Steele County Times

Marion Ann Johnson, 76, of Dodge Center, MN passed away on Saturday, February 12, 2022, in Harlingen, TX near their winter home in Rio Hondo, TX. Marion was born on June 19, 1945, in Steele County, MN, west of Blooming Prairie, to Henry and Marion (Awes) Haberman. She attended school in Ellendale, MN, graduating from there in 1963. After graduation she moved to Owatonna, MN. Marion met Harold Johnson and they married on July 16, 1966, celebrating 55 years together. After marrying they made their home in Houston, MN. They welcomed their first child, Vickki in March of 1967. They lived there for two years, then moved to Stewartville, MN. They made their forever home in Dodge...

Carol Phyllis Wilker, 89, passed away peacefully at Homestead Hospice in Owatonna on February 12, 2022. Carol was born to Frank and Margaret (Woods) Shaske of Nerstrand, MN on July 6, 1932. She married Lorenz Loren Wilker of Meriden, MN on November 25, 1953. Carol and Lorenz raised 7 children on a dairy farm by Meriden, MN. Carol had many interests, such as gardening, 4-H, doing puzzles, quilting, and needle art. She was well-known for her talent with Hardanger, a Norwegian Needle Art. She taught Hardanger classes through Owatonna Community Education as well as some private classes for people that were interested in learning. Carol and her husband traveled often and were...

Diane Carol Mundt, 74, of Owatonna, MN, passed away on Thursday, February 3, 2022 at Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna with her loving family by her side. Diane was born December 11, 1947 in Owatonna to Elmer and Eileen (Rucek) Janning. She was raised on a farm in rural Blooming Prairie, MN, and graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1965. On October 21, 1967, she was married to James Mundt at St. Columbenous Catholic Church in Blooming Prairie, MN. They made their home in Owatonna and she worked in Human Resources at Truth Hardware retiring after over 30 years. In her spare time, she liked to read and garden, winter in Florida with James, and travel to Ely, MN, and spend time...

Mable Dobberstein died on November 24, 2021 in New Richland, MN. Mable was born on October 22, 1925 to Walter and Augusta (Volkmann) Berndt in Alton Township new Alma City, Minnesota. Mable was baptized on November 8, 1925 at St Johns Lutheran Church in Iosco Township. She was confirmed at St Pauls Lutheran Church in Waseca. On September 12, 1948 she was married to Elmer Raymond Dobberstein at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf, MN. Mable graduated 8th grade from Country School, District 70 in Waseca County, MN, and graduated 12th grade from Waseca High School. Mable attended St Mary's School of Nursing in Rochester, MN and graduated in 1947. Following her graduation, she worked briefly at...

Joseph "Joe" Benson, age 78, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at The Sanctuary in St. Cloud. Family, friends, and others whose lives Joe touched, are invited to the Miller Carlin Funeral Home in St. Cloud, from 5pm to 7pm, on Thursday, October 21st, to reminisce, grieve, support each other and, of course just chat. There will be a second gathering on Friday, October 22nd, from 4pm to 7pm at the Serviceman's Club in Blooming Prairie Minnesota. Burial will be private. Joseph Kenneth Benson was born August 1, 1943, to Kenneth and Dorothy (Myers) Benson, in Blooming Prairie Minnesota. After completing his schooling at the University of Minnesota, Joe married Virginia...

A gentle soul of the Ellendale community, Lowell H. Wichmann, age 81, has passed away on 06/28/21. Lowell was a loving husband, father, grandpa, brother uncle and friend. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Julia (Smith); children Barbara (Gary), Debra, Penny (Roger), Emily (Rashad) and Jamie (Jake); 11 Beloved grandchildren. Siblings Edward Wichmann, Carol (Ken) Killen, Linda Elstad, Sue (D.R Martin) Wichmann and Dawn Wichmann. Lowell left school at the age of 15, but went on to earn his GED. He was offered a position to be a law enforcement officer for Wells, Minnesota and that started 31 years of dedicated service as a Steele County deputy (7407), stationed out of Ellendale. He...

Naven Judine Knutson, 89, of Clarksville, Tennessee, formerly of the Leland/Lake Mills area in Iowa, died Thursday, April 8, at the Vanderbilt Medical Care Center in Nashville, TN. According to Naven's wishes, there will be a "Celebration of Life" in Northwood, Iowa Area the end of April. The exact time and date will be posted at a later date on NaveFuneralHomes.com Naven Judine Knutson was born on August 6, 1931, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Eddie and Myrtle (Brudvig) Knutson. Naven graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1949, and graduated from San Francisco State University, in San Francisco, California. He was united on Sep. 2, 1956, in marriage to Doris Elaine Johnson...

Rodney Joel Robinson, age 77, of Rochester, MN passed away on Monday April 20,2020 at Seasons Hospice House. Rodney was born on January 10, 1943 in Blooming Prairie, MN to Edward and Louetta (Stork) Robinson. He graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1960. He took drafting courses in Los Angeles, California. After school he took numerous drafting contracts. In 1983 he ended his career as structural steel detailer and switched to renting apartments. He owned and managed 37 units up until he fully retired in 2014. His many hobbies included riding a recumbent bicycle all across the country and enjoying an online game of poker. In 2002, Rodney married Maria Velez at the Little Brown...

Eugene "Bud" Victor Frey, 81 of Byron passed away to his eternal home on Sunday, April 19, 2020 at The Waters on Mayowood of Rochester after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Bud was born on August 19, 1938 in Blooming Prairie, MN to Victor and Edna (Thorager) Frey. He attended country grade school and attended high school at Blooming Prairie, MN and Waseca, MN. He enlisted in the US Air Force and served four years, mostly in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1964. On September 27, 1969 he married Susie Simmons and the couple later divorced. To this union two daughters were born. On April 30, 1977, he married Doris Ann (Hove) Meeker in Chatfield, MN. Bud's entire working...