Benson & Langehough Recent Obituaries
Dennis Vincent
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 10:22amDennis Lee "Vince" Vincent, 64, died September 8, 2010, at his home in Northfield, Minnesota, following an unexpected July diagnosis of metastasized lung cancer. He completed his life as he had lived it, stoically enduring what had to be faced, appreciating the loyalty and love of family, and comforted by the sky and trees he could see outside his window.
Lois Bjelland
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Sat, 08/21/2010 - 5:34pmLois Glenda Bjelland was born February 26, 1916, in Mount Morris, Wisconsin, to Rev. Carl and Minnie (Rundhaug) Bjelland. As a child she lived with her family in Hanska, Wautoma, Wisconsin, and Northfield. She graduated from Northfield High School in 1934 and received her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from St. Olaf College in 1938. Lois was a registered nurse and did graduate work in public health nursing. During WWII she entered the US Army Nurse Corps, serving from July 1945 to June 1947.
Mary Beth Mulligan
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Mon, 09/06/2010 - 1:55pmMary Beth Goodnature Mulligan was born September 26, 1954, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to Daniel and Wilma (Van Hal) Goodnature. She was raised on the family farm in the Geneva/Ellendale area and was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. At age 16, she moved with her family into Geneva and graduated from Ellendale High School in 1972. She attended Rochester Community College and St. Mary’s School of Practical Nursing. Following her education she worked at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. While working as an RN at St.
Dwayne Goede
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Fri, 09/03/2010 - 2:36pmTimothy Paro
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Sat, 08/21/2010 - 4:44pmTimothy Maurice Paro was born August 11, 1960, in Faribault, Minnesota, to Theodore and Alice (Broderick) Paro. They lived in Northfield and as a child he moved with his family to Blaine. In 1969, they returned to Northfield and he attended Northfield High School. About a year after high school moved to Texas. He returned to Northfield and in 1985 moved to North Carolina, returning in 1988. Tim worked various jobs in the Northfield area and was known for his skills as a handyman.
Adeline Larson
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 10:26am
Bette Kaminska
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Fri, 08/20/2010 - 3:22pmBette Kaminska, 91, died at Sunrise Cottages in Rochester, Minnesota, on Friday, August 20, 2010 after a 4 year battle with dementia.
Michelle Holmes
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Wed, 08/18/2010 - 9:47pmMichelle J. Holmes, age 36, of Northfield, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Eric Touchette
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 8:29amEric Dale Touchette was born October 24, 1958, in Belleville, Illinois, to Dale and Ann (Ping) Touchette. As a child, he lived with his family in Philadelphia, Duluth and Crown Point, Indiana until moving to Northfield in 1969. He graduated from Northfield High School in 1976 and attended the University of Minnesota. In 1979, he moved to Taiwan and began his career as an English teacher and interpreter. Eric enjoyed teaching and mentoring young people.
Richard Swanson
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Sat, 08/14/2010 - 3:25pmRichard Allen Swanson was born June 6, 1949, in Northfield to Harold and Valdez (Mulligan) Swanson. He was baptized and confirmed at the Church of St. Dominic, attended Rosary School, and graduated from Northfield High School in 1968. During high school he began working as a painter with his father - a career which he followed throughout his life. He married Evelyn Erickson in 1971. They later divorced. Aside from 5 years spent living at Leech Lake, Dick lived his life in Northfield and worked as a self employed 3rd generation painter.
William Slinger
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Thu, 08/12/2010 - 6:45pmWilliam Arthur Slinger was born July 13, 1926, on the family farm at Woodstock, Minnesota, the 10th of 13 children born to Henry and Mary (Bult) Slinger. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Martin’s Catholic Church and raised in the Woodstock area and after his education, farmed with his brothers. On October 3, 1946, he joined the US Army and served in the European Theater. Following his honorable discharge on March 17, 1948, he returned to Woodstock and farming. In 1952, he moved to Fargo, North Dakota, and attended Hanson’s Mechanical Trade School.
Russell Ostlie
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Mon, 08/09/2010 - 4:17pmAlden Russell Ostlie was born July 10, 1922 on the farm located in the northeast quarter of section 19 in Eureka Township, Lakeville, MN to the parents of Adolph Ludwig and Mabel Annettie (Hammer) Ostlie. Russ was the second of three boys born into this family. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith at Christiania Lutheran Church. He attended the local rural school district and completed school up until the 8th grade.
Dorothy Martin
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Mon, 08/09/2010 - 4:18pmDorothy Alice Ellert Martin was born August 14, 1921, in Dalton, Minnesota, the fourth of nine children to Herman and Alma (Olson) Ellert. She attended school and was confirmed in Erdahl, Minnesota. She married Harold Eugene Martin on June 25, 1938 at her parents home in South St. Paul. They lived in the Lakeville area and in 1956, purchased their first house (which was located where Fleet Farm is now). In July 1978, they purchased a home in Webster. Harold died on December 14, 1994, and Dorothy remained in Webster until moving to the Windsor Senior Apartments in Lakeville in 1997.
Hazel Topp
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Mon, 08/09/2010 - 8:18pmHazel Mildred Peterson Topp was born March 21, 1916, on the family farm 2 miles East of Northfield to Casper and Julia (Lockrem) Peterson. She was baptized and confirmed at the "old" St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. She graduated from Northfield High School in 1934 and attended Minneapolis Business School. After her education she worked for St. Olaf College in food service making salads. She married George M. Topp on October 16, 1942, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hazelwood. They farmed in the Webster area until 1957 and the Randolph area until 1973, moving to Northfield upon retirement.
Edwin Gass
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Sat, 07/24/2010 - 2:58pm
Enid O'Leary
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Sun, 08/01/2010 - 3:03pmEnid Lois Keene O’Leary was born April 19, 1919, in Silverhill, Alabama, to Archibald and Gretchen (Ray) Keene. She was raised in several communities in the Mobile area and graduated from the Organic School of Education in Fairhope. She received her Bachelors Degree in Science Education and Home Economics from Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Following WWII, the field of Occupational Therapy was just being introduced.
Marlys Gunderson
Submitted by Andy Langehough on Mon, 07/26/2010 - 8:30pmMarlys Gunderson, age 80, of Northfield, passed away peacefully Monday evening, July 26, 2010, at the Northfield Care Center surrounded by family.
