Obituaries 12/27/18

Betty Lou Johnson, 76

Betty Lou Johnson, 76, of Buffalo, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday, December 20, 2018. She was born on June 28, 1942 in Buffalo Center, IA.

On June 30, 1963, Betty Lou Russ and Terry Micheal Johnson were united in marriage at Zion Lutheran Church in Rake, IA.

Betty Lou worked at the Buffalo School District for many years until her retirement. She was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo and spent her time volunteering at church and singing in the church choir. She enjoyed canning, baking, gardening, embroidery and attending her children and grandchildren’s sporting events.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil “Bert” and Gertrude (Vaagen) Russ; and nephew, Jonathan Hannaman.

Betty Lou will be missed by: her husband, Terry Johnson; son, Brad Johnson; daughters, Patty (Jerry) Howard, Dinah (Brad) Erickson; grandchildren, Matt (Tara) Howard, Meagan (Miranda) Looker, Kyle Erickson, Molly Erickson; great-grandchildren, Natalie, Ryan, and Sabrina Howard, Aeverie Erickson; sister, Janice Hannaman; and many nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

Visitation was Wednesday, December 26, from 4 to 7 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. Funeral service will be Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 11 a.m., with visitation one-hour prior, at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo. Burial to follow at Zion Cemetery in Buffalo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo.

Serving the family is the Peterson Chapel in Buffalo.

Carol Krause, 80

Carol Jean (Nelson) Krause, 80, of Buffalo,  passed away December 19. Carol was born on August 8, 1938 to Earl and Pearl (Skogaard) Nelson in Worthington, Minn. and was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, Minn.

She graduated from Hills-Beaver Creek High School before attending the University of Minnesota-St. Paul Campus where she pledged to the Beta of Clovia Sorority while pursuing a home economics degree.

She met her husband, Warren Krause, at the University and they were joined in marriage on May 7, 1958. They moved to rural Buffalo, Minnesota where the couple started Krause Holsteins in Chatham Township in 1959 and raised five children on the dairy farm, which is still operated by their son, Charles.

Carol was a lifelong Lutheran, and was active as a Sunday School Superintendent and Teacher at Zion Lutheran Church in Buffalo for many years. She was an active 4-H Leader with the Chatham Climbers 4-H Club, an advocate for the agricultural industry serving on the Women’s Committee as a Farm Bureau member and volunteer, and a hospice volunteer. She also lead classes in early childhood development and parenting. In recent years, Carol and Warren joined Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Maple Lake, and as an avid reader, Carol enjoyed Bible study classes and Biblical research.

She traveled extensively throughout the USA, always making a point to worship with congregations in the communities where she visited, including Portugal and Israel to see the Holy Land. She was a prayerful woman who remained faithful in her Christian beliefs even in the last three years as a resident at Parkview Care Center in Buffalo.

Carol is preceded in death by: her parents, Earl and Pearl Nelson; brother, Paul Nelson; grandchildren, Allan and Jason Heilig, and infant twins of Donna Atallian.

She is survived by: husband of 60 years, Warren; children, Mary (Harry) Holmberg of Stillwater, Mark (Bambi) Krause of Spring, Tex., Donna (Joseph) Atallian of Rogers, Evelyn Gebhardt of Buffalo, and Charles (Robyn) Krause of Buffalo; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; siblings, Marjorie Carlson of Watertown, SD, Barbara Sikkink of Edina, David (Vicki) Nelson of Commerce City, Col.; and sister-in-law, Vicki Kolbeck Nelson of Brandon, SD.

Visitation will be held Friday, December 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. with prayer service at 7 p.m. at the Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. Memorial service will be Saturday, December 29, at 10:30 a.m. with visitation one-hour prior at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 5460 63rd St. NW, Maple Lake.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Peterson Chapel of Buffalo.

Merlin Reinking, 89

Merlin W. Reinking, 89, of Loretto, passed away on Thursday, December 20, at his residence.

A visitation will be held at the church Saturday, December 29 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Funeral services for Merlin W. Reinking will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 29, at Salem Ev. Lutheran Church in Greenfield.

Interment will follow at the church cemetery.

A full obituary will appear in next week’s paper.

The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family.