Author: obituaries_api

Wayne Gary Hanson, 83, of Butterfield, died on June 20, 2026.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, August 23, 2026, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James. Visitation will continue on Monday from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at Saint Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Odin. A memorial service will be held on Monday, August 24, 2026, at 11:00 am at Saint Olaf Lutheran Church. Interment will take place at Saint Olaf Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials preferred to St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in St. James. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Wayne was born to Harold and Ardis (Warling) Hanson in St. James, MN on August 3, 1942. He was a lifetime member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church of rural Odin, MN, being baptized and confirmed there. Wayne attended Butterfield High School and graduated in 1960.

On December 10, 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Zelda King, on her parents' farm in rural Butterfield, MN. Together they raised three children. Wayne was a devoted husband and father. Early in their marriage, Wayne worked at Scherr-Tumico, for Bill Schrader and at Butterfield Hardware. Later, he also worked at Toro. He was proud to be a farmer all of his life. Wayne was very fussy with his farm equipment, his farmyard and loved mowing his lawn. He loved horse-back riding and driving his horse and buggy. He also enjoyed antique cars, especially his 1932 Chevrolet and driving his Ford Mustangs. Wayne and Zelda spent a few years wintering in Arizona, until Wayne's health kept them closer to home. Over the years, Wayne and Zelda drove many miles and spent countless hours watching their grandchildren participate in their many sporting events. Wayne loved playing his accordion and taught accordion and guitar lessons for many years. He also served many years on the St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery board and on the Butterfield Township board.

Wayne is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Zelda of Butterfield, MN; daughter, Paula (David) Elg of Butterfield, MN; son, Terry (Carol) of Ormsby, MN; son, Todd (Jennifer) of Saint James, MN; 6 grandchildren, Anthony (Kandice Byron) Elg, Travis (Alison) Elg, Lindzey (Chris) Donovan, Kayla (fiancé Tyson Crosby) Hanson, Ethan (Taylor) Pierson and Cody Hanson; 4 great-grandchildren; sister, Judith (Rodney) Meyers of Carlos, MN; brother, Rodney (Gail) Hanson of Protem, MO; sisters-in-law, Evie King of Windom, MN and Jean Kramer of Kenyon, MN; brother-in-law, Jerry (Marilyn) King of Baxter, MN; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Ardis (Warling) Hanson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Vernon and Clara (Hoffman) King; brothers-in-law, Virgil King and Daryl Kramer; along with several aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives.

Leslie Henry Harder, age 93, of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake, surrounded by his wife and 7 children.

A visitation was held on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake. The funeral service was held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake. A private family burial will take place at the Mountain Lake City Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Leslie was born on his family’s farm southwest of Mountain Lake. He was the youngest of three children born to Henry and Helen Harder. Growing up in a rural community, Leslie attended a local one-room grammar school before graduating from Mountain Lake High School in 1951, where he was an active member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). Following graduation, he dedicated himself to the land, farming alongside his father. He was Cottonwood County’s Young Farmer of the Year in 1965. He started his farming career with horses and finished with four-wheel drive tractors. He began partnering with his dad and finished with his sons.

At the age of 17, Leslie met the love of his life, Gladys Baerg, at the youth group. The high school sweethearts were married at the First Mennonite Church in May of 1953, beginning a beautiful partnership that spanned over seven decades. Grounded deeply in their faith in Christ, Leslie and Gladys spent nearly their entire lives giving back to the community, volunteering with the church youth group and other organizations. Serving well into their 70s.

Leslie and Gladys established their home on the family farm, where they raised an active family. They became parents to Rosalie, Perry, Eileen, Linda and the triplets: Duane, Donna, and Dianne. Together, Leslie and Gladys worked tirelessly to raise their seven children, instilling in them a powerful sense of teamwork, and a strong work ethic. But most importantly, they taught their children and grandchildren to love the Lord. In addition, the family learned to love farming, riding horse, water skiing, and camping.

Leslie possessed a lifelong passion for travel and adventure. With a large family to provide for, he took great pride in figuring out how to orchestrate grand adventures on a tight budget. Together, the family traveled across Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Alaska. As empty nesters, Leslie and Gladys continued to travel the world, pairing their love for exploration with a heart for service through numerous international mission trips. Today, Leslie’s extraordinary legacy lives on through a family that has grown to 105 members strong.

Leslie is survived by his beloved wife, Gladys; his seven children and their spouses: Rosalie and Norman Dick, Perry and Sharon Harder, Eileen and Steve Thiessen, Linda and Curt Hofer, Duane and Belle Harder, Donna and John Holmes, and Dianne and Mark Bristol; 23 grandchildren and spouses; and 49 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Helen Harder, and his sisters, Frances (Ervin) Loewen and Gladys E. (Leo) Harder.

Brenda Lynn Pigman, 72, of Bingham Lake, Minnesota, passed away on August 9, 2026, at her home surrounded by family.

A visitation was held on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at The Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom and will continue on Saturday from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at the church. A memorial service was held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM at The Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Windom. A private family burial will take place at a later date. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Brenda was born on January 10, 1954, to Barney and Tina (Marquardt) Schramm in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. She graduated from Redwood Falls High School in 1972. On April 5, 1975. She married LeWayne Pigman. Together, they raised two sons, Michael and Nathan.

Brenda worked as a legal secretary at Ruenitz, Gudmestad, Gross & McDonald law firm in Windom for 10 years and retired as an office administrator from the US Fish and Wildlife Service after 29 years of service.

Brenda was a member of the Wings on the Prairie, Windom Women’s Investment Group, Dollars for Scholars, and the Windom Hockey Association Board, instilling the importance of paying it forward to her children and grandchildren. Always up for an adventure, she enjoyed traveling with her husband and family. Some of their favorite vacations included trips to Yellowstone, St. Louis, Maine, Costa Rica, Panama Canal, Las Vegas, Pensacola, Hawaii, and Cozumel. Many hours were spent in the car to catch one of the grandchildren's events, from hockey games to dance competitions and a sprinkle of cheer competitions and volleyball. Spending time with her family was of the most importance to Brenda. A few of her favorite places to visit with the grandkids were Disney World and the Wisconsin Dells.

When Brenda had a few days at home, she enjoyed cooking wonderful 5-course meals for her family and having them all gather. When needing a break, she loved watching the trumpeter swans on the local sloughs or taking a pontoon ride with LeWayne and enjoying a book. If she was able to find some quiet time at home, she enjoyed watching the birds at the feeders or catching some mystery shows on TV.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, LeWayne of Bingham Lake; sons, Michael (Amy) Pigman of Odin and Nathan (Nicole) Pigman of Sherburn; grandchildren, Tanner (Cali) Pigman, Carter Pigman and significant other, Brooklyn Roll, Spencer Pigman, Teagan Pigman, Nyla Pigman, and Daxton Pigman; great-grandson, Brooks Pigman with a little brother coming in October; nieces, Christine Kral, Lori (Mike) Marti and Maria (Timothy) Anderson; nephew, Timothy (Therese) Domeier, brothers-in-law, Terry (Mary) Pigman, Darwin (Wendy) Pigman; sisters-in-law, Sharon (Brian) Haataja; Devon Fett; along with many other nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Brenda was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Phyllis Schramm and Elaine Domeier; brother, Bruce Schramm; parents-in-law, Dwane and Deloris Pigman; and niece, Janette Pigman-Kruse.

Preston Lee Sombath Karschnik, age 23, of Mountain Lake, MN, passed away unexpectedly after experiencing health complications on July 29, 2026, at Windom Area Health.

Visitation will be on Sunday, August 9th, 2026, from 3:00PM to 7:00PM at Mountain Lake Alliance Church in Mountain Lake and will continue on Monday from 1-2PM at the church.

Funeral Service will be held at Mountain Lake Alliance Church on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 2:00PM.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake, MN. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Preston was born on February 7, 2003, in Windom, Minnesota, to Kari Karschnik and Sombath Naly. He attended Mountain Lake Public School from kindergarten through twelfth grade and graduated in 2021.

Preston worked at A&W in Mountain Lake for several years, where he was a valued coworker and friend. His coworkers enjoyed working alongside him and looked forward to sharing shifts. Preston also spent a brief time working at Toro in Windom with his mom.

Growing up, Preston loved spending time with his dad, Sombath, going fishing. He also spent much of his childhood with "Grandpa" Steve, who introduced him to the love of baseball, which continued into his adult life.

As a talented artist, Preston loved drawing. He enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music such as Michael Jackson, Ozzy Osbourne, and Frank Sinatra. He enjoyed playing video games with his sister and friends. Preston kept his circle of friends small, but those friendships were very important to him. He loved spending time with his beloved dog, Molly Mae, who passed away shortly before him.

Preston had a special bond with his mom, Kari. She reflected on their relationship, stating that he was her rock, and that they were virtually the same person. They shared a similar taste in music, clothing, and shoes, and enjoyed going to import car shows together. Kari and Preston had the same dry sense of humor and were able to understand each other with a simple glance.

Preston's greatest joy in life was spending time with Aria. Together, they enjoyed riding scooters, swimming in the pool, having movie nights with mom, and fishing; although Aria was always the one who had to handle the fish, because Preston preferred not to get his hands dirty. He was a devoted and protective big brother who treasured their time together.

Preston shared a special relationship with his grandma Char. Rarely did a day pass without the two of them talking, and whenever she needed something, Preston was the first to jump in and help.

Preston loved trips to the Black Hills to visit his grandparents, Dean and Jennifer. They spent time exploring the area, taking in the beautiful scenery, and making special memories together.

Preston was humble, kind, genuine, and soft-spoken. He had a big heart, a gentle soul, and an unforgettable smile. Although he was quiet, his kindness was loud. He will be remembered for the love he gave to others and the gentle way he moved through the world.

Preston is lovingly remembered by his mother, Kari Karschnik; sister, Aria Fedder; grandparents, Charlene Karschnik, Dean and Jennifer Karschnik, and Thong Naly; aunts and uncles, Heather (Jon) Gerdes, Jesse (Carolyn) Karschnik, Vatsana Naly (Tim Song), Jasmin (Dan) Seppanen, and Abby (Eric) Ahmann; cousins, Alex (Kenzie) Gerdes, Ethan (Anna) Karschnik, Eli Karschnik (Jeana Denton), Evan Karschnik, Alex Long, Ryan Long, Natalya Song, Evan Song, Blake Kooiman, Paige (Braydin) Warner, Maggie Ahmann, and Ellie Ahmann. He was preceded in death by his father, Sombath Naly; grandfather, Thonglo Naly, and cousin, Eric-John Niss de Jesus.

A Celebration of Life Open House to honor the life and legacy of Kenneth Janovsky, age 74, of Windom, will be held Sunday, August 23rd from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the Mountain Lake Golf Course in Mountain Lake. Burial will be in Delafield Cemetery at a later date.

Ken passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at his home in Windom.

Arrangements are under the care of the LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center. Condolences and memories of Kenneth may be shared online at LaCanneFuneralHome.com.

Dolores (Rippie) Rodenborg passed away on Monday, July 20, 2026, at the age of 96. She was born on February 7, 1930, to Ray and Olga (Keutzer) Rippie in Windom, Minnesota. Dolores attended Windom schools and graduated in the Class of 1947. After graduation, she moved to the Twin Cities and was employed as a bookkeeper for an aviation company. Dolores loved to travel, including Europe, the Orient, Africa and the U.S.A.

Dolores is survived by her son, John. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hal Rodenborg; her parents; and sister, Joy (Rippie) Kirby.

Quentin Oliver Neufeld (1939-2026) passed away peacefully at home on June 12, 2026, surrounded by friends and family, including his loving wife of 64 years, Bee. At each family gathering over the last few years of his life, Quent made a point of saying, “I have had such a wonderful life.” And what a life it was!

Quent had a 44-year career in journalism, first at KELO in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, then at WHEN in Syracuse, New York. He was a reporter/producer at WCCO in Minneapolis, Minnesota for 12 years, followed by 25 years as a producer for CBS News in Los Angeles. While in Los Angeles, Quent produced 950 stories, providing viewers a front-row seat to some of the biggest news stories of the time. His talent earned Quent three national news Emmys for “Outstanding Coverage.” Quent chronicled his life in news and his upbringing by his widowed father in his beloved Mountain Lake, Minnesota, in a book published in 2024: "My Life In Broadcasting/Growing Up In Minnesota."

As much as Quent loved being a journalist, he took even more joy in his family. He beamed proudly at the accomplishments of his wife Bee and their children, Kim, Barry, and Teri, (and their spouses) and offered his support during their times of struggle. Quent also cherished being “Grandpa Quent” to his grandchildren Connor and Delaney - helping get them to and from school, as well as athletic events over the years, and then cheering on their successes in college and beyond.

Quent’s retirement years also came with a devastating health diagnosis - he had Huntington’s Disease. Quent’s family would especially like to thank Drs. Penelope Hogarth and Lauren Talman of Oregon Health and Science University for their kindness and care over the years as Quent’s disease progressed. His family feels it is important to know that Quent requested that his brain be donated to OHSU's Brain Institute with the aim of furthering Huntington’s Disease research.

Quent is survived by his loving wife Rev. Bee Neufeld, sons Kim Neufeld (Jean Cohen) and Barry Neufeld (Reese), daughter Teri Neufeld-Griffin (Matthew Griffin), and grandchildren Connor Neufeld-Griffin and Delaney Neufeld-Griffin. He was preceded in death by his father Frank Neufeld (d. 1984) and mother Ann Neufeld (d. 1948).

Quent’s memorial service will be held August 7, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the Mary’s Woods Chapel located at 17400 Holy Names Drive, Lake Oswego, OR 97034 with a reception to follow.

Remembrances can be made in Quent’s name to help further Huntington’s Disease research at OHSU's Brain Institute: give.ohsufoundation.org.