Kenyon Leader

Carl O Finnesgaard age 87 of Kenyon passed away at home on January 3, 2023. Carl was born on October 28, 1935 at St. Lucas Hospital Faribault, MN. He attended 8 years of country school before graduating from Kenyon High School. During this time he caught baseball for the high school team and also the Kenyon town team and Faribault legion team. Carl attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis for 2 years and was a catcher for their baseball team. During this time he also worked nights at the 7-Up Bottling Company. He was a catcher for the Benson baseball team the summer between his college years. In November of 1955 Carl volunteered his number for the draft. He served 21 months, 19 of...

Margaret Ann (Ahrens) Ellingson died December 30th, 2022 at Benedictine Living Community in Northfield, Minnesota, surrounded by family, following a courageous battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. She was 84. Margaret was born on March 19th, 1938, to Harold and Ruth (Tellin) Ahrens in Washington, Iowa, in the family home on West Madison Street. The Ahrens family soon moved to a farm just north of town where her parents raised three children and built a life together. She attended country school through second grade before going to school in town. Margaret looked up to her sister, Reta, who even as a senior made a point of including her freshman sister, and she cared for and...

Libby Jo Denny, age 60 of Claremont, died on Monday, December 26, 2022, at her home. Libby Jo Denny, the daughter of Robert and Viola (Phelps) Eggert, was born on November 6, 1962, in Hayfield, Minnesota. She grew up in Kenyon before moving to Kasson. Following school she stayed home to raise her children and also managed a few service related businesses. In the early 2000's she worked at the Kasson School as a custodian and lunch assistant. Later she left the school and was a supervisor at Dairy Queen for five years until her health began to fail. Libby enjoyed trips to the casino, antiquing, and attending sporting events. She also liked to sing Karaoke and going to concerts. ...

William L. Foss, Sr age 73 of Kenyon, died on Tuesday, December 21, 2022, at his home. William LeRoy Foss Sr., the son of LeRoy and Shirley (Holmes) Foss was born on June 28, 1949, in Faribault. He grew up in Kenyon, graduating from Kenyon High School in 1967. He enlisted in the US Navy and served for a short time before returning to Kenyon. He then attended vocational school. William married Candace Verthein and had two children. They moved from Kenyon in the early 70's to Cannon Falls, where he managed the Curt's Cannon Ball truck stop. He later married Sharon Martenson and had two more children. William then went to work for Metropolitan Airports Commission in maintenance. In...

The Memorial Service for Mary Haugen, will be at Noon, Saturday, January 7th, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Wanamingo. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery. She passed away on December 15th at the age of 95 years and 10 months. Visitation will be at the church one hour before the Memorial Service. Mary Ann Doerr Haugen was born January 23, 1927, to Otto and Anna (Proehl) Doerr at Stewart, Minnesota. She grew up on the family farm and attended grade school and high school at Stewart, Minnesota and then attended St. Olaf College, graduating in 1948. On June 26, 1948, she was married to Vernon Haugen. After their marriage they lived in Minneapolis and she was a teacher at the Minnesota...

Richard Darwin Knott, 85, of Kenyon, died Saturday, November 5, 2022 at his home surrounded by family. He was born February 20, 1937 in El Reno, Oklahoma to Richard and Emily (Strouhal) Knott. Richard graduated from Hinton High School in Hinton Oklahoma. Richard and Alma were united in marriage on March 25, 1955 at Red Rock Church in Calumet, OK. He would own and operate a Texaco service station in El Reno, OK, before moving to Minnesota in 1963. Alma and Richard raised their family and farmed for many years. Richard was a member of Hegre Church Choir, Hegre Church Counsel President, President of the Kenyon Farmers and Merchant Elevator, and the Goodhue County Dairy Association. He loved...

Haye Zylstra, a faithful follower of Christ, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 3 at the age of 93. Born in 1929 in rural Friesland, part of the Netherlands, he was the fifth of seven children born to Harmon Zylstra and Wiepkie Hofstra. In 1952 he and his family immigrated to the United States (Iowa) and shortly thereafter, was asked to join the US Army and served as a gunman with the infantry in South Korea. After serving and returning to the U.S., Haye married Judith (Judy) Marilyn Sundry and the couple moved to the Minneapolis area where they raised their two children, David and Sharon. Haye worked for Sawyer-Cleator Lumber Company and served in a variety of positions at...

Shirley Ann (McDonald) Pithey age 89 of Kenyon passed away peacefully on Saturday October 29th, 2022. Shirley was born May 23rd, 1933, to Walters and Lyle (Harmsen) McDonald. She grew up and graduated from Slayton High School in 1951. After graduation she was a staff member of St. Mary's Hospital in Minneapolis. She also spent a few years working for hospital staffs in California and Nevada. Shirley and Fred Pithey were married in Sanborn, North Dakota on February 10, 1959. Their three children were born in Jamestown, North Dakota. Later they moved to Wisconsin and lived in Eau Claire, WI for over twenty years. While there Shirley worked for Dayton-Hudson Company for many years. Shirley...

Agnes (Aggie) Mathilda Aase was born August 26, 1923 to Ole and Bertha (Krogh) Berg on the family farm in rural Kenyon, and passed away peacefully October 2, 2022 at District One Hospital in Faribault. She was baptized and confirmed at Aspelund Lutheran Church. She completed grade 8 at country school and then went to work at several country homes. At age 15 she went to St. Paul and worked at the Glider Plant for the war effort. On October 11, 1946, she married Herbert (Tubby) Aase and in 1960 they moved to the Aase family farm which was her dream come true. She worked tirelessly and happily making the farm a beautiful place. She worked at the Kenyon Pool Hall for several years and then...

Faye Marie Marcuson, 64, of Kenyon, died Thursday, September 22, 2022 at her home. She was born October 13, 1957 in Rochester, Minnesota the daughter of John and Marjorie (Peterson) Weinrich. She lived on several farms in south-eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin and graduated from Mondovi High School in Mondovi, WI. On May 20, 1989, she was united in marriage to James Marcuson, the love of her life, whom she met through a personal ad in the Rochester Post Bulletin. They made their home in Kenyon where Faye made many friends and was a member of First Lutheran Church of Kenyon. Her life was centered around her family and friends and she will be greatly missed. She is survived by her...

Janice Ann Bauer, 84, of Kenyon passed away on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at Kenyon Senior Living. She was born on January 8, 1938 in Ortonville, Big Stone County, Minnesota to Clarence and Ann (Schoenrock) Thomas. She moved to Alabama after high school, was married, and later divorced. From that union she had 3 children. She supported her family by sewing custom draperies and wedding apparel from home and worked various other jobs. She married Homer Bauer on April 4th, 1970. They added 2 more children to their family. They moved to the farm in rural Kenyon in 1972. Janice was a stay at home mother and was a wonderful cook and baker. When the children were all in school, she began...

Audrey Ann Vold, 91, of Kenyon, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on September 14, 2022 at the Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna, Minnesota. Audrey was born on September 25, 1930 in Fairpoint, Cherry Grove Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota at her family home. Audrey was the daughter of David and Elvera (Lips) Knudsen. She grew up in Concord, Minnesota and graduated from West Concord High School in 1948. On October 10, 1948 Audrey married Hilton Vold of Kenyon at the Wanamingo Lutheran Church Parsonage. The couple made their home on the Vold family farm, in rural Kenyon, where they lived all their married life. Audrey was a wife and mother of four, but always had a job...

Harold John Bonde, age 94, of Nerstrand, passed away on September 13, 2022, at home surrounded by his family. Visitation will be on Monday, September 19, 2022, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault. Funeral Service will be on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Nerstrand with visitation one hour prior to service with The Reverend Mike Ahrens officiating. Interment will be at Valley Grove Cemetery, Nerstrand. Veterans Military Rites provided by Rice County Central Veterans. Harold John Bonde was born on August 29, 1928, at St. Lucas Deaconess hospital in Faribault to Oscar and Clara (Severson) Bonde. He was baptized and confirmed at Valley...

Rachel Lynn Nesseth, 18, of Zumbrota, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. Rachel was born April 22, 2004 in Rochester, MN to Barney and Laura (Shelton) Nesseth. She was a recent graduate of Kenyon-Wanamingo High School and was planning to leave for Concordia College, where she would major in Biochemistry and compete on Concordia's Track and Field team. In school, Rachel was full of energy and was active in band, choir, chamber choir, and theater. She would often play her flute and sing at church, where she was also involved in the Emmanuel Lutheran youth group. Along with her musical talents, Rachel was a Member of the National Honor Society and was a Board Scholar. Rachel...

Lois Elaine (Kirkland) Mork, 86, of Kenyon, died Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at North Ridge View Assisted Living in Kenyon. She was born October 31, 1935 in Olmsted County, Minnesota the daughter of Burt and Fern (Schuck) Kirkland. She grew up on farms in Rock Dell Township and graduated from Stewartville High School in 1953. On June 16, 1957, she married Carl Mork in Rochester. The couple made their home on a farm near Kenyon where they farmed together and raised their family. Lois was mainly a home maker and farmer. She also worked and a housekeeper, food service at Shattuck School in Faribault and took care of the neighbor children. Lois enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening,...

Marlene was born the only child of Clarence and Olga (Kolsrud) Danielson on April 8, 1938 near Cannon Falls. Marlene Carol Mattson died on July 23, 2022 at the age of 84 years. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, September 17 at 11:00 am at Spring Garden Lutheran Church, Cannon Falls, with lunch following the service in the church basement. Interment will be at the church cemetery. Arrangements by Lundberg Funeral Home, Cannon Falls. www.LundbergFuneral.com

Marlene Carol Mattson, age 84, of Kenyon, MN died on July 23, 2022. Marlene was the only child of Clarence and Olga (Kolsrud) Danielson, born on April 8, 1938 near Cannon Falls, MN. She enjoyed family and friends while growing up on her parents' farm, attending the local country school and participating in the congregational life of St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church. Marlene especially appreciated her many youth leadership roles in 4-H, including serving as a Minnesota State 4-H Ambassador. After graduating from Cannon Falls High School in 1956, Marlene completed training at the Rasmussen Business School before beginning work at General Mills. Marlene married Donald Mattson on May 24,...

Lynn Owen Baier, 73, of Kenyon, died Friday, July 8, 2022 at New Perspective Senior Living in Faribault. He was born to Stuart and Thelma (Bolger) Baier on June 23, 1949 in Creston, IA, and grew up on a farm in Greenfield, IA. He excelled at football and went to State wrestling in 1968. Lynn graduated from Greenfield High School in 1968. Following his schooling, he joined the Air Force in 1969 and served until 1973 and the was in the reserves until 1975. Lynn worked at Lister Concrete from 1976 to 1979. He married Mary Mahan on May 12, 1979, in Ankeny, IA. The couple moved to Kansas City, MO, the summer of 1979, where he obtained his Airframe and Powerplant license to work on...

Lynn Owen Baier, 73, of Kenyon, died Friday, July 8, 2022 at New Perspective Senior Living in Faribault. He was born to Stuart and Thelma (Bolger) Baier on June 23, 1949 in Creston, IA, and grew up on a farm in Greenfield, IA. He excelled at football and went to State wrestling in 1968. Lynn graduated from Greenfield High School in 1968. Following his schooling, he joined the Air Force in 1969 and served until 1973 and the was in the reserves until 1975. Lynn worked at Lister Concrete from 1976 to 1979. He married Mary Mahan on May 12, 1979, in Ankeny, IA. The couple moved to Kansas City, MO, the summer of 1979, where he obtained his Airframe and Powerplant license to work on...

On June 30, 2022, a self-proclaimed "Regular Old Mr. Nice Guy" drew his last breath. Dennis Robert Urness was born the seventh son of the seventh son on August 20, 1949. He lived his entire life in Kenyon, Minnesota. Before he was even able to drive, Dennis had bought and restored his first car. This was a hobby that continued throughout his life, even after he'd lost the ability to drive. Dennis could always be found with a car magazine in hand, attending a car show, or driving through every car lot in a 60-mile radius. It was probably fate that brought him and Linda Curtis together. She drove a 1975 Corvette Stingray. The pair met while helping out after a devastating flood. Dennis was...

Michael J. Lockerby, 77, of Red Wing, was called to his eternal home by the Lord Jesus Christ on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. Mike was born on July 29, 1944, to Jay and Marian (Gullickson) Lockerby in Palm Springs, California, where his father was an officer in the Army Air Corp. The family eventually moved to Red Wing in 1947. His father taught metal shop at the Red Wing High School. In 1954, the family moved to Salem, Oregon, where his father continued to teach metal shop at South Salem High School. Mike graduated from North Salem High School in 1962. He attended Pacific Lutheran University, graduating with a B.A. in philosophy in 1966. He attended Luther Theological Seminary in Saint Paul...