County News Review

Karla J. (Goodman) Manske passed away April 12, 2024 in her home in Cambridge, MN at the age of 63. She was born July 26, 1960 to Kathryn "Kay" Berry and Clint Waddell in Mora, MN. She was the oldest of six siblings. Karla graduated from Mora High School in 1978. She then attended Mankato State University to study microbiology and chemistry until she graduated in 1982. Soon after graduating, Karla started her career in Akron, CO as a laboratory technician. She met and married her first husband Dee L. Goodman in 1983 where they built their house on a farm in Akron, CO and had two children Thomas and David. In her spare time, she helped Dee on the farm, raising llamas, and loved sewing,...

Phyllis Jean Streed of Cambridge, MN passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at the age of 93 at Prairie Senior Cottages in Isanti. She was born August 8, 1930 in Cambridge, Minnesota to Peter and Minnie (Okerstrom) Streed. Phyllis graduated from Cambridge High School and went on to graduate from St. Cloud State University with a teaching degree before earning her Master's degree from the University of Minnesota. She dedicated her life to education, teaching in California, Montana and then the majority of her career at Highland Elementary in Columbia Heights, MN. Beyond the classroom, Phyllis found joy in sewing and enjoyed making her own dresses. This fit her stylish personality,...

Judy Faye (Lindberg) Bergstadt of Mora passed away on April 5, 2024 at the age 81 after a short battle with cancer. She was born in Grandy, MN on October 4, 1942 to William and Leah Lindberg. She attended grade school in Grandy and graduated fromCambridge High School. After high school she worked at People's Bank until her marriage to Don Bergstadt on December 22, 1961. Together they welcomed five children. Their first home was in Quamba before they moved to their home in Mora. Judy was employed at this time by Montgomery Wards. Eventually they moved up north and Judy worked with her friend Dorothy Christian painting and wallpapering. Her final job was when she and Don moved to Woodcrest...

Charles Edward Higgins Sr. (Chuck), aged 73, passed away peacefully at home in Sandstone, MN surrounded by his loved ones on April 5, 2024, after battling multiple cancers in the past year. Chuck was born on August 4, 1950 in Minneapolis, MN to Edward and Margaret Higgins. As a U.S. Marine Veteran, he was stationed at Camp Lejeune for four years and was then honorably discharged. After leaving the Marine Corps, Chuck and Diane joined a motorcycle club called the Dry Riders. The Dry Riders were a big part of Chuck and Diane's life. They enjoyed riding motorcycles together with their friends across the country. Chuck also enjoyed riding bicycles and camping with his wife, kids, and...

Frank Winges of Rush City passed away peacefully at Fairview Wyoming Hospital on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the age of 75 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Frank was born March 23, 1949 to Jim and Alice Winges of Rush City. He graduated from Rush City High School in 1967. He was drafted into the Army in 1968, served in Vietnam from February to December of 1970. After being honorably discharged he came back to Rush City, was employed by Boise Cascade from 1974-1992 and retired from McDonald Distributing in the summer of 2015. Frank enjoyed fishing, hunting, and hanging out at Bulrush Golf Course in Rush City for an ice-cold Michelob Golden Light and visiting with friends. Frank is...

Richard Paul Johnson, 72, of Cook, MN, passed away peacefully on March 26th after a tragic accident on March 14th, 2024. Richard was born January 23rd, 1952 in Rush City, MN to Warren and Mary Anne Johnson of Harris. He is survived by his wife and best friend of 26 years, Jennifer; mother, Mary Anne; 7 children: Shawna Frank, Holly Spanjers, Lynnae Johnson, Paul Johnson, Stephanie Loberg, Tara Swedzinski, and Brian Weins; 4 siblings; 14 grandchildren; and many other family members and friends. Known as Ricky to some and Dick to others, he grew up in Harris and was a farmer all his life. Ricky's life-long dream was to live on a river and when they found their home in Cook his dream was...

Mark Steven (Spence) Heath of Rush City passed away Saturday, March 23, 2024, while under the care of hospice at the University of Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis, at the age of 61. He was born November 30, 1962 to Claymond "Pappy" Heath and Ruby (Zornes) Davis while his mother was visiting relatives in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was the youngest of nine half siblings. Mark lived in International Falls, MN until around age 10, when he and his mother moved to Rush City where he lived the rest of his life. As a child, Mark was an industrious Boy Scout; he had pet Beagle dogs that he adored. He attended Rush City schools and graduated in 1981. He went to Anoka AVTI for Small Engine Repair. He...

Kevin John Vadnais, age 68, passed away suddenly at his home in Stacy, Minnesota on March 21, 2024. Kevin was born in St. Paul, MN, on November 15, 1955. He was the first-born child of John and Mary (Koecher) Vadnais. Shortly after, his siblings Laurie, Mike, and Lisa would join the family. His father bought a farm outside of Stacy not knowing that down this beautiful dirt road, Kevin would end up raising his own family someday. His father was a Game Warden, and because of that the family moved around a bit as they were growing up. Kevin started his schooling at North Branch, moved to New Prague, then Anoka, Andover, and finally settled in Ham Lake, MN. Kevin graduated from Anoka...

Pamela Marie (Wilson) Johnson, 56 of Aitkin died Wednesday, March 20, 2024 in Aitkin. She was born May 7, 1967 in Fridley, the daughter of Dennis and Rosemary (Nyberg) Wilson. She grew up and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1985. She earned her A.A. Degree in Child Development and her B.A. Degree in Recreation. Pamela was united in marriage to Andrew S. Johnson September 1, 2012 in Cambridge. She was a dedicated Life Skills Trainer for Oak Ridge Homes for 22 years. She devoted her life to helping those with special needs as a Camp Counselor, Special Olympics coach and a Life Skills coach. She was an active member of the Aitkin United Methodist Church, a Deaconess in the...

Stephen "Steve" Rand was born on December 22, 1949 to Donald Rand and Marian Carlson in Rush City, MN. He married his wife Colleen in 1972 and had three children: Kimberly, Stepheny, and Michael. Steve attended Pine City Vocational School for welding and worked at the Midland Gas and Co-Op in Rush City. In the mid-70's, he went to work at Amber Mill where he would work for 34 years. Through it all, Steve also helped his wife Colleen start her lawn service and landscaping company, a passion project turned professional business that would help support the family. He loved trains and classic cars. He spent hours every year attending the Almelund Threshing Show, the Anderson Threshing...

John Mell of Rush City passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the age of 71. He had struggled with congestive heart failure for many years and fought stubbornly to live life on his terms until the end. John Raymond Mell was born on May 30, 1952 to Wendell and Aylee (Anderson) Mell in Rush City, Minnesota. He attended Rush City schools graduating with the class of 1970 and was voted the class clown. His whole life he was known for his sense of humor and quick wit. He always had a joke or funny story to make everyone laugh. John spent most of his career working as a carpenter and retired from the St. Paul Carpenters Union. In his earlier years, he was...

Ceil Shinler of Rush City passed away Monday, March 11, 2024 at her home at the age of 85. Cecilia Ann Chalupnik was born May 13, 1938 to Henry and Helen (Mlady) Chalupnik in Verdigre, Nebraska. In 1940 the family moved to a farm 5 miles south of Hinckley. Cecilia attended K-12 school in Hinckley. She enjoyed school and activities, especially the clarinet in Marching Band. When Cecilia was 14 & 15 she went to Hopkins during the summer to pick raspberries. The money she earned was used for school clothes. When Cecilia was 16 she was hired at Tobies Bus Stop in Hinckley as a waitress. She worked through summer vacations and weekends. She rented a room and stayed in Hinckley throughout...

Lorine Marian (Stamm) Peterson, 92, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away on March 3, 2024 in Brooklyn Park, MN. She was born on September 26, 1931 in Weber, MN to loving parents, Emil and Agnes (Koecher) Stamm, who instilled in her the values of faith and family that would shape her life. Lorine graduated from Cambridge High School in the Spring of 1948. She married Allan Peterson at St. John Lutheran Church of Weber in 1953. Throughout her life, Lorine never met a card table she didn't agree with and could always find a way to come away smiling. Her love for garage sales took her "saling" anywhere she could find a bargain. It wasn't just about the thrill...

On the leap year evening of Feb 29, 2024, Lowell Duane Sedler went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ peacefully in his home in Cambridge, MN after battling with Alzheimer's Dementia. Lowell was 90 years old. He was born to Milton & Ellen (Stoltenow) Sedler on June 6, 1933 in Great Bend, ND. A 1951 graduate of Wahpeton HS, he served in the US Army for 2 years and moved to Minneapolis in 1956. On August 9, 1958 he married the love of his life Eleanor (Ellie) Leavitt. In spite of his dementia he continued to call out to Ellie until his death. Lowell worked for Minneapolis Moline, Control Data/Ceridian and retired in 1988; at which time he and Ellie owned and operated Country...

Beverly Jean (Douglas) Schueller, (nee McNamara) of Cambridge, MN passed away peacefully at Walker Methodist Levande surrounded by her loving family on February 29th, 2024 at the age of 92 years. Bev and John "Jack" Maynard Douglas Jr. were united in marriage on June 4, 1954. They resided primarily in Minnesota where they raised their five children. Bev worked at Fingerhut Manufacturing and Jack conducted their business, Douglas & Sons Livestock. They enjoyed raising their children and travels "pounding around the countryside" including trips to the Western U.S. and Alaska. Jack passed away on November 16, 1984. On October 22, 1988, Bev married Eugene Schueller, a retired accountant...

John Frank Lindhart III, age 86, of North Branch, passed away Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at Ecumen in North Branch. John was born in St. Paul, MN on December 12, 1937 to parents, John Frank II and Mary (Nienow) Lindhart. He met his future wife, Helen, while stationed overseas in the Navy. It wasn't long before the two fell in love and were married on October 3, 1964. Through this union, they were blessed with two children, Catherine and Kenneth. John served in the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force and volunteered in the Honor Guard. He received many medals, ribbons and awards during his years in service: AF Achievement Medal, AF Outstanding Unit Award W/1 Device, AF Good Conduct Medal, Air...

Dr. Francis Abraham age 79 of Minneapolis formerly of Cambridge passed away peacefully on February 27, 2024. He was a surgeon at Cambridge Medical Center since 2016. Dr. Francis was born on September 27, 1944 in Kerala, India. He received his primary medical degree in India. He obtained his specialist degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, UK and Ireland, then went on to additional training in Roosevelt Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York. Dr. Francis started his career in Oklahoma. After a few years, he moved to Cambridge, MN in 2016 to work as a general surgeon at Cambridge Medical Center. Dr. Francis and his wife Sophia made their home in Cambridge, raising...

David A. Dahlquist, age 78, of Cambridge and formerly of Braham, Minnesota passed away peacefully on Friday, February 23, 2024 at Prairie Senior Cottages in Isanti following a decade long battle with Alzheimer's. Dave was born December 20, 1945, in Braham, raised on the family farm outside of Grasston, Minnesota. He went to country school at Grasston Elementary School and graduated from Braham High School. He attended the U of M and received a master's degree in agriculture education. Dave taught Ag at Braham High School and Pine Technical & Community College. In November of 1967, he was united in marriage to Ellie Dahlquist (Selberg), and they made their first home in Bagley,...

Marlys Wickstrom, age 89, formerly of Isanti, died February 21, 2024 at BeeHive Homes of Maple Grove surrounded by family. Born November 1934 in Minneapolis to Emil and Agnes Wallin. Graduated Cambridge High School. Married Charles Wickstrom in 1956. Worked as secretary in the Cambridge-Isanti school district from 1968 to 1993. After retirement, graduated Cambridge Community College and co-authored a 100 year history of Isanti, MN Preserving a Sense of Heritage. Known for her curiosity, sweet spirit, adorable smile, and strong Christian faith she will be deeply missed. Preceded in death by sister, Karin Fenner and husband, Charles. Survived by daughters, Mary Wickstrom (Kerry Peterson),...

Neal Eno Sederberg was born to Enoh and Olive (Nordin) Sederberg on October 3, 1939 in North Branch Township. He passed away at his home in Harris on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at the age of 84. He had been at Cambridge Medical Center since February 2nd, and the last five days with hospice care in the home. He attended Fish Lake School and North Branch Public Schools. He entered the U.S. Army in January 1959 and was honorably discharged in January 1961. He married Connie Balfanz in August of 1965, and had been married for 58 1/2 years at the time of his passing. They had two boys - Randy and Scott. Neal liked to fish and hunt until declining health kept him home. He had his last fishing...