Obituaries 07/11/24
Gerald Aldrich, 85
Gerald (Jerry) H. Aldrich, age 85, of Buffalo, MN, passed away on June 29, 2024, at the Allina Hospital in Buffalo in the presence of family and loved ones.
Jerry, a lifelong resident of Buffalo, was born April 1, 1939, and grew up with his sisters Janice and Marjory on his family’s farm east of town. After serving four years in the U.S. Air Force as a B-52 airplane mechanic, he returned to Buffalo and met and married Marlene Triplett, who became his beloved wife of 61 years, on January 5, 1963. They purchased the family farm from Jerry’s parents and built up a successful Guernsey dairy operation. They milked up to 100 cows and farmed several hundred acres of cropland during the peak years. In 1972, Jerry received the Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year award from the Buffalo Jaycees in recognition of his innovative farming practices. After leaving the farming business in the late 1980s, Jerry had a rewarding and successful career at Landscape Structures in Delano, MN, from which he retired in 2007.
While working and raising his family, Jerry also found time to play an active role in the community. He served multiple terms on the District 877 School Board, participated in the Buffalo Rotary, Wright County DHIA, and Mid-America Dairymen. He was an active member of the Buffalo Presbyterian Church where he was an Elder, served on the church board, and was instrumental in the creation of the church’s community garden. He also obtained his private pilot’s license, joined the local flying club, and took friends and family up for rides.
Jerry and his sisters played instruments from a young age and often performed for the family gatherings. He had a particular love for vocal music and was often whistling or singing songs at any given time. He even installed a stereo system in the barn and played country music so “the cows would produce more milk.” He participated in choir while in high school and was one of four Minnesotans selected to sing with the National FFA Chorus at the 1956 annual convention with President Eisenhower in attendance. During his time in the Air Force, he sang with The Sheppard Chapel Keynoters on the Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. He later participated as a member of The Bisonaires and the Minnetonka Clippers barbershop quartet. In his later years, he rarely missed a choir practice or opportunity to sing in church on Sundays. It brought him immense joy to witness the love of music and singing carry on in the lives of his children and grandchildren.
Jerry remained active and busy well into his retirement. He enjoyed a part-time job delivering auto parts and working on restoring his 1946 Plymouth Coupe. He took great pleasure in traveling around the country with Marlene (and often a grandchild) with their vintage Scamp camper in tow. Lake Kabetogama in Voyageur National Park was a favorite destination they both enjoyed. The family always looked forward to hearing the comically adventurous accounts of their travels.
Jerry always said that family was the most important thing to him. He never turned down a request for assistance, whether it was repairing a car or an opportunity to pick a grandchild up from school (which often included a stop for ice cream). He was rarely more happy than he was when his entire family was gathered around the table for a holiday meal. He was a loving, devoted, and immensely generous husband, father, and grandfather who will be sadly missed and happily remembered.
Preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Majel (Johnston) Aldrich; and his sisters, Janice (Campion) and Marjory.
Survived by his wife, Marlene (Triplett); his children, Jeff (Mary Sue Stevens), Joel (Michelle), and Nell (Matthew Marsh); his grandchildren, Brandon and Charlie Aldrich, Taite and Kellan Stevens Aldrich, and Chloe and William Marsh; and many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The family wishes to acknowledge the compassionate care Jerry received at Park View during the months following his stroke, as well as from the caregivers at Buffalo Hospital during his final hours.
A celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at the Buffalo Presbyterian Church on Saturday, July 13. Visitation at 1 p.m., service at 2 p.m., reception and fellowship to follow.
Jerry was especially moved by the plight of children suffering from rare medical conditions, so memorials may be directed to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) or, alternatively, to the Buffalo Presbyterian Church Mission initiatives (www.buffalopresbyterian.org) to support their work ministering to those in need.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to The Peterson Chapel (www.thepetersonchapel.com).
Ralph Kasper, 88
Ralph Kasper, age 88, of St. Michael, passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2024, at The Buffalo Hospital.
A visitation was held on Wednesday, July 10, at The Peterson Chapel St. Michael-Albertville Funeral Home from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. A Prayer service was held at 7:00 p.m. Further visitation will be held on Thursday morning, July 11, one hour prior to Mass at the church.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Ralph Kasper will be held on Thursday, July 11, at 11:00 a.m. at The St. Michael Catholic Church in St. Michael.
Interment St. Michael Cemetery.
A complete obituary will appear in next week’s paper.
Arrangements for Ralph Kasper are by The Peterson Chapel St. Michael-Albertville Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Mark LaPlant, 86
Mark Steven LaPlant, age 86, of St. Cloud, and formerly of Buffalo, passed away on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud.
He was born on March 25, 1938, in Buffalo, the son of George R. and Caroline “Mae” (Holmberg) LaPlant.
Mark honorably served his Country in the United States Army.
On August 11, 1969, Mark Steven LaPlant and Nancy Rose Hesse were joined in holy marriage by the Reverend Bernard E. Yetzer. Nancy preceded her husband in death on January 8, 2016.
Mark attended Anoka Tech for Welding. He worked as a welder in Hamel for many years. As a young man, he also worked on Uncle John’s farm and on Fred Esterly’s farm.
He liked trains and tractors and was a good builder.
Survived by his children, Virgil B. LaPlant, in St. Cloud, Raymond Bauernfeind, of Faribault, and Colleen (Terry) Milford, of New Mexico; six grandchildren, Leslie Marie, Lynn Marie, Miles, Mistya, Savanah, and Isaac; great-grandchildren; sisters, Joan Raisanen, of Buffalo, Yvonne Degrar, of Cloquet, and Kay Bastin, of Delano; nieces and nephews; many other relatives and friends.
In addition to his wife, Mark was preceded in death by a son, Mark Jr.; his parents; an infant brother, Stanley Goerge LaPlant; sisters, Marlys Barbeau and Lois Price; and by a brother, Basil LaPlant.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Mark Steven LaPlant will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Buffalo. Father Austin Barnes will be the Celebrant.
Interment with military rites will follow at St. Francis Cemetery.
A visitation will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024, beginning at 9:30 A.M. AT THE CHURCH.
Casket Bearers will be John A. Raisanen, Glen Raisanen, Charles Wiczek, Virgil LaPlant, John I. Raisanen, Jake Smith, and David Raisanen.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Carron Lauseng, 83
Carron Lillian (Anderson) Lauseng, age 83, of Welch, MN, passed away October 15, 2023. She was born on May 11, 1940, in Waverly, MN, the daughter of Elmer and Lillie Anderson.
She worked many years in assisted living and loved helping people. She and her husband, Ralph, enjoyed time with friends and family, traveling, and spending their winters in California.
Carron is survived by her children, Sandra (David) LaChance, Dennis Gerger; stepson, Tal (Sheila) Lauseng; grandchildren, Drey and Danielle Gerger, Tori and Trevor Lauseng; brother, Gerald Anderson, who has since passed away; many family and friends.
Carron is pre-deceased by her husband, Ralph Lauseng; siblings, Marvel Erdahl; Vernon Anderson; Helen Kramazc, Margie Rice; Harold Anderson; parents, Elmer and Lillie Anderson.
A special thank you to Haven Homes in Maple Plain. Everyone was amazing and took such good care of her.
She was such a kind soul and kept everyone laughing with her jokes and little sayings.
A Memorial Service will be held Thursday, July 18, at 11:00 A.M. at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo, with the visitation one hour prior followed by a luncheon.
The Peterson Chapel, Buffalo, MN, assisted the family with funeral arrangements.
Nancy Wallace, 65
Nancy Jean Wallace (Bergseth), 65, of Buffalo, Minnesota, passed away from complications of cardiac arrest on June 27. She was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, and grandma.
She was preceded in death by her father, John.
Nancy is survived by her mother, Arlene; husband Richard; daughter, Nicole (Justin); son, John (Alisha); grandchildren, Evan, Ashlynn, Landon; daughter, Jennifer (Jimmy); grandchildren, Jackson, Blake; sister, Susan (Joe); sister, Barb (Tom); and brother, John (Cynthia).
Nancy was one of a kind and an all-around remarkable woman. She loved her family, pets, animals, and living the country lifestyle.
A celebration of her life will be planned to honor her memory and the mark she left on the hearts of anyone that met her.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her memory to the small volunteer-run, non-profit Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release, Inc. (www.wrr-mn.org).
