obituary

Joan N. Salzer, age 86, of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, while at the Luverne Hospice Cottage. A memorial celebration of Joan’s life was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, with visitation at 12 p.m. Burial will be at St. Catherine Cemetery in Luverne at a later date. Arrangements were under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. To view Joan’s LifeTribute video…

Gerald Allen Ackerman, age 79, of Hills, Minnesota, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A public visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, with the family present at the Community Reformed Church of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Nov. 17, at Eastside Cemetery near Steen, Minnesota. A memorial…

Joan N. Salzer, age 86, of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, while at the Luverne Hospice Cottage. A memorial celebration of Joan’s life was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, with visitation at 12 p.m. Burial will be at St. Catherine Cemetery in Luverne at a later date. Arrangements were under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. To view Joan’s LifeTribute video…

Christopher Wentzlaff, age 41, of Edina, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in San Francisco, California. A service to celebrate Christopher’s life was at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne, Minnesota. A private family burial was at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. Arrangements are under the care of Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. To view…

Evelyn Mae Titus Boone, formerly from Luverne, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Oct. 28, 2025, at her home in Rochester, Minnesota, at the age of 100. Born on Jan. 31, 1925, in Earl, Wisconsin, Evelyn was the daughter of Guy and Christina Titus. On July 5, 1945, she married Ervin S. Boone.  Together they shared 69 years of marriage. The couple shared their skills and compassion on a medical…

Mary Ann Van Aartsen was born on June 27, 1939, to Oltman “Ole” and Caroline “Ann” (Richters) Akkerman on a farm northeast of Rock Rapids, Iowa. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in town. At a young age, the family moved to a farm south of Luverne, Minnesota, where she was raised. Mary Ann attended church and confirmed her faith at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. She attended…

Karen Kay Young was born on Oct. 7, 1960, to Orin Edward and Lila Lou (Canter) Oye in Pipestone, Minnesota. She was raised on her parents’ farm near Hardwick, Minnesota. Karen graduated from Luverne High School in 1979. Following graduation, she was united in marriage to Robert Knapper in 1979. The couple moved to Williston, North Dakota, and in 1980 (no comma) they were blessed with their…

Thomas (Tom) Henry Van Der Weerd, age 64, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, went to his heavenly home on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, after a two-week hospital stay, his family at his side. Tom was born on Aug. 25, 1961, to Henry and Dorothy (Reurink) Van Der Weerd in Rock Rapids. He joined two older sisters, LeAnn and Janelle. After graduating from West Lyon in 1981, he continued farming with his dad. On March…

Charles R. Juhl was born Aug. 27, 1935, to Rudolph and Delphia (Iverson) Juhl in Luverne, Minnesota. He attended country school through eighth grade and then attended Luverne High School where he graduated in 1953. He was a member of the National Guard from 1953 until 1961. He attended Radio Communication School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, from January to April 1956. On Aug. 19, 1956, Charles was…

Dorenda Margaret (Spader) Anderson, 79, of Beaver Creek, Minnesota, entered into the joy of her Lord on Oct. 16, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Private family services will be held at a later date. Dorenda Margaret Spader was born on Nov. 29, 1945, in Mitchell, South Dakota, and raised on her family’s farm outside Oldham, South Dakota. Dorenda was the daughter of John and Katie (…

Richard Lee Stempges, age 74, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away on Oct. 16, 2025.  Memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 5500 W. 26th Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with the family present one hour prior to the service.  There will be private burial at Maplewood Cemetery, Luverne, Minnesota.  Miller Funeral Home in Sioux Falls, South…

Gary Heikes, age 76, of Starbuck, formerly of Montevideo, died of natural causes unexpectedly at home on Oct. 13, 2025. A memorial service celebrating Gary will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Pastor Jeff Fitzkappes officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral…

Kristine “Kris” Marie Rodman was born on Nov. 11, 1944, in Aurora, Illinois, to Dr. Lewis and Lennice Dykstra. She attended school in Aurora, graduating from high school before continuing on to Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. During her college years and beyond, she was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi. In August 1966,…

Arlene M. Bendix, age 89, of Luverne, Minnesota, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, while at the Luverne Hospice Cottage. Visitation was Monday, Oct. 6, from 4-7 p.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Funeral service was Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 11:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne. Burial was prior to the service at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne. The family wore…

Betty Catherine Bouma, age 87, of Luverne, Minnesota, peacefully passed away on Oct. 2, 2025, at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A Celebration of Life was Monday, Oct. 6, at the Luverne, Minnesota, Christian Reformed Church, beginning with visitation at 10 a.m., followed by a service at 11 a.m., then a meal, followed by interment at the United Reformed Cemetery in Hills,…

Anna Mae Berghorst, age 90, of Hills, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills. Visitation will be Thursday, Oct. 9, from 6-8 p.m. at the Steen Reformed Church in Steen, Minnesota. A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, at the Steen Reformed Church in Steen, with Reverend Jeremy Wiersema officiating. Burial will follow in the…