Obituaries 01/25/24
Kenneth Dalbec, 83
Kenneth J. Dalbec, 83, of Buffalo, MN, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2024, at The Glenn in Buffalo.
He is preceded in death by son, Brian; and is survived by daughter, Leslie; and son, Michael.
Kenny did not want a funeral or memorial service. He did enjoy his life with humor and was quite a character.
The Peterson Chapel, Buffalo assisted the family with arrangements. On-line condolences can be made at www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Thomas Dalbec, 85
Thomas Jerome Dalbec beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, of Hutchinson, MN, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 1, 2024, at the age of 85.
He was born in Waverly, MN, on August 18, 1938, to Octave Moses and Anna Marie (Chevalier) Dalbec. He grew up on the family farm north of Waverly, in Marysville Township, MN.
In 1956, Tom graduated from Saint Mary’s High School in Waverly, MN. On April 24, 1965, Tom was joined in marriage to Carol Ann Broll and together, they raised their 16 children.
Tom loved farming in Waverly, and he never stopped talking about it. In 1983, he moved his family to Oklahoma for several years, before returning to Minnesota and settling near Hutchinson.
Tom was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, father-figure, and friend. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his easy-going personality, his love for Jesus and others, his ability to fix anything, and his great big bear-hugs.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Octave Moses and Anna Dalbec; his brothers, Paul Stephen, Gerald Leon, and Paul Edward Dalbec; his in-laws, Myron and Dolores Broll.
Tom is survived by his wife, Carol Ann, of Hutchinson; his 16 children, Barbara (Larry) Scearcy, Patricia (Shawn) Sherrill, Joseph (Amie) Dalbec, Angela Bedgood, Jamie (Sandra) Dalbec, Monique (James) Tegelhutter, Robert (Maricel) Dalbec, Sarah Dalbec, Kelly Dalbec, Naomi (Lars) Høiom, Benjamin (Heather) Dalbec, Caleb Dalbec, Mika Dalbec, Debby Dalbec, Anna Dalbec and Paul Dalbec; 35 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; his sister, Elizabeth Ann Roskowiak.
A Celebration of Life Service for Tom will be held July 5, 2024, at 11 A.M. at Riverside Church in Hutchinson, MN.
A special Thank You to Buffalo Lake Healthcare Center and Olivia Hospice for the excellent care Tom received from their staff.
The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation in Tom’s name to one of the charities below.
Operationsmile.org - Providing children with surgeries for cleft lip and cleft palate; Foodforthepoor.org- Helping people in extreme poverty around the world; Mercyships.org - Hospital ships providing medical care for people in great need.
Ronald Ernesti, 74
In Loving Memory of Ronald Kenneth Ernesti
Ronald Kenneth Ernesti, age 74, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2024, in Buffalo, MN.
He was born on April 28, 1949, in Hutchinson, MN, to Kenneth and Rozella (Anderson) Ernesti. He lived a life filled with passion, kindness, and a commitment to positively impacting those around him. Ron graduated from Buffalo High School, class of 1967, and owned the family business, the Buffalo Dry Cleaners. He was a devoted family member/friend/community member who enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, music, being with friends, and enjoying the outdoors.
Ron is survived by his children, Justin (Marit) Ernesti and Crystal (Jon) Boike; grandchildren Jemma and Maclaine Ernesti; sister, Charlene Jorgenson; and many more people we call family. Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Rozella Ernesti; his sister, Renee Black; and his brother, Randy Ernesti.
A memorial service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN. The date and time can be found on the Peterson’s Chapel website (www.thepetersonchapel.com).
Ron Ernesti’s departure leaves a void in our hearts, but his memory will forever live on in the stories we share, and his impact on the lives of those fortunate enough to know him.
May he rest in peace!
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Janice Hirsch, 78
Janice (Jan) Hirsch
Feb. 14, 1945 - Jan. 18, 2024
Janice Eileen Hirsch, 78, of Nevis, MN, peacefully passed at home on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, surrounded by family.
Memorial Services will be held on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. at the Cease Funeral Home Chapel, 105 Main St, Nevis, MN 56467. Visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. until time of service. A luncheon reception will be held at the Iron Horse Restaurant in Nevis.
Edward Korthals, 91
Edward H. Korthals, age 91, of Buffalo, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Jan 16, 2024.
He was born on December 15, 1932, on a farm near George, Iowa.
He attended Hope College, and Western Theological Seminary, in Holland, Michigan where he met his wife of 70 years, Thelma Korthals. He served as a Minister in the Reformed
Church in America and the Assemblies of God for a total of 39 years.
Edward enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing softball, and woodworking.
He will be greatly missed by his three remaining children, Edward Korthals, Jr., Neenah, WI, Lori Burns, Delano, MN, Cherie Moen, Des Moines, IA; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma Korthals; his eldest son, Leslie E. Korthals;
and granddaughter, Jennifer R. Burns.
A Memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 25, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to the service at the Buffalo Evangelical Covenant Church in Buffalo, MN. Officiating will be Pastor Dean Brown. Lunch will be served after the funeral service.
Interment to be held later this Spring at the East Side Cemetery, Steen, MN. He will be laid to rest next to his wife and son.
The Funeral Service will be livestreamed at buffalocov.org/live.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Mary Lou Larson, 85
Mary Lou Larson, 85, of Chippewa Falls, formerly of Montrose, Minnesota, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 18, 2024, at the Lakehouse in Chippewa Falls, surrounded by family.
On December 19, 1938, Mary Lou was born to Robert and Marian (Hogenson) Engman in Minneapolis, MN. She attended Wayzata High School and graduated with the class of 1957. From age 13-18, she had a summer nanny position on Long Island, New York that she had many fond memories of. After graduating high school, she enjoyed an over 30-year career working for Humphrey & Hardenbergh Inc.
Mary Lou married Jim Larson on December 16, 1961. Together, they resided in Golden Valley, Montrose and Buffalo, Minnesota, until moving to Chippewa Falls in October 2014.
A kind and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandma, Mary Lou was an avid reader and crossword puzzle fan, loved to sew, and do jigsaw puzzles. She will be fondly remembered for her wonderful smile and laughter, her oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate brownies, her great sense of humor, and her love of conversation.
Mary Lou is survived by her daughter, Susan (Joe) Brandt, of Chippewa Falls; son, Steven Larson (Dannea Johnston), of Rush City, MN; two sisters, Laurel Engman, of Minneapolis, and Becky (Mark) Geistefeld, of Duluth, MN; two brothers, Tim (Suzanne) Engman and Charles Engman, all of Wayzata, MN; seven grandchildren, Kellsie (Jason) Zwiefelhofer, Deena (Justin Bowe) Reister, Emily (Grant Johnson) Larson, Griffin Brandt, Garrett (Robyn), Devan (Sydney) and Brodrick Larson; three great-grandchildren, Ashton and Isabella Zwiefelhofer, and Ava Larson; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jim; two brothers, Robert and Richard Engman; infant sister, Trudy Engman; and brother-in-law, Ronald Larson.
The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Rev. Aaron Sturgis, Central Lutheran Church, will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Irvine Park.
For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed/recorded and available to view at www.pedersonvolker.com/obituaries/mary-lou-larson.
Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services, Chippewa Falls is serving the family. Please share your memories and condolences online at pedersonvolker.com.
Robert Larson, 79
Robert “Bob” William Larson, born to “Skip” and Margaret (Staples) Larson on March 14, 1944, in Rochester, MN, passed away peacefully at the age of 79 on January 11, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.
Bob attended John Marshall High School and proudly graduated with the class of 1962. Following a brief stint at Mankato State College, he answered the call to serve and enlisted in the United States Army Reserve, demonstrating his patriotism and love for his country.
In 1968, Bob married his high school sweetheart, Jennifer Torgrimson, in Rochester, MN. Together, they embarked on a journey that spanned over five decades, creating a lifetime of cherished memories.
Bob’s professional journey led him to a long career with Valspar, where he dedicated over 25 years of hard work, ultimately retiring as a respected National Sales Manager. His dedication for his work left a lasting impact on those fortunate enough to work alongside him.
An avid outdoorsman, Bob found joy as an active member of the local Bison Fishing Forever group. Countless hours were spent on the lake, creating memories and friendships that would last a lifetime. Bob also served as the Commander of the Buffalo American Legion Post 270. Bob was also a member of The Forty and Eight. His dedication to the community and his fellow veterans was unwavering.
Bob’s daily ritual included breakfast outings with friends and Jennifer. He formed close connections with waitstaff who anticipated his usual order with a warm smile. He also participated in twice weekly bingo outings with a lively group of friends. His presence at these gatherings was a source of joy; he often brought his unique blend of a dry sense of humor and charismatic personality to the table.
Bob was predeceased by father, Hilmer “Skip” Larson; mother, Margaret (Staples) Larson; and sister, Pat Fischer.
Bob is survived by wife, Jennifer; son, Mark (wife, Missy); daughter, Heather (husband, Chris); brother, Bill (wife, Judy); grandchildren, Cooper, Skylar, Thatcher, Jada, Mollie, Gracie, and Kali; and several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life in honor of Bob will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at the Buffalo American Legion Post 270 in Buffalo, MN (304 10th Ave. S.). The Celebration of Life will include a service, Honor Guard, and 40/8 Last Respects starting at 11:30 with visitation to follow. Inurnment with military honors will take place at a later date at Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester, MN.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The Peterson Chapel of Buffalo. Online condolences for the family may be directed to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Elizabeth Loeffler, 89
Elizabeth “Liz” Ann Minnie (Oswald) Loeffler, born on July 3, 1934, in Corcoran Township, MN, peacefully passed away surrounded by loved ones on January 17, 2024. She was the beloved daughter of Jacob and Frieda (Baumiester) Oswald.
Liz graduated from Buffalo High School in 1952 and embarked on a beautiful journey with her high school sweetheart, Clarence Loeffler. They exchanged vows on June 5, 1954, at St. John’s Church in Corcoran – the same church where Liz was baptized and confirmed. Together, they created a loving home on their farm, raising four wonderful daughters.
A dedicated and hardworking individual throughout her life, Liz was actively involved in 4H and held a leadership role in the organization. A culinary artist, she delighted in sharing her passion for cooking with others and owned a successful catering business for over 30 years. Liz’s fried chicken became legendary, a testament to her culinary skills and the love she poured into every dish.
Her talents extended beyond the kitchen; Liz had a remarkable gift for embroidery, creating beautiful pieces that reflected her creativity and attention to detail. Her love for game shows and card games added joy to family gatherings, creating cherished memories for all.
She had a deep love for her family was a guiding light to them throughout her life. Her role as a grandmother especially brought her immense joy, and she wore the title with pride. To Liz, being called “grandma” was not just a name but a cherished identity that filled her heart with happiness.
Liz was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Clarence; her parents, Jacob and Frieda; siblings, Caroline (Melvin) Kobow, Muriel (Milan) Schulz, and Myron (Susan) Oswald; brother-in-law, John Walker; and sons-in-law, Dallas Schendel and Randy Manthei.
She is survived by her devoted children, Pamela (Steve) Tomczyk, Cindy Manthei, Kathy (Joe) Lundquist, and Paula (Greg) Krause. Liz’s legacy extends through her grandchildren, Luke, Justin, Nicholas, Emily, Courtney, Whitney, Dan, Abby, Melissa, and Molly, along with 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Jim (Rose) Oswald; sister-in-law, LaVarian Walker; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held on Saturday, January 20, 2024, from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., with a prayer service that started at 7:00 P.M. at The Peterson Chapel in St. Michael-Albertville. A funeral service took take place on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 3:00 P..M, with visitation one hour prior at Salem Lutheran Church in Greenfield, MN. Liz’s final resting place will be at Salem Lutheran Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to The Peterson Chapel of St. Michael-Albertville. Online condolences for the family may be directed to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Darlene Lohse, 86
Darlene Joyce Lohse, age 86, of Buffalo, died on January 20, 2024, at Park View Senior Living.
Darlene was born June 24, 1937, to John and Ruth Haag, Eden Valley, Minnesota.
Darlene grew up on a dairy farm in Eden Valley. Shortly after high school, she made a big move to downtown Minneapolis for a job at a large Twin Cities bank. While living in Minneapolis, she met and married Glenn Greenwald. Out of this union, two children were born, Jeff and Lori. In the late 1960’s, she and Glenn purchased land and built a home in Buffalo. At that same time, Darlene began working as a server at the nearby, 55 East Supper Club. She spent several years working at the restaurant, seeing several ownership changes, while raising her two children. In the early 1980’s, she spent time working at Buffalo National Bank, later with Ron’s Trucking, and finally, as a Kitchen Assistant with School District #877, retiring at age 80.
On April 28, 1984, Darlene married Ron Lohse and blended two families. Together, they enjoyed several years spending winters in Arizona, fishing, camping in their motor home, playing cards, and spending time with family and friends. One of Darlene’s fondest life moments was winning 1st place in the Buffalo Days Cribbage Tournament.
Darlene is survived by her children, Cindy (Darsey) Hohl, Sandy (Bruce) Anderson, Bill (Michelle) Lohse, Jeff (Laura) Greenwald, Tom (Katie) Lohse, Lori (Jay) LeBrun; grandchildren, Juliana (Alex) Puetz, Jason (Amber) Hohl, Chad (Michaela) Anderson, Eric (Kashia) Anderson, Samantha (Calvin) Ziegler, Ryan Lohse, Alex (Garrett) Ernhart, Sarah (Richard) Raymond, Maggie (Juan) Solano, Alex Greenwald, Cooper Greenwald, Austin (Amber) LeBrun, Brooke LeBrun, Gabrielle LeBrun; over a dozen great-grandchildren; brother, Del Haag; brother-in-law, Jim (Rita) Lohse; and sisters-in-law, Betty Lohse and Carol Haag.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law; husband, Ron; brother, Elmer; sister-in-law, Dorothy; and great-grandson, Zeke Anderson.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. with visitation one hour prior at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Buffalo, MN. Interment to follow at Lakeview Cemetery in Buffalo, MN.
Donations received will be used for the City of Buffalo Park Bench Program.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. Online condolences for the family may be directed to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Verdienne Torgerson, 90
Vickie was born March 3, 1933, on her family farm in Erskine, MN. She passed away January 14, 2024, at the age of 90.
Survived by her loving children, Steve (Char) Torgerson, Ron (Lori) Torgerson, Dean (Becky) Torgerson, LaRae (Gordy) Nelson; sister, Jannette (Jack) Berry; brothers, Jack (Marge) Berg, Al (Cindy) Berg; sisters-in-law, Nancy Berg, Eleanor Jackson; and many nieces and nephews; 14 grandchildren, Daniel Schimdt, Rachelle (Mike) McDougall, Jennifer (Odie) Fogleson, Christina (Jason) Fleege, Joy (Dan) Ahlbrecht, Jeff (Jenna) Torgerson, Michael Torgerson, Jessica Torgerson, Danielle (Jake) Norgren, James (Sami) Torgerson, Samantha Torgerson, Alyssa (Jon) Blake, Whitney (Tyler) Kuechle, Nathan Nelson; 35 great-grandchildren, Khala, Geyen, and Brittany Haycraft, Nicholas and Logan McDougall, Kjersten, Ty, and Carter Watkins, Jordan and Tanner Schmidt, Madilynn, Benjamin, Remington, and Bella Norgren, Parker, Graham, and Coleman Fleege, Ava and Sophia Albrecht, Abraham, William, and Eden Blake, Jackson, Rowan, Easton, Otto, and Regan Kuechle, Raylyn and Savannah Torgerson, Beau and Jamason Braun, Emery Lemm, Kaidan Barker, Tucker and Willow DelRae Torgerson; five great-great-grandchildren: Kirra, Grayson, Braelyn, IsabeleMay, and Elijah.
Preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow Torgerson; daughter, Terry Lynn Torgerson; parents, Elmer and Edith Berg; brothers, DuWayne Berg and William Berg.
Vickie and Woodie were married on June 28, 1952, in Minneapolis, MN. They built a loving home and family while running Torgerson Well Company. She enjoyed 4-wheeling, fishing, boat rides, family gatherings, and cooking big meals. We are all so grateful for the love and dedication you gave to us. You made the world a better place, and we will miss you.
Services will be 11 A.M. January 19, 2024, at Big Grove Lutheran Church in Belgrade, MN, with visitation an hour prior.
Marie Veal, 78
Marie Celeste Veal, age 78, of Buffalo passed away on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at her residence.
She was born on June 10, 1945, in San Diego, California, the daughter of James and Marion (Custer) Leonard.
On August 27, 1966, Roy L. Veal and Marie C. Leonard were joined in holy marriage in Minneapolis. God blessed their marriage with two children.
She was formerly employed at Tool Products in Quality Control for thirty years. Marie later worked in the lunchroom at the Buffalo school.
Marie was the glue that held her family together! She loved her grandchildren, rescuer of animals, and enjoyed trips North to the cabin.
Survived by a daughter, Becky Lehn; three grandsons, Scott (Kristine) Veal, Jeremy (Candice) Lehn and Jacob Lehn; six great-grandchildren; five siblings, Aaron Leonard, James (Joyce) Leonard, Betty Robson, Barbara Henderson, and John Leonard; and by extended family members.
Preceded in death by her husband, Roy L. Veal on February 28, 2011, and by her son, Garrett L. Veal on March 21, 2023.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Orville Volkmann, 94
Orville “Orv” Volkmann, age 94, of Frederic, WI, passed away in peace on January 12, 2024.
Orv was born on February 7, 1929, in Wilmette, Illinois, the son of Alexander and Manila (Mueller) Volkmann.
He grew up (fondly known as) Nord East, Minneapolis. His childhood held memories of hunting, fishing, trapping, and working at Max’s, the corner grocery store.
Orv met our mom at Circle B Ranch and being the good-looking wrangler, he took her out on a trail ride one more time and then went on to a rodeo that night. They were married, and that marriage lasted 53-½ years.
He started his life career working for Chicago Northwestern Railroad and then on to Western Electric. His final step was creating, along with mom, The Brass Bell, a Pet ‘n Saddle Shop in Wayzata, MN. Nearing retirement status, he also became the manager and grounds keeper for the Twin Cities Polo Club in Maple Plain for eight years.
In 1987, he was awarded the honor of the Minnesota Horse Council Horseman of the Year, highlighting his helping hand with 4-H, the Hamel Trail Duster Saddle Club, and the parent association, Western Saddle Club Association.
When near his retirement, he and mom moved to Frederic, WI. They purchased a small house on 40 acres of thick woods, and here, he was absolutely in his glory.
Always a worker, he never was bored. He took on a job with the “Hole in the Wall” Casino in Danbury, WI and went up the ranks to become their top security enforcement supervisor for the casino. He was well thought of to be the guy who could talk down any altercation and used one of his many mantras “kill em’ with kindness.” All during this time, he was also taking classes to become a first responder.
Retirement once again repeated itself, and he turned to cutting down trees. He would cut them down with his first chain saw, that will be buried with him, and then would drag them in with his trusty four-wheeler. Orv would then cut and split the wood to sell for a modest amount. He became very popular in the area for his excellent stacking and selling of quality wood to burn and also his stories.
Orv is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Gert; infant daughter, Susan Lee; son-in-law, Timm Freeman; brother, David; and one his last dogs, Wolf.
Orv is survived by daughters, Karen (Ron) Clark and Jill Freeman; son, John (Tricia) Volkmann; step-grandson, Brandon Welch; also, through the years, many fishing cronies, hunting associates, and his Nascar buddies; Shadow, his last dog and companion; Kit Kat (the feral cat who, with his patience, became the garage/outside cat); and Spike, the house cat.
Funeral service for Orv will be held Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m., all at the Historic Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, 1 Tower Avenue, Fort Snelling, MN 55111.
Interment will be held Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.
The family and host of friends request memorials be given to the MS Society and specifically directed to the MS River Road Run in Orv’s name.
If preferred, flowers can be sent through Buffalo Floral, as they are among his friends also.
Arrangements were entrusted to The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo, MN.
