Obituaries

Ann Porter

May 25, 2024

Ann Christine Porter, 69, of Fergus Falls, MN, tragically passed away in a motor vehicle collision on May 25, 2024, in Morris County, Kansas, while visiting Council Grove for an annual family reunion.

Ann was born on November 10, 1954, to loving parents Gene and Dorothy (Long) Porter in Fergus Falls, MN. Throughout life, she remained close with her...

William Boll

Jun 27, 2024

William R. Boll, 86, formerly of Wahpeton, ND, current residence of Otter Tail Lake, died June 27, 2024, under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley and his loving family.

Funeral Service at St. John's Catholic Church in Wahpeton, ND, complete obituary and service information to follow soon.

Assistance provided by Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls.

Online condolences may...

Ricky "Rick" Kraning

Jun 23, 2024

Ricky “Rick” Kraning, 69, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, June 23, 2024 at Lake Region Healthcare.

Rick was born on February 27, 1955 in Ellendale, ND, the son of John and Irene (Haro) Kraning. He spent his early years in LaMoure, ND, where he made many lifelong friends. The family moved to Fergus Falls in 1967, where Rick graduated...

Charles "Chuck" Dale

Jun 22, 2024

Charles “Chuck” G. Dale, 76, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Saturday, June 22, 2024 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls.

Chuck was born on October 7, 1947 in Fertile, MN, the son of Melvin and Pearl (Iverson) Dale. He grew up and attended school in Fertile, graduating from Fertile High School in 1965. After high he attended the...

Russell Dean Saurer

Jun 22, 2024

Russell D. Saurer, 73, a resident of Fergus Falls, died peacefully Saturday, June 22, 2024 at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Russell was the fifth of ten children born to Victor and Lillian (Husfeldt) Saurer. He spent his younger years in Elizabeth and Big Falls, MN and moving to Clitherall, MN in 1967.

September 8, 1982, he married Kathryn Hanson and together they...

Larry Wahlstrom

Jun 22, 2024

Larry Kenneth Wahlstrom, 77, a resident of Fergus Falls, died unexpectedly on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at Lake Region Healthcare in Fergus Falls.

Larry Wahlstrom, the son of Kenneth and Clarice Wahlstrom, was born in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, on November 27, 1946. He grew up in rural Erhard, MN, attending the local country school and later attending and graduating...

Susan Ann Nygaard

Jun 21, 2024

Susan Ann Nygaard, 80, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Friday, June 21, 2024 at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

 Susan was born June 8, 1944 to Mildred (Johnson) and Myron Nygaard, the oldest of four children. She started kindergarten in 1950, and also attended Special Education classes. She started employment at Productive Alternatives, which lasted 30+ years.

 After her mother died in...

William Ruppert

Jun 16, 2024

William "Bill" Ruppert, 63, of Fergus Falls, died June 16, 2024, at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND.

William "Bill" Orville Ruppert was born January 30, 1961, to Orville and Judy (Keeler) Ruppert in Slayton, MN. He attended school in Tracy, MN at St. Mary's Catholic School and Tracy High School. During his youth and early adult years he held several different...

Gayle Beecher

Jun 15, 2024

Gayle H. Beecher, 92, a resident of Battle Lake, died Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Barrett Care Facility in Barrett, Minnesota.

He was born January 4, 1932 in Williston, ND, the son of Les and Opal (Roed) Beecher. He attended primary school in Williston and high school in Fergus Falls, graduating in 1948. 

On August 10, 1952, he married Ruth Ellen Ranstad...

Loren Woolson

Jun 15, 2024

Loren Velzie Woolson, 94, a resident of Fergus Falls, MN, passed away quietly in the early morning hours on Saturday, June 15, 2024 at LB Broen Home under the care of Knute Nelson Hospice.

Loren was born on November 30, 1929, in Taylors Falls, MN to parents Velzie and Luella (Puffer) Woolson.

He grew up in St. Croix Falls, WI, graduating from...

Stephanie Krog

Jun 13, 2024

Stephanie Denise (Pratt) Krog, 65, of Erhard, MN, passed away at PioneerCare under the care of Knute Nelson Hospice on June 13, 2024. Stephanie was born September 20, 1958, in Las Vegas, NV, to James Pratt and Donna (Woods) Pratt. 

The Pratt family moved to Burns, OR, where she graduated from high school in 1976. This is also where Stephanie met...

Lawrence Larson

Jun 11, 2024

Lawrence "Larry" Roger Larson, 75, of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday June 11, 2024 at Lake Region Healthcare, Fergus Falls MN.

Larry was born September 8, 1948, to Alvin and Lucile (Shafer) Larson in Oakes, ND. He attended Oakes Elementary School and graduated in 1966 from Oakes State High School. He furthered his education at North Dakota State University earning...

Debra Drechsel

Jun 6, 2024

Debra Drechsel, 69, of Fergus Falls, died unexpectedly, Thursday, June 6, 2024 at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND.

Debra Ann Drechsel was born February 14, 1955 to Robert and Patricia (Devlin) Reames Sr. in Portland, OR. She graduated from Oscoda High School. On February 17, 1973 she married Vernell Drechsel in Oscoda, MI.

Through the years Debra was employed at various...

Jody Wilde

Jun 3, 2024

Jody A. Wilde, 63, of Elizabeth, died Monday, June 3, 2024 at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND.

Jody Ann (Larson) Wilde was born April 6, 1961 in Fergus Falls to Harold and Donna (Musser) Larson.

In 1979 she graduated from Rothsay Public School where she played volleyball and was named to the all-state high school volleyball team. She furthered her education at...

Franklin Bollwitt

Jun 2, 2024

Franklin Joseph Bollwitt, 87, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, June 2, 2024 at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND.

Frank was born on June 2, 1937 in Ewing, Nebraska, the son of Frank and Marcella (Emsick) Bollwitt. He grew up in Ewing and graduated from Ewing High School in 1955. After high school, Frank served in the United...

Allen Leabo

May 30, 2024

Allen Kenneth Leabo, 74, of Carlisle, MN, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at his home in Carlisle, MN.

Allen was born to Orval and Mary (Haugen) Leabo, in Fergus Falls, MN on January 31, 1950. He grew up near Underwood, MN and graduated high school in Fergus Falls, MN in 1968.

He married Linda Marquardt on September 25, 1999....

John Wagner

May 28, 2024

John Wagner, of Fergus Falls, MN, passed away at his home while under hospice care following a battle with cancer on May 28, 2024.

John Richard Wagner was born on November 1, 1949, in Morris, MN, to Richard Frank Wagner and Dorothy Jean (Darling) Wagner. Growing up on the family farm in Framnas Township, he attended the one-room "Stone School" until...

Reverend James Amspacher

May 27, 2024

Reverend James Russell Amspacher, 90, of Fergus Falls, died Monday, May 27, 2024, at his residence, under the care of Knute Nelson hospice.

James was born October 10, 1933, in Shrewsbury Township, Southeastern Pennsylvania. He received elementary education at many one-room schoolhouses and graduated from Red Lion High School's Industrial Class in 1951. He received further training in the...

Luella Miller

May 17, 2024

Luella "Lou" Thora Miller, 94, of Fergus Falls, MN died Friday, May 17, 2024 at Lake Region Healthcare.

Luella was born on May 16, 1930 to Lewis and Thea (Moklev) Tysdal in Fergus Falls, MN. She shared the same birthday as her mother.

Luella graduated from the Fergus Falls High School and then completed Teacher's Training. She taught...

Geraldine Melby

May 14, 2024

Geraldine Melby, 100, of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Geraldine Elizabeth Elliott was born at home on West Lakeside Drive, Fergus Falls, on December 18, 1923 to Clarence G. and Grace M. (Cook) Elliott.

During her school years Geraldine "Gerry" enjoyed participating in various activities, was a Camp Fire Girl through...