Obituaries 10/17/19

Darlene Dehmer, 86

Darlene Alma (Dixon) Dehmer, born May 25, 1933, passed away October 14, 2019, after a brief illness.

Darlene was born in Hanover on her parent’s farm, Robert and Alma Dixon.

Darlene attended seven years of grade school in District 49 and 8th grade went to District 122 in Hanover. Darlene graduated from Buffalo High School in 1950.

Darlene married Norman Dehmer in December of 1950. They lived with Norman’s parents on the Dehmer family farm for two years. During that time, their first child, Karen, was born, and they purchased the feed mill in St. Michael.  Shortly after that purchase, they moved into St. Michael in a two-room apartment without a heating system and no hot water; the bathroom was shared with the other tenant.

In 1956, the mill in Hanover was for sale, so Norman bought it. It was quite a large house with five bedrooms. The weekend they moved, their second child, Ruth Ann, was born.

Darlene liked to sew and was good at it. She sewed all the girls’ clothes when they were little and many times, dressed them alike.

In 1962, their family increased again, and, this time, it was a baby boy, Kenny. She also sewed for him and Norman. Norman always wanted two pockets on his T-shirts.

Darlene did a lot of yard work and always had a beautiful garden. She canned most everything they ate, while helping in the mill, and later driving truck and running the front-end loader. She put many, many miles on their gravel trucks and countless hours helping to run the gravel pit and excavating businesses she and Norman created.

When they retired, they spent the first two winters in Arizona but found their way to the coastal bend of Texas. She spent 22 years in the same park.

The ladies in the park sewed lap blankets and quilts for the Shiners Hospital and the local nursing homes. Darlene cut most of the seven-inch squares they used; in one week, she cut over 14,000 squares. She truly loved doing the cutting. At home, she would sew for the church and local nursing homes; her deliveries would include 25-50 lap blankets at a time. Darlene just always had to be busy.

She also found great pleasure in playing her organ, BUT it was for her entertainment only. She only took a few lessons as a child and taught herself how to play.

Darlene Alma Dehmer was one of the hardest-working women this world will ever have pleasure of knowing.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; husband of almost 63 years, Norman; two grandsons, Gerrit and Justin Eull; son-in-law, Jim Corwin; one brother, Robert Dixon Jr.; parents-in-law, Leo and Laurentia Dehmer, and several brother- and sister-in-laws.

She leaves behind two daughters, Karen Corwin, and Ruth (Cal) Vollbrecht; and son, Kenneth (Teresa) Dehmer; seven grandchildren, Bob, Kevin, Christy, Tracy, Brittney, Ryan, and Chantel; ten great-grandchildren, Cora, Karrisa, Tristan, Jerrit, Taylor, Austin, Jennifer, Litah, Aryah, Madelyn; and one great-great-grandchild, Abegail; and many, many family and friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, October 17, 2019 at 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Peterson Chapel St. Michael-Albertville Funeral Home in St. Michael. A Memorial service for Darlene (Dixon) Dehmer will be held on Friday, October 18, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. visitation one hour prior at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hanover.

The Peterson Chapel St. Michael-Albertville Funeral Home is serving the family.   Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.

 


Vance Florell, 76

Vance Peter Florell was born on March 7, 1943 to Victor and Eleanor (Olson) Florell. He was raised on the family farm in Monticello, Minnesota where his strong work ethic originated. He graduated from Monticello High School in 1961.

Vance owned and operated two successful Amoco gas stations in Monticello through the 1970’s and 80’s. He then shifted his pursuits to his locally renowned BBQ business, The Rib Cage.

During his off-season time from smokin’ ribs, he began wintering in Queen Valley, AZ. He was always looking forward to his next trip back to Minnesota to spend time with family and grandkids and to pay Victor a visit at The Rib Cage. He found much enjoyment in hunting and golfing with family and friends.

Vance passed away on October 9, 2019 at the age of 76.

He is survived by: his wife, Sally Phillips, of Queen Valley, AZ; children, Pamela (Michael) Muldoon, Christen (Matthew) Patterson, Eddy (Julie) Florell, Victor (Rebecca) Florell and Erin (John) Berning; step-daughter, Julie (Travis) Phillips-Fisher; grandchildren, Ashley (Dane), Max, Jackson, Emma, Hunter, Natalie, Cherish, Wyatt, George, Paul, Anne, Ruth, Neil, and Graceyn; great-grandchild, Macy; siblings, Vernon (Carola) Florell, Coralyn (Chuck) Bergstrom, Linda Hansen, Marvel (Brad) Hatfield, Joyce (Jerry) Emmel; sisters-in-law: Joanne Florell and Maxine Florell; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by: his parents; brothers, Virgil and Vincent; infant son, Daniel; and brother-in law, Dwight Hansen.

Services provided by Peterson Chapel, Buffalo. Visitation at funeral chapel on Thursday, October 17, 2019, 4-8 p.m. Funeral will be held at Buffalo Covenant Church on Friday, October 18, 2019 at 11 a.m., with visitation one hour prior. Memorial service in Queen Valley, AZ with date to be announced.

In lieu of flowers we ask that donations be made to Medicine Bow Oufitters, Inc towards their youth hunting program (Memo-Youth Hunts Fund). Donations can be sent to Mountain Valley Bank, PO Box 758, Walden, CO 80480.

Family would also like to thank Mountain View Funeral Services, in Mesa, AZ, for their assistance.

 


Mabel Hermerding, 89

Mabel Esther (Vergin) Hermerding, 89, of Buffalo, passed away October 12, 2019.

Mabel was born the daughter of Albert and Esther (Guedus) Vergin on August 20, 1930. Mabel grew up in rural Buffalo and attended Buffalo High School. After attending St. Cloud State University, she taught elementary school in Howard Lake, Excelsior and Brooklyn Center. After 30+ years in education, Mabel retired in 1990 when she and her husband John built a house and moved to Crosslake.

Mabel loved cooking for others, especially using produce from her own large garden. Cookies were her favorite things to make, and many of her friends were the recipients of her baking talents. She was an avid seamstress and made quilts for many of her family members. Mabel kept her sense of humor til the end, entertaining her listeners with many witty comments.  She dearly loved her family and friends.

Mabel is survived by: her children, Gregg (Connie) Hermerding, of Buffalo, and Kay (Rick) Kubik, of White Bear Lake; Grandchildren, Bryan “B.J.” (Katie) Hermerding, of Cottage Grove, Joe (Ellora) Hermerding, of St. Paul, Merilee (Steve) Ruotsinoja, of Richfield, and Abbie Hermerding, of Roseville; great-grandchildren, Norah Hermerding, Luke Hermerding, Maggie Hermerding, Evie Hermerding, Addie Hermerding and Sam Hermerding; also many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by: her parents; husband, John; siblings, Gladys Boehlke, Otto Vergin, Lois Dixon, Virgil Vergin, Joyce Meyer and James Vergin. 

Visitation for Mabel will be held Thursday, November 14 from 4-8 p.m. at The Peterson Chapel of Buffalo. Funeral service will be Friday, November 15 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation continuing one hour prior to the service at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Buffalo.  Luncheon to follow at church. Officiating will be Pastor Ryan Clark. Interment will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery of Little Falls.

Services were entrusted to The Peterson Chapel of Buffalo.

 


Jessica Napper, 40

Jessica Ray (Goddard) Napper, age 40, of Buffalo, took the Lord’s hand and began her eternal journey on October 8, 2019.

She was born March 10, 1979 in Northfield, to Terry and Suzanne (Chenevert) Goddard. She was a 1997 graduate of Willmar Senior High School. She graduated from Ridgewater College Willmar in 1999, and went on to attend St. Cloud State University. On July 28, 2001, she married Joe Napper in Willmar. She lovingly welcomed three beautiful daughters, who were the light of her life.

She worked as a teacher at Kids Haven in Buffalo, and as a Regional Compliance Manager at Dominium in Plymouth.

Jessica was a devoted wife and mother. She enjoyed music and singing, watching movies and all things Disney. She relished the opportunity to help her children chase their dreams. She never missed an opportunity to bring people together and enjoyed time spent with family.

She is survived by: her husband, Joe of Buffalo; daughters, Ashleigh, Carissa, and Briella of Buffalo; her parents, Terry and Suzanne Goddard of Savage; sister, Angie (Chris) Porter of St. Cloud; brother, Tony Goddard of Savage; sister, Kristina (Eli) Schake of Lakeville; Grandmother, Allenor Goddard; In-laws, Terry and Sue Napper, of Buffalo; Sara Napper, of Buffalo; Becky (Cory) Commerford, of Monticello; nieces and nephews, Connor and Alaina Porter, Lily and Mia Schake, Ryan and Kendra Klima, Tasha Jergens, Kailey and Connor Commerford.

Jessica was preceded in death by: Grandmother, Delores Coulombe; Grandfathers, Douglas Goddard and Arthur Chenevert; uncle, Philip Chenevert

She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who knew her.

Memorial contributions may be made to Minnesota Stroke Association.

Funeral service for Jessica was held Friday, October 11 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation that began at 9:30 a.m. all at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Buffalo. Interment was in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery of Buffalo. Luncheon followed at church.

The Peterson Chapel of Buffalo served the family.

 


Rodger Nystrom, 82

Rodger L. Nystrom, age 82, of Buffalo, and formerly of Elk River and Brooklyn Park, passed away on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, at Lake Ridge Oasis, Buffalo, after a courageous battle with cardiac, Parkinson’s and cancer. He graciously granted his daughter and two sisters the honor of being at his side.

He was born September 11, 1937, in Fosston, the third child of Royal and Olive (Strande) Nystrom. Baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

He worked his way up in the construction trades with a ‘get the job done’ approach, running some of the largest projects in the Twin Cities.  Though he continued to say he wanted to do one more big job, his health prevented this from happening. He most recently was a driver for Morris of Buffalo. 

Always punctual and dapper, Rodger was an accomplished gardener and could grow beautiful roses and had enormous vegetable gardens.  He also enjoyed hunting and fishing with his last hunting trip four years ago to Wyoming with his daughter, son in-law and grandson. He always strived to be a good man and believed strongly in the Good Lord.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, Royal and Olive; siblings, Keith, Phyllis and Richard; and brother in-law, Howard Blanchar.

Rodger is survived by: his daughter, Taryn (Joe) Bullert; grandson, Michael Lehman; and great-grandson, Levi Lehman; brother, Kenneth (Carole); sisters, Joanne Blanchar and Dorothy (Merwyn) Larsen; many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 10 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church, 1200 Highway 25 S, Buffalo. Private interment will be at a later date.

The family holds the following organizations close to their hearts, should you choose to make a memorial in remembrances: American Heart Association, Parkinson’s Foundation or Lake Ridge Oasis.

Arrangements were made through the Cremation Society of Minnesota.

Publication: 

The Drummer and The Wright County Journal Press

PO Box 159
108 Central Ave.
Buffalo MN 55313

www.thedrummer.com

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