10 years ago (2016) 

•With the retirement of longtime Heartland Express employee Elaine Birkestrand set for Sunday, May 1, county officials have been discussing different options to fill her position. 

Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Luverne hosted Health Care Mini Camps on Monday and Thursday last week in conjunction with Sanford Luverne.

The Luverne boys’ tennis team fell four times in their first four matches of the season.

A very strong Redwood Valley team beat Luverne 7-0 on the road Tuesday, April 14.

Alice L. Boyenga, age 86, of Luverne, Minn., died Sunday, April 19, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne. 

Robert “Bob” DeYong, age 80, of Luverne, Minn., passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Sanford Luverne Hospital in Luverne. 

Cleone Jane Honken, age 92, formerly of Luverne, Minn., died on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at the Luverne Hospice Cottage.

Patricia L. Schmidt, 91, of Elbow Lake, died Monday, April 6, 2026, in Crystal, Minn. 

A service was at 11 a.m. Monday, April 20, at Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls, with visitation one-hour prior to the service. 

Clergy was Reverend Kevin Patch. 

Janet Jessen, age 79, of Minnetonka, Minn., formerly of Luverne, Minn., passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the Luverne Hospice Cottage. 

A gathering of family and friends will take place in the Twin Cities at a later date. 

Gerald Marvin Vande Brake, age 83, of Luverne, died Sunday, April 19, 2026, at the Parkview Manor Nursing Home in Ellsworth.