Obituaries

Dec 17, 2019

Richard "Rich" Tulius, 87, a longtime resident of Rochester, MN died peacefully at his home on December 17, 2019. Richard had just enjoyed a Thanksgiving celebration at his home last month with over 22 family and friends in attendance, including his nephew, Bobby Wener, who was his last surviving blood relative.

Richard was born in Dodge, Wisconsin...

Dec 16, 2019

Lee Sherwin Evans, 84 of Rochester died on December 16, 2019 at Rochester Health East Nursing Home.

Lee was born on July 21, 1935 in Rochester, MN to Harry and Ruth (Moe) Evans. He married Bonnie Garber in 1957 and they lived in Rochester with their three girls. Lee worked as a buyer in Purchasing at IBM...

Dec 12, 2019

Margaret Knutson, 96, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away Thursday, December 12, 2019 at Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth in Rochester.

Margaret was born on March 7, 1923 in Mott, North Dakota to Xavier and Magelena (Braun) Dauenhauer. She also attended school in Mott. Margaret worked at the Depot House, Michael's Restaurant and Samaritan Nursing Home, all in...

Dec 12, 2019

David Lester Carson, 70, of Rochester passed away peacefully on December 12, 2019 at Whitewater Health Services in St. Charles, MN.

David was born on March 13, 1949 in Preston, MN to Robert and Pauline (Vanderbosch) Carson. He graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1967. Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Army until he was medically...

Dec 8, 2019

Lorraine E. Groth, 88, of Rochester, passed away Sunday, December 8, 2019 at Riverbend Assisted Living.

Lorraine was born January 13, 1931 in Potsdam, Minnesota to Stanley and Vera (Schreiber) Siemers.

On July 7, 1956, Lorraine married Harold Frank Groth in Plainview, Minnesota.  She was a homemaker and later worked at Hardees on 2nd St....

Dec 7, 2019

Kay Ann Becker, age 80, of Rochester, MN, died Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Cottagewood Senior Communities in Rochester.

Kay was born February 16, 1939, in Wanamingo, MN, the daughter of Pete and Ida Fredrickson. She was united in marriage to Frederick "Butch" Becker. She enjoyed her job at Grandma's Kitchen for many years. She liked to...

Dec 6, 2019

Norma F. Bohlman, age 86, of Rochester, peacefully passed away on Friday, December 6, 2019 at Season's Hospice with her loving family by her side.

Norma was born on August 3, 1933 in Tower City, North Dakota, the daughter of Percy and Esther (Anderson) Miller.  She graduated from high school in 1951 and went on to attend...

Dec 5, 2019

Joanne Sullivan, 93 of Rochester passed away on Thursday December 5, 2019 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

Joanne Irene McCaleb was born On October 11, 1926. The daughter of Neal Dow and Irene (Predmore) McCaleb. She was born in a farmhouse, on a farm near Marion Township, the village which is about 10 miles southeast of...

Dec 4, 2019

Joseph Inpanh Thammavongsa 79, of Rochester, MN passed away from pancreatic cancer on Wednesday morning, December 4th, 2019 in the comfort of his own home.  He was surrounded by his family and loved ones. Joseph was born on July 5, 1940 in Vientane, Laos.

Joseph migrated his family to Rochester, MN in Sept 1979. He served many...

Dec 3, 2019

Arvella Neal,mother, grandmother, and friend went home to be with her Lord and Savior at the age of 91 years, on December 3, 2019.

Born and raised on a farm in Oklahoma, Arvella was a beloved parent and wife, an avid gardener, a skillful seamstress, devoted teacher and home maker.

Professionally, she taught school and...

Dec 1, 2019

Bryant Kent Kershaw, 82, of Rochester passed away unexpectedly at his residence on December 1, 2019.

Bryant was born on December 2, 1936 in Idabel, Oklahoma to Edward Haley and Johnnie Raye (Williams) Kershaw. He graduated from Idabel High School, and afterwards attended Oklahoma State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was in ROTC...

Dec 1, 2019

Bonnie Beryl Elliott was born at home in Hanson County, SD on April 12, 1929.  Mother Grace (Walz) Elliott, father Irvan Elliott and brother Delmar welcomed her wholeheartedly. After Irvan's death in 1932, the family moved into a small house on her father's farm. Bonnie attended Notre Dame Academy in Mitchell, SD, on scholarship and graduated with top honors...

Nov 30, 2019

Sharon Rose (Hengel) Heppelmann, 70, of Rochester, MN passed away on Saturday, November 30, 2019 at Stewartville Care Center after a lengthy battle with Frontal Temporal Lobe Dementia.

Sharon was born on June 11, 1949 in Rollingstone, MN to Harold and Sylvia Hengel and was the oldest of twelve children. Sharon graduated from Holy Trinity High School...

Nov 28, 2019

Richard Francis Betts, age 70, of Rochester, MN died Thursday, November 28, 2019 at St. Marys Hospital.

Richard was born March 26, 1949 in Stewartville, MN to Laor and Loretta (Cooley) Betts. He graduated from Mayo High School in 1967.

On October 2, 1970 he married Marie E. Block in Sioux Falls, SD. The couple...

Nov 28, 2019

Ialee Marie (Grathwohl) Sikkink, age 90, of Rochester, died on Thursday, November 28, 2019 at

Samaritan Bethany Care Center. Ialee was born on December 9, 1928, in Iowa City, Iowa, the oldest of seven children of Walter and Minnie (Roth) Grathwohl. When she was two, the family moved to southern Minnesota and farmed near Oakland, Rose Creek,...

Nov 22, 2019

Loretta M. Cross, known to all as "Maggie", passed away in Sacramento on November 22, 2019. She was born in Rochester, Minnesota on November 26, 1935, to Cyril and Loretta Macken.

Maggie owned and operated the Four Oaks Bottle Shop in Del Paso Heights for many years. She was a lifelong fan of the Minnesota Vikings, a...

Nov 22, 2019

Michael Tyrell Miller, 64, of Byron, MN, passed away Friday, November 22, 2019 at his home with his wife by his side.

Mike was born July 22, 1955 in New Ulm, MN. His family then moved to Rochester, MN and eventually to Byron, MN where he graduated from Byron High School in 1973.

He married...

Nov 21, 2019

Cecil J. Refsland age 89 of Rochester passed away peacefully on November 21, 2019. He was born on August 27, 1930 in Rural Sacred Heart, Minnesota to Christ and Celia (Engebretson) Refsland.

Cecil attended rural school grades 1-8 and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1948. Following graduation, he served in the US Army from 1953...

Nov 20, 2019

Tita Azarcon (Laure) age 78 of Rochester went to be with the Lord on November 20, 2019. She was born August 11, 1941 in Surigao City, Philippines to Apolonio and Josefa (Parpan) Laure.

Tita graduated high school from Northeastern Mindano College and received her Bachelor's Degree in Finance from University of Visayas in Cebu. After graduation Tita...

Nov 19, 2019

James K. Holtz, 93, of Rochester, passed away Tuesday, November 19, 2019 peacefully at St. Marys Hospital, with family at his side.

Jim was born March 11, 1926 in Doon, Iowa to Arthur and Fayth Holtz.

He married Delphine Girard on August 18, 1945 in Sioux City, Iowa. They lived and had three children in...