (Bodewitz-Franken) Bloemendaal on the family farm north of Lake Wilson, Minnesota, Murray County. She grew up in the Lake Wilson area, attending District 23 School and graduating from Lake Wilson High School in 1955. On October 28, 1955, she was united in marriage to Jacob Kooiker at Chandler Reformed Church in Chandler,…

Arnold “Arnie” Stoel and his twin brother, Clarence, were born November 15, 1933, to Balthazar and Jenny (Van Roekel) Stoel in Fenton Township, Chandler, Minnesota. Arnie was baptized and received his confirmation at the Chandler Reformed Church. He attended school through the eighth grade. On October 11, 1956, Arnie was drafted into the military where he was involved in the Police Action after…

Dallas Etrheim, age 87, of Luverne, Minnesota, died peacefully Friday, February 16, 2024, at the Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne, Minnesota. Visitation was Monday, February 19, 2024, at the Jasper Evangelical Lutheran Church from 5-7 p.m. Friends and Family gathered at Jasper Evangelical Lutheran Church at 9 a.m. Tuesday, February 20, 2024, to process to the Trosky Cemetery for interment,…

Just shy of her 101st birthday, Norma Gangestad began her new life in glory on February 13, 2024. Norma Elizabeth was born to Paul and Alvina (Carstens) Oldre on April 30, 1923. Her mother died shortly after birth and she was raised by Bertha Engebretson until the age of four when Paul married Mabel Tobiason. She grew up on the Oldre Century Farm by Kenneth. She graduated from Magnolia High…

Bertha Fikse was born May 31, 1927, to William and Bertha (Bosch) Doeksen in Hull, Iowa. Her mother passed away following childbirth. William was unable to care for his large family by himself and Bertha’s aunt, Fannie, had been given a vision that she would have another child.  Together, they decided that Bertha would be raised with Fannie (Bosch) and Ralph Zwart in Rock Valley, Iowa.  Bertha…

John Hup, age 90, of Luverne, Minnesota, died Monday, February 5, 2024, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne. Funeral service was Tuesday, February 13, at 2:30 p.m., with visitation at 1 p.m., all at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Burial with military honors followed at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. Arrangements were under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. To view…