Obituaries 01/30/25

Jeanne Glessing, 95

Jeanne Luella (nee Wills) Glessing, 95, was called to her external rest on January 25, 2025, at Haven Homes, Maple Plain, MN. Jean was born September 9, 1929, in Kingston, MN, to Glen and Stella Wills. She was baptized and confirmed as a child in the Church of Christ and after marriage became a long-time member of St. James Lutheran Church, Howard Lake, MN. Jeanne graduated from Dassel Highschool in 1947. She became a schoolteacher after obtaining her teaching certifications through St. Cloud State and the University of MN.

Jeanne was the middle child of five children; siblings were Doris, Darrel, Orlo, and Lloyd.  As a child, she lived in Kingston until 5th grade, at which point, the family moved to a farm in Dassel, MN. Throughout her high school years in Dassel, Jeanne was active in choir, drama, and softball.  She worked as a waitress at a small café in downtown Dassel to pay for her college education.  During her University of Minnesota classes, Jean lived with her sister, Doris, in the “big” city.  After graduating from college, Jean moved to Kimball where her family relocated. She taught in a one-room schoolhouse for three years, during which time she met her future husband, Lorren.

On June 9, 1951, Jeanne was united in marriage to Lorren Glessing. They were blessed with two children, Neal and Dawn. After their marriage, the couple resided in Howard Lake, MN. Jeanne was a homemaker and worked side by side with husband as they farmed on the Glessing homestead, southwest of Howard Lake.  

Jeanne was very active and held many offices in PTA, LWML, and the Naomi Guild. As Lorren and Jeanne raised their family, Jeanne enjoyed teaching Sunday school and was a leader in Sunrise 4-H club. Throughout the years, she was firm supporter of her kids and grandkids in 4-H, athletics, choir, and FFA. Jeanne enjoyed exhibiting at the Wright County Fair, and she said a highlight of the year was to go to the MN State Fair, where she spent time in the Creative building and 4-H building. Jeanne spent many hours perfecting her skills at gardening, baking, canning, and sewing many quilts with the Guild ladies. She volunteered at the Good Samaritan nursing home in Howard Lake.

After Lorren passed, Jean continued living on the family farm working in her flower garden, sewing quilts for World relief, and attending grandkid activities. She moved into Haven Homes in September of 2024.

Jean is survived by her children, Neal (Marnie) Glessing, of Howard Lake, MN, and Dawn (Dan) Sawatzke, of Waverly; grandchildren, Andy (Nicolle) Sawatzke, of Buffalo, Joe (Beth) Sawatzke, of Winsted, Jeanne (Justin) Hertzog, of Winsted, Abby (Brad) Ficker, of Winsted, and David Glessing, of Howard Lake; eight great- grandchildren, Kayden, Addison, Lachlynn, Lennon, Hallie, Bennett, Sophie, and Hudson; and many other friends and relatives.

She is remembered for her kind spirit, humbleness, and willingness to help others. She was genuine and down to earth. She enjoyed being around other people, especially if she could brighten someone else’s day with a kind word of encouragement.  

Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Stella Wills; her father and mother-in-law, Henry and Emma Glessing; her husband, Lorren; siblings, Doris (Russ) Sovde, Darrel (Shirley) Wills, Orlo (Arlene) Wills, and Lloyd (Donna) Wills; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Warren (Edna) Glessing, May (Ben) Sherva, Howard (Vernice) Glessing, Eva (Ted) Handrich, Omar (Verna) Glessing, Maurice (Eva) Glessing; nephews and nieces, Allen Glessing, Richard Glessing, Bob Wills, Pam Wills, and Cindy Wills. 

Visitation will be Friday, January 31, 2025, from 4-8 P.M. and one hour prior to the service.  Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, February 1, 2025, all at St. James Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, Minnesota.  

Arrangements by Swanson Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Cokato & Howard Lake, Minnesota, 320-286-2534, www.swansonpeterson.com.

Jerome Ledin, 82

Jerome Peter Ledin, age 82, of San Jose, Costa Rica, passed away on November 29, 2024.  Jerome was born on December 11, 1941, to Oscar and Lorraine Ledin. 

He graduated from Buffalo High School with the class of 1959 and from the University of Minnesota in 1963. Jerome served in the US Army and in the Peace Corps in Bolivia. He spent his entire working career at San Diego State University, retiring in 1998, and moving to Costa Rica where he lived until the time of his death. Jerome enjoyed travel, gourmet food, baseball, the symphony, opera, and his many dog companions through the years. 

Brenda Sandberg, Jerome’s niece, visited him several months ago in Costa Rica. Thank you, Brenda, for spending that time with him and for being his forever pal. 

Jerome is survived by his brother, Larry Ledin; and by his sister, Carola Florell, and her husband, Vernon; and other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by parents; infant brother, Orin; and sister-in-law, Carol Ledin. 

We would like to thank his many friends in Costa Rica. 

A memorial service is planned for Jerome in Costa Rica in February.

Robert Mengelkoch, 89

Robert L. Mengelkoch, age 89, and formerly of Montrose, passed away peacefully in his sleep in the presence of family on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale.   

He was born in St. Louis Park on July 31, 1935, the son of John and Afra (Brummer) Mengelkoch.

He honorably served in the United States Army.

Through the years, Mr. Mengelkoch engaged in truck driving and in farming. His farm was west of Montrose.

He enjoyed watching baseball games, and in his younger years, he was an avid reader. His Catholic faith was very important to him.

Survived by a son, Tony Mengelkoch, of Arden Hills; grandchildren, Anthony and Evangeline Mengelkoch; further survived by his siblings, Shirley May, John “Jack” (Barbara) Mengelkoch, Joyce Hanson, Steve (Rosemary) Mengelkoch, Dan (Sara) Mengelkoch, and Mary (Dale) McDonough; many other relatives and friends.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Don and Frank Mengelkoch; a sister, Linda Mengelkoch; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Mengelkoch; and by brothers-in-law, Don May and Dick Hanson.

A Memorial service for Robert L. Mengelkoch will be held on Saturday, March 8, at 11:00 A.M. at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo.

A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, March 8, one hour prior to services.

Inurnment Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery.

The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.

LaVonne Youngren, 84

LaVonne Louise Youngren was born May 7, 1940, in Slayton, MN, to John and Ruthe (Halsne) Carlson. Together with her parents and siblings, they moved to a farm in Swanville, MN. Lavonne graduated from Swanville High School and attended cosmetology school and then found her passion in the floral industry after attending Anoka Hennepin Technical College.

LaVonne met Timothy Youngren while working at the Cokato Hospital after Tim’s water-skiing accident, and they married on September 24, 1960. They were blessed with three children, Cindy, Scott, and Wendy. As a family, they shared their lives working an active dairy and crop farm north of Waverly. LaVonne was an expert at calf raising and taught the kids life skills of gardening, canning, bee keeping, sewing, cooking, and baking.

LaVonne had a passion for her profession as a florist and created beautiful arrangements for her kids and grandkids’ proms, graduations, and weddings! Lavonne was a jack of all trades and held positions including being a hairstylist, working at the Wright County Fair, Untiedt’s Vegetable Farm, Carlson’s Apple Orchard, and as a hospital clerk, where she met the love of her life, Tim.

LaVonne enjoyed spending her time with many different activities, including fishing, snowmobiling, camping, and RV travel. Lavonne traveled throughout the US, Germany, New Zealand, and Israel. LaVonne was strong in her faith and was actively committed to the activities and service to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake. LaVonne enjoyed spending time with her flowers and gardening, enjoying her grandkids, and watching Laker sports and music performances.

Over the years, Lavonne was involved in many organizations in the area, including the Waverly QQ Club, Wright County Homemakers, 4-H, and Waverly Wanders Snowmobile Club.

Survivors include her children, Cindy (Roger) Heuer, Scott (Kim) Youngren, and Wendy (Ryan) Youngren Doran; grandchildren, Alyssa (Adam)Farrell, Joshua (Brittany) Myers, David (Navin) Youngren, Courtney (Travis) Duxbury, Derek (Emily) Youngren, Carl (Eillie) Heuer, Dylan (Kennedy) Youngren; and great-grandchildren, Kayden, Grayson, Haylen, Brodee, Addisyn, Evelyn, Charleigh, Maren, Myla, Maggie, Lucille, Julianne, Franklin, Theodore, Henrik, Amelia, and Adeline; foreign exchange daughter, Tessa Taylor.

Preceded in death by her husband, Tim; great-granddaughter, Rosalie Heuer; and many other close family members.

Services were held at 12:00 P.M., Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake, Minnesota, with visitation starting one hour prior to service. Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Howard Lake, MN, 320-543-3401, www.swansonpeterson.com