Obituaries

Bonnie Synstelien

Jan 11, 2025

Bonnie Synstelien, 77, of Fergus Falls, died January 11, 2025.

Bonnie Jane Larson was born May 27, 1947, in Wheaton, MN, to Dorance and Ora Clare (Rosedahl) Larson. She was the third of seven children, Jean, Judie, Bonnie, Dorry, Nancy, Dayton and Jana. She went to school in Wheaton. When she was 10 years old her mother passed...

Donald Korby

Jan 10, 2025

Donald Wayne Korby, 74, of Fergus Falls, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 10, 2025, surrounded by his children and under the care of hospice.

Don was born in Duluth, MN, on September 9, 1950, to Austin and Edna (Downing) Korby. In his early years, the family moved to Fergus Falls, where Austin founded Korby Contracting Company....

Gloria "Nicky" Opatz

Jan 8, 2025

***See updated service information***

Gloria "Nicky" Opatz, 89, of Fergus Falls, died Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at Lake Region Healthcare.

Gloria "Nicky" Opatz was born on November 4, 1935, in Minot, North Dakota, to Martin and Olga (Holen) Nickelson. Nicky graduated from Mohall High in Mohall, North Dakota, in 1953. She graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing in 1956 and married...

Donna Pickett

Jan 6, 2025

Donna Rae Pickett passed away peacefully at home in the care of her loving husband on Monday, January 6, 2025.

Donna Rae Dunlop was born April 30, 1949, to Donald and Lorraine (Dipple) Dunlop in Grand Forks, ND. Donna attended Grafton Central High School and graduated in the class of 1967. She graduated from the University of North Dakota...

Connie Boole

Jan 6, 2025

Connie Lee Boole, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother passed away at 76 years on January 6, 2025 peacefully in her home, after battling Multiple Sclerosis and then cancer courageously. Connie was surrounded by family. She was born July 5, 1948 in Ada, Minnesota to Don and Doris (Morgan) Lee. She is survived by her husband Greg Boole, her children Julie...

Thomas Saurer

Jan 1, 2025

Thomas E. Saurer, 91, of Fergus Falls, died Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at his home, under the care of Knute Nelson Hospice surrounded by his loving family.

Thomas was born November 4, 1933, in Fergus Falls, the son of Anton and Irene (Kidder) Saurer. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. He attended rural school District #208 and...

Eleanor Rittenour Auseth

Dec 31, 2024

Eleanor Rittenour Auseth, 102, of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at LB Broen Home in Fergus Falls.

Eleanor Frances Barlage was born February 15, 1922 to James and Annie (Braaten) Barlage in Monson Township, Traverse County, MN. Eleanor Barlage was married to Raymond Rittenour in Wheaton, MN on March 1st, 1939. Together they farmed and raised their...

Marion Rund

Dec 31, 2024

Marion Helen Rund, 71, of Fergus Falls, a devoted mother, sister, and grandmother died on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, surrounded by family, after fighting a month-long illness at Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND.

Marion Helen Rund (Rude) was born on March 28, 1953, to Kalmer and Mayme (Enger) Rude in Hazen, ND. The family moved around a lot in...

Gerald Toso

Dec 28, 2024

Gerald (Jerry) Toso passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on December 28, 2024 at the age of 92, after a long battle with cancer.

Jerry was born November 26, 1932 on the "Hilde 80" east of Rothsay to Curtis and Myrtle Hilde Toso. He attended District 82 country school, then grade school and high school in...

Arlys Johnson

Dec 27, 2024

Arlys Johnson, 91, died Friday, December 27, 2024 at Riverfront on Main in Pelican Rapids.

Arlys May Johnson was born on May 13, 1933 to Julia (Lemke) and William Scheer in Erhard MN. She graduated from Pelican Rapids High School and went on to Dakota Business School in Fargo.

She married Earl D. Johnson of Pelican Rapids on...

Mark Morris

Dec 25, 2024

Remembering the life of...

Mark Morris, 69, of Fergus Falls, MN, entered heaven on Christmas Day, 2024 after a brief stay at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND.

Mark Joseph Morris was born March 30, 1955, in Lisbon, ND, to Roger and Mildred (Gudmunson) Morris. He graduated from Leonard High School in 1973 and attended Alexandria Technical and Community...

Robert Roberts

Dec 24, 2024

Robert Richard Roberts, 73 of Battle Lake, died Tuesday, December 24, 2024.

Robert "Bob" was born on February 22, 1951 in St. Paul, MN to Father Richard Burton Roberts and Vivian Mae (Christensen). Bob was the second oldest of five siblings. He graduated in 1969 from Mounds View High School followed two years of studies at Bethel College. He decided to...

Susan Leitte

Dec 24, 2024

Susan "Sue" Leitte, 83, of Fergus Falls, died Tuesday, December 24, 2024 at her residence.

Susan Lynn Leitte (nee Hanse) was born Feb. 12, 1942. She was raised in Stevens County on a family farm, helping her parents grain farm and raise chickens. She attended Cyrus schools, graduating from high school in 1960. Sue attended Augsburg College, getting a teaching degree....

Helen Miller

Dec 23, 2024

Helen Jean Morton Miller, age 89, passed away on December 23rd, 2024 in her home in rural Pelican Rapids, MN.

She was born February 12th, 1935 to Florence (Grunwald) and Walter Morton. She was the middle of 7 children. She married Joseph LeRoy Miller on December 27th, 1952. She attended MSUM and proudly earned her education degree in only 3 years,...

Denise Kugler

Dec 23, 2024

Denise Kugler, 59, of Underwood, died Monday, December 23, 2024 at her residence.

Denise Van Gerpen was born August 26, 1965, to Donald and Lorraine (Glenn) Van Gerpen in Pleasant Hill, CA. Her family moved to Edwards, MN in 1972 where they ran a small store called Van's Grocery. She attended school in Pelican Rapids, graduating in 1983. While...

Morris Lindholm

Dec 22, 2024

Morris D. Lindholm, 84 of Fergus Falls passed away December 22nd, 2024 at Pioneer Care with his wife and daughters by his side under the care of Knute Nelson Hospice.

He was born November 29th, 1940 to Lawrence and Alice (Knutson) Lindholm in Thief River Falls, MN. He lived in Thief River Falls for a few years before moving...

Pat Hardyman

Dec 22, 2024

Pat Hardyman, 93, of Fergus Falls, died Sunday, December 22, 2024 at the MN Veteran's Home in Fergus Falls.

Pat Anne Hardyman was born December 26, 1930 to Clyde and Betsy (Phelps) Durham in Brookfield, IL.

She was a cook at Battle Lake School and various nursing homes, the co-owner of Riverside Resort on Otter Tail Lake,...

Susan Balken

Dec 21, 2024

Susan Balken, 76, of Fergus Falls, died Saturday, December 21, 2024 at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Susan Kay Schultz was born August 25, 1948 to Donald William and Doris O. (Hauger) Schultz in Rothsay, MN. She attended school in Rothsay, graduating in 1966. In the fall of 1966, she attended New York Hairstyling in Fargo. It was her dream from second...

Beverly Norlin

Dec 20, 2024

Beverly Norlin, 86, of Fergus Falls, died Friday, December 20, 2024 at PioneerCare in Fergus Falls.

Born November 20, 1938, In Broad Run, MD to parents Charles C. Ahalt and Evelyn (Routzahn) Ahalt. She was baptized and confirmed and married at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Burkittsville, MD.

Bev graduated from Middletown High School in Middletown, MD, in 1956 and was hired by...

Betty Skramsted

Dec 19, 2024

Betty Skramsted, 94, of Fergus Falls, died Thursday, December 19, 2024, at LB Broen Home.



Betty Ione Hanson was born December 14, 1930 to Melvin and Clara Mathilda (Schierman) Hanson in Erhard Grove Township, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. She attended Otter Tail County District 17 School.



In March 1948, Betty married Lyle...