Obituaries

Jeanette "Jan" Vilen

Mar 9, 2025

Jeanette Eleanor (Flesness) Vilen, age 100, died at home on March 9, 2025, with her family and their love surrounding her. Born October 5, 1924, in Minneapolis, MN to Ethel (Anderson) and Olaf Flesness.

Jan grew up in Minneapolis during the Great Depression and graduated from Central High School in 1942. Always a great adventurer, at 18, Jan traveled to...

Leslie Thronson

Mar 8, 2025

Leslie E. Thronson passed away Saturday March 8, 2025 at Cascade Creek Memory Care.

Les was born June 7, 1935 to parents Leonard and Ida (Mogen) Thronson on a farm in rural Hayfield, MN. He was baptized July 16, 1935 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hayfield and was confirmed June 19, 1949 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Kasson. He...

Marcia Latz

Mar 7, 2025

Marcia Jean Latz, age 73, longtime resident of Rochester, MN and formerly of Grand Marais, MN passed away on March 7th, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, St Mary's Campus from complications of Type 1 diabetes. Marcia was born on November 22, 1951, in Grand Rapids, MN to Leon and Betty (Dowd) Latz. She graduated from Mayo High School in Rochester...

Elna Knutson

Mar 6, 2025

Elna Knutson, 97, of Rochester, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Seasons Hospice House in Rochester.

A Celebration of Life service for Elna Louise Knutson, "GGEM" (Great Grandma, Grandma, Elna, Mom) will be at 11:00 am, Saturday, March 15, at Hosanna Lutheran Church, 2815 57th Street NW, Rochester, MN with Pastor Krista Strum officiating. Visitation will be from...

Sally Fiandt

Mar 6, 2025

Sally Marie Fiandt lived a beautiful 84 years. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend who enjoyed going on walks and camping with her family. She was caring and compassionate to everyone she met and would take in anyone who had nowhere else to go. Her tender heart will be missed. Her loving husband Bill will be waiting for...

Jerald Werre

Mar 3, 2025

Jerald (Jerry) Wayne Werre, 72, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 3, 2025, in Brainerd, MN.

He was born November 21, 1952, in Grand Forks, ND to Joseph W. Werre Jr. and Helen (Michelson) Werre.

After briefly living in St. Paul and Dover, MN - Jerry spent the rest of his life living in Rochester, MN. Jerry met his high school sweetheart,...

Joanne Dalin

Mar 3, 2025

Joanne Yvonne Dalin née Landers, 88, passed away in Rochester, MN on Tuesday, March 3, 2025. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, John A. Dalin, her two children, John S. Dalin (Debra Dalin) and Sandra Aaby, and her grandchild, Alexis Aaby. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eleanore and Wallace, and her sister, Marlene.

Joanne was...

Eugene Murrell

Feb 26, 2025

Reverend Eugene "Gene" Murrell, 64, died on February 26, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Gene was born February 9, 1961, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to parents Theadore and Anetta (Houser) Murrell. He grew up in Mitchell, Nebraska, and graduated from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna. There, he met the love of his life, Vona Brodhead. They married on...

Bradley Grotte

Feb 25, 2025

Bradley Dean Grotte, age 65, of Lakeville, Minnesota, passed away the evening of February 25, 2025. Brad was born in Menomonie, Wisconsin on April 28, 1959. Brad graduated from Burnsville High School and went on to college at SDSU where he met and was smitten with his wife of 40 years, Tamara (Curl). The couple eloped on April 16, 1984,...

Kristen Chapman

Feb 25, 2025

Kristen Chapman, age 61, passed away on February 25, 2025, after a brief battle with breast cancer. A cherished daughter, sister, aunt, and devoted caregiver, Kristen was born on March 11, 1963, in Charles City, Iowa.

After graduating from Greene Community High School in Greene, Iowa, Kristen completed the Certified Nursing Assistant program at North Iowa Area Community College...

Marie Espinda

Feb 24, 2025

Marie C. Espinda, 87, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on February 24 surrounded by her family.

Marie Caroline Engrav was born on January 2, 1938, in Waukon, Iowa to Halvor and Erna Engrav. She grew up on a farm in Ridgeway, Minnesota. The family eventually moved to Winona where she attended St. Martin's Lutheran School, Winona Senior High and went...

James "Jim" W. Pellow

Feb 22, 2025

James "Jim" W. Pellow passed away on February 22, 2025, in Collins, Mississippi, at the age of 88. Born on March 13, 1936, in Joplin, Missouri to Roy and Alice (Smith) Pellow. Jim spent his formative years growing up in Houston, Texas until the age of 13 when the family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Jim honorably served his country for a...

Marissa Punyawai

Feb 22, 2025

Marissa Javier Punyawai, age 68, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away on February 22, 2025 at her residence. Born on April 21, 1956 in Bacolod City, Philippines, she was the beloved daughter of Felipe, Jr. and Alicia (Coscolluela) Javier.

Marissa was raised in the Philippines, where she pursued her education and attained a bachelor's degree in nursing. She married...

David Guenther

Feb 22, 2025

David Dale Guenther, age 59, of Rochester, passed away at home on February 22, 2025. He was born on July 6, 1965, to Dale and Dorothy (Holstad) Guenther.

A proud graduate of John Marshall High School, Class of 1983, David was known for his commitment to hard work. He held various jobs in the area, from vending machine stocker...

Nancy Berkman

Feb 21, 2025

Nancy Louise Berkman passed away on February 21, 2025, at Cascade Creek Memory Care. She was born on October 5, 1947, in Rochester, Minnesota to John Worrall and Georgeanne Maytum Berkman. A fact that Nancy would only acknowledge if firmly pressed was that the Mayo brothers were her great-great uncles. She grew up in the Homestead neighborhood and as a...

Lien Huynh

Feb 20, 2025

Lien Ngoc Huynh passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on February 20, 2025, at 3:53 PM. She was born in Saigon, Vietnam and lived a life filled with love, resilience, and dedication to her family.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ky Khai Lam and her daughter, Van Thu Lam. Lien is survived by...

Jay Brent Martin

Feb 19, 2025

Jay Brent Martin died peacefully surrounded by family after a long courageous battle with cancer, on February 19, 2025. 

He was born on June 27, 1965 in Bismarck, North Dakota to Alfred and Jeannette Martin. He grew up on a farm near Balfour with an older brother, Neal, and numerous cats, dogs and horses, and cattle. He attended Balfour Public School...

John Vine

Feb 17, 2025

John J. Vine, 63, of Zumbrota, MN, passed away on February 17, 2025, at his home.

John was born on December 10, 1961, in Decorah, Iowa, to Alvin and Donna (Lovstuen) Vine. He graduated from North Winneshiek High School in 1980 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University.

After graduating from college, John spent a year teaching...

Pearl Zaki

Feb 15, 2025

Pearl Anna Zaki, 100, peacefully departed this life on February 15, 2025, in Rochester, Minnesota. For the past 20 years, she made her home at Madonna Towers, where she spent her final moments surrounded by care and comfort. Born on June 8, 1924, in Minnieska, Minnesota, Pearl was the middle child and only daughter of Alfred and Louise (Timm) Iwinski....

Mark Oldenburg

Feb 13, 2025

Mark William Oldenburg, 73, of Rochester, MN passed away on February 13, 2025, at his home. Mark had been battling with heart problems for several years.

Mark was born in Rochester, MN on January 25, 1952, to Fred (Fritz) and Mary (Manahan) Oldenburg. He graduated from Chosen Valley High School, class of 1970, in Chatfield, MN. Mark proudly served in...