DEATH NOTICES

Roger Elmer Avok, 68, a Vietnam veteran, welder, manufacturer and foreman, died June 13, 2013.
Roger Avok was born  August 30, 1945, in Benson. He was the only child of Elmer and Emily (Anderson) Avok of Clontarf.
He was baptized at West Zion Church by the Rev. Palmer, Oct. 21, 1945. He was confirmed by Pastor Severson at West Zion,  June 12, 1960.
Avok graduated from Benson High School in 1963, and was drafted into the Army, serving in Vietnam from 1965-67. He received his Honorable Discharge Oct. 29, 1967.
Avok returned home after his military service and worked in several jobs.
He married Judy Rodahl of Benson in 1968. In 1970, he hired on at Tyler Corporate Industries in Benson, where he spent most of his career, 27 years.
Avok was one of several men from the Benson area who moved their families to help establish a TCI plant in Yankton, S.D., in the mid-1970s.

Shirley Marie (Carpenter) Ogle passed away in her sleep June 14, 2013.
She will be buried at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Princeton, MO July 20.
She was born April 24, 1922 and is preceded in death by her husband, Howard Ogle; two brothers, Roderick and G. E. “Spud” Carpenter; and her sister, Wanda Nathe.
Shirley was born in Sauk Centre, Minnesota and lived in Benson for many years where she and her husband owned Howard’s Produce.
She and Howard retired to Florida and enjoyed the camaraderie at Pinewood Village Mobile Home Park in St. Petersburg for many years. Shirley lived with her daughter, Deborah and son-in-law, Roy Haggerty in Plymouth, MA at the time of her death.
She enjoyed golf, playing cards, computer games, and counted cross-stitch. She was well-loved by everyone who knew her.
Cards and condolences may be sent to: Deb Ogle Haggerty, 35 Dogwood Drive, Plymouth, MA 02360.

Stella J. Kalthoff, age 68, of DeGraff, died Monday, June 10, 2013 at home.
 
Services:  Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 15, 2013, at the St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in DeGraff, with Father William Sprigler officiating.
 
Visitation: 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 13, 2013 at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson with a Parish Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m.  Visitation will continue at the St. Bridget’s Catholic Church for one hour prior to the service.
 
Arrangements are with the Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson, MN.

Audrey Wendland passed away May 23, 2013 in Tallahassee, Florida.

A memorial service will be held in July at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Audrey was born Dec. 16, 1928 to Leonard and Florence Kvam in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Audrey’s mother Florence taught school for several years in Six Mile Grove, Swenoda, Sunburg area and Holloway area. Audrey’s father lived in Six Mile Grove area his early years.
Audrey published a book about her mother:  ‘Florence: The True Story of a Country Schoolteacher in Minnesota and North Dakota.’ The book is at the museum in Benson.

Florence went to her eternal home Wednesday, June 5, 2013 from “Harbor Care at Regency on Whidbey” on Whidbey Island, WA after complications from a recent fall and fractured shoulder.   

 
Florence Eldora Slaughter was born at home in Jackson County, Minnesota  April 2, 1925, the fifth of 12 children born to Rennie and Emma Slaughter.  

 
In August of 1945, she married LaVern Birch, from Danvers who was in the U.S. Navy.   Florence, LaVern and their four children left Minnesota in 1956 and moved to Seattle, WA.    LaVern and Florence’s fifth child was born in December of 1956.  

Murien A. Sonsteng, 85, of Benson, died Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at the Golden Living Center - Meadow Lane in Benson, Minnesota.  

          
Funeral services were 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 10, at the East Zion Lutheran Church in rural Starbuck, with Rev. Jacqueline Harvestine officiating.  Friends called for one hour prior to the service.  

Burial was in the East Zion Cemetery in Langhei Township, Pope County.  

Arrangements were with the Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson.  

The funeral service for Joan Arnold, of Holloway, was held  Friday, June 7, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church in Appleton.  Pastor Michelle R. Rowell officiated at the service.  Pati Arnold was the organist and accompanied the congregation in the singing of the hymns.

Honorary Bearers were Joan’s grandchildren and the Western Prairie Farm Collectors Club.  Casketbearers were Donita Ascheman, Alison Harwood, Betty Lovett, Rebecca Martinka, Charles Munsterman, and Scott Munsterman.  Interment was at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Moyer Township.

Bueford W. Peterson, 89, of Glenwood, formerly of Swift Falls, passed away  Sunday, June 2, 2013, at Glacial Ridge  Health Services in Glenwood.  

Funeral services were held Thursday, June 6, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Swift Falls.  Visitation was held  Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the church before the service.  
Burial followed the service at the Swift Falls Cemetery in Swift Falls.  

Bueford was born  December 28, 1923 in Mound, Minnesota to Walter and Mathilda (Leaf) Peterson.  He graduated from Mound High School and was employed by a plumber, but was anxious to help with chores at his father’s dairy farm and chose to farm instead.  

Stella Kalthoff, age 68, of rural Murdock, died Monday, June 10, 2013, at her home.
 
Arrangements are pending with the Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson, MN.

A memorial service for Lou Reither will be held  at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 15, 2013, at Vine Evangelical Church, 3244 22nd Ave South, Minneapolis, Minnesota  55407 in lieu of the graveside service. 

 
Lunch will be served at the church following the service.