Obituaries

Suzanne Tolman

Jan 2, 2024

Suzanne Nelson Tolman, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.

Suzanne Nelson Tolman, retired School Psychologist, Independent School District #535, Rochester, Minnesota, was born in Omaha, Nebraska on November 8, 1931. The daughter of Lottie Kerns Nelson and Raymond Leroy Nelson, she attended Omaha North High School, Omaha, Nebraska, played piano (Mendelssohm piano concerto with the concert orchestra her senior year).

In 1948, she...

Clifford Prigge

Jan 2, 2024

Clifford W. Prigge, age 84, of Rochester, Minnesota passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at his home in Rochester.

Clifford William Prigge was born March 2, 1939 in Rochester, MN the son of Erwin and Gertrude (Peyer) Prigge. He grew up on the family farm in Byron, MN and graduated from Byron High School in 1957. Clifford served in the...

Verna Kraft

Jan 2, 2024

The sun has set on a beautiful life. Verna Mathilda (Nelson) Kraft, 96, passed away on January 2 in Rochester, Minnesota at Cottagewood Memory Care. She was born September 1, 1927 in her sister's home in Austin Minnesota. Verna lived in numerous SE MN communities, moving as her father's blacksmith's business necessitated. After attending 8 different schools, she spent her...

Delores Ledebuhr

Jan 2, 2024

Delores M. Ledebuhr, 96, of Rochester, MN passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Season's Hospice House. She was born in Buffalo County, WI, and grew up in the Cochrane, WI area. She had a long working career working into her late eighties. Delores was an avid gardener and loved to sew and crochet. She is survived by her four...

Michael Fishbaugher

Jan 1, 2024

Mike Fishbaugher, 65, passed peacefully in his home on January 1st, 2024.

 

Michael Dean Fishbaugher was born May 24, 1958 in Harmony, MN to Orrin and Cathy (Ruud) Fishbaugher. After graduating from John Marshall High School in 1976, he studied forestry in La Crosse, WI. Mike had a long career driving trucks for BFI, Waste Management, USPS, and eventually...

David Witherspoon

Dec 30, 2023

Dr. William David Witherspoon, Jr. died of complications from ALS at Season's Hospice in Rochester, Minnesota on December 30, 2023. David was born on April 12, 1959 to Linda Johnson Witherspoon and William David "Billy" Witherspoon in Dillon, South Carolina. He was proceeded in death by his father. David is survived by his wife of 42 years, Louise Atkinson Witherspoon,...

Lori Rime

Dec 30, 2023

Lori J. Rime, age 60, of Rochester, MN passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at her home surrounded by family, after several complications of pancreatic cancer.

She was born on September 9, 1963, in Virginia, Minnesota and was the second of three children to Richard S. Moore and Mary J. (Bauch) Moore. She graduated from Roosevelt High School...

Jennifer Rice

Dec 25, 2023

Jennifer (Jenny) Margaret Pomainville Rice, 83, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, died on the evening of December 25, 2023, at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, from congestive heart failure.

Jenny was born on November 9, 1940, in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, to Dr. Leland and Margaret Pomainville. She was the second of their three daughters, including older sister, Ann...

David Williams

Dec 25, 2023

Our father passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 85. His dad left the family when he was a young child leaving his mom to care for four children on her own. A year or two later they moved to his uncle Virgil's farm. Virgil was a hardworking, no-nonsense type of man who would pull giant dairy bulls...

William Fritts

Dec 24, 2023

William D. Fritts, 88, of Byron, MN, passed away on Sunday, December 24, 2023 at his home surrounded by family, after battling with complications of agent orange.

 

William David Fritts was born on November 22, 1935 in Rochester, MN, to parents Lyle and Helen Fritts. Bill began his life of service as a boy scout, and also delivered papers...

Lester Griebenow

Dec 23, 2023

Lester M. Griebenow, age 90, of Rochester, MN passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at Seasons Hospice House in Rochester, MN surrounded by his loved ones.

He was born on March 19, 1933 in Rochester, Minnesota and was the third of four children to Erwin A. Griebenow and Elsa (Beilke) Griebenow. He graduated from Rochester High...

Kennedy Jada

Dec 22, 2023

A memorial for Kennedy Tombe Jada, 68 of Rochester, MN will be held at 2:00pm, December 29, 2023, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes in Rochester, Minnesota. Visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00pm. The family has requested a private interment following the visitation.

 

Kennedy Tombe Jada, was born on August 31, 1955 to Tombe and Igale. He was born...

Anita Smith

Dec 21, 2023

 

Anita Priscilla Smith, age 86, of Rochester, Minnesota died on Thursday, December 21, 2023 in Rochester.

Anita was born February 16, 1937 to Alfred and Gladys (Spangler) Husmann in Clinton, Iowa.  She graduated from Clinton High School and went on to attend Iowa Teachers College.  She taught kindergarten for several years.  Anita married Kenneth Smith on March 1, 1958.  ...

Rita Jean Gostonczik

Dec 19, 2023

 

Rita Jean Gostonczik, age 52, of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin passed away on December 19th, 2023 surrounded by the love of her family at Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Rita was born on November 5th, 1971 in Osage, Iowa to Francis (Gus) and Mary (Schuck) Gostonczik.  Rita graduated from Osage, Iowa High School in 1990.  She attended NIACC...

Cheryl Ellingson

Dec 18, 2023

Cheryl Diane Ellingson Himango passed away peacefully at home where she wanted to be on December 18, 2023. Her husband Jim loved her and was with her by her side at all times.

Cheryl was born to Victor and Ruth Lenton (nee Skare) in Stewartville, MN. She graduated from Pine Island High School in 1963. She worked at Collins in...

Virgil Briske

Dec 17, 2023

Virgil Henry Briske, 82, of Rochester, MN, passed away on December 17, 2023 at Mayo Clinic Hospital Methodist Campus in Rochester, MN. Virgil was born on May 8, 1941 in Elgin, MN to Ralph and Bertha Briske. He grew up in the Dover/Eyota area and attended school in St. Charles, MN. He married Luanne Helen Folkert on October 10, 1958....

Marna Groe

Dec 16, 2023

Marna Groe, 61, passed away on December 16th, 2023. She lived in Kasson, MN.

She was born to Jean and Donald Groe on January 19th, 1962. She grew up in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Marna has one brother Leigh (Caryl) Wiley, and two sisters, Peggy (Marty) Groeneweg and Patti Groe. She has one daughter, Courtney Groe, granddaughter, Raelynn...

Richard "Cleo" Lyke

Dec 16, 2023

 

Richard “Cleo” Edward Lyke, 86, of Oronoco, MN, died surrounded by the love of his immediate family December 16, 2023.

He was born in Rochester, MN on November 13, 1937 to Agnes (Harney) and Clayton Lyke. He attended Rochester High School before attending Rochester Community College and Mankato State where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business...

Michael Ablan

Dec 14, 2023

Michael R. Ablan passed away on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St. Mary's Campus.

Michael was born on February 5, 1969, in Tampa Bay, FL. He later moved to Minnesota where he graduated from Tartan High School. Immediately following graduation, he joined the United States Army serving from August of 1988 to May of 1996,...

Peggy Youngstrom

Dec 13, 2023

Peggy C. Youngstrom passed away on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at Cottagewood Senior Communities in Rochester, MN.

 

Peggy Colleen (Walker) Youngstrom was born on February 19, 1941, to parents Rex and Beth (Hobza) Walker in Mankato, MN. She attended school in Mapleton, MN, and went on to receive a secondary teaching degree from Mankato State University. She started her...