Obituaries

Gail Petersen Harwell, 81,  passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at RiverView Care Center in Crookston, where she had been a resident since October of 2021. She was born October 7, 1940, to Norma and Jerry Petersen at Minette’s Maternity Home in Fertile, where she also attended school,…

Dean G. Schenkey, 78, Fertile, MN, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 7, 2022, at Riverview Care Center in Crookston, MN. Dean George Schenkey was born on March 14, 1943, in Thief River Falls, MN to George and Dorothy (Worman) Schenkey. He spent most of his life in the Beltrami area and grad…

Myrtle M. Ellis of Crookston, MN passed away at the Benedictine Living Community Crookston on January 17, 2022. Myrtle M. (Staehnke) Ellis was born in Bismarck, ND on May 25, 1928, to Harold and Florence Staehnke.  The family moved to Clearbrook, MN in 1932.  Myrtle attended school there and graduat…

The Mass of Resurrection for Sister Joan Lanctot will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 12, 2022, in the Villa St. Vincent Chapel of Benedictine Living Community Crookston with The Rev. Joe Richards, presiding.  Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to the Congreg…

Maxine Enid Hanson Holmquist passed away peacefully at Riverview Health in Crookston, Minnesota, on April 29, 2022, surrounded by her family.  Maxine was born in Hallock, Minnesota, to Enevol and Florence (Danielson) Willadson on September 8, 1933. She attended school in Hallock, graduating in 1951.…

Linda Bjerke, age 75, of Ada, MN, died Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at Benedictine Care Community in Ada, MN. Linda Sue Tubbs, the daughter of Dale and Donna (Morrison) Tubbs, was born on February 9, 1947, in Omaha, NE.  She grew up in Omaha and attended school there.  She studied nursing at the Unive…

Edwin “Bud” Magnus Johnson, 96, died peacefully on Monday, April 25, 2022, with his family at his side. Bud, the son of Edwin O. B. and Mildred (Hildenbrandt) Johnson, was born on September 14, 1925, in Wells County, ND.  He attended Pleasant View Rural School near his home and Hurdsfield High Schoo…

Charlene “Tootsie” Harriet Stromstad, 95, Fertile, MN, passed away quietly in the early evening of Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile. Tootsie was born in Crookston, MN on July 20, 1926, and was the daughter of Lawrence and Ellen (Moe) Walters. She grew up on the family f…

Ralph Mark LeBlanc, 87 of Fertile, Minnesota died Saturday, April 23rd at Fair Meadow Nursing Home. Ralph was born on the home farm near Erskine on October 31st, 1934. He was one of eleven children born to Philip and Clara LeBlanc. He attended country school and Erskine High School before leaving ho…

John Arthur Thomforde, 84, a lifelong Crookston, MN resident and longtime businessman, passed away at his home on his 84th birthday, Wednesday, April 27, 2022, with his beloved wife, Jean, and their children at his side. John was born on April 27, 1938, to Harold Frederick and Lucille (Sommers) Thom…