Barbara Ellen Miller, age 81 of rural Belle Plaine died peacefully at home on March 21, 2020 surrounded by her loving, devoted husband Val and family after a courageous battle with cancer.  Barbara was born September 20, 1938 to Lester and Helen (Dryer) Scholl in Salem, South Dakota and grew up near St. Peter, MN. She married the love her life, Val Miller on September 20, 1953 and for 66 wonderful years they were an inseparable team.  It was rare to see one without the other.

Frank Bily, 82, of Montgomery, died on Friday, March 20, 2020, at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center in New Prague.
In cooperation with the guidelines set forth by the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health during the current health crisis, services are pending.
Frank was born on July 11, 1937, in Kilkenny to Frank Joseph and Margaret Louise (Staddler) Bily, Sr. Frank was united in marriage to Fern Bjork on October 5, 1958 in Lansing, MN. He was a farmer who also worked at Hruby Implement, auto dealerships, Winco, and as a maintenance foreman at United Steel.

Freda Joyce Wacker, age 78, of New Prague, died on Monday, February 24, 2020 Mayo Systems in Rochester.
Private family services will be held in West Virginia at a later date.
Freda was born on June 7, 1941 in Hollygrove, West Virginia to Frank and Viola (Hill) Swartz. Freda was united in marriage to Ronald Wacker January 11, 1964.
Freda enjoyed gardening, flowers, babysitting, cooking/ baking, traveling, and dog sitting.

Alvin Tuma, 89, of Montgomery, died on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato.
In cooperation with the guidelines set forth by the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health during the current health crisis, there will be a private family Interment on Saturday, March 28 at 11:30 a.m. at Bohemian National Cemetery in Montgomery. Memorials are preferred to St. John Lutheran Church Bell Tower Renovation/Repair Fund.

Russell Clarence Harkins, 70, of Le Center, died on Monday, March 2, 2020, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park. Visitation will be held on­­­­­­­­­­­ Thursday, March 5 at the Le Center Funeral Home from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 6 at 10 a.m. with visitation one hour prior at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Le Center with Fr. Tim Sandquist, officiating. Interment will be at a later date.

Patricia Ann (Rotter) Wells of New Brighton, passed away unexpectedly on February 20 at the age of 76.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Feb. 28 starting at 11 a.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1900 7th Street, NW, New Brighton. Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church.
Pat was born in Montgomery. She graduated from Montgomery High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in medical terminology. After she graduated, she went to Europe for three months, which fueled her love of travel.

Evelyn L. Vlasak, 92, of Montgomery, died on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020 at Mala Strana Rehabilitation Center in New Prague. Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 27 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Feb. 28 at ­­­11 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church with Father Tom Niehaus officiating with visitation one hour prior at the church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.

Blake Ryan Asher, age 17, of Lonsdale, died tragically in a car accident on Tuesday, February 18, 2020.  Blake was born on November 7, 2002 in Northfield to Ryan P. Asher and Jennifer Kassa Jones.  He was raised in the Farmington/Lonsdale area and was currently a junior at Tri-City United (TCU) School, where he was a member of the speech club.  Blake was loved by everyone with his bubbly, funny, goofy personality.

Alvia Ann Koubele, 96, of Montgomery, died peacefully on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020 at home.
Visitation will be held Saturday, Feb. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery.
Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Interment will be in St. John Catholic Cemetery in Montgomery.
Alvia was born on September 20, 1923, to Edward and Sophia (Springer) Zellmer. She was united in marriage to Frank G. Koubele in Montgomery on March 4, 1946.

Emil Edward Knish, age 57, of Montgomery died on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, at his home. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Febr. 12, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery with a Masonic Lodge service. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Montgomery with Pastor Jason Pollington officiating and visitation one hour prior at the church. Interment will take place at Greenwood Union Cemetery in Le Center.

Carlton E. Miller, age 87, of New Prague, died on Thursday, February 6, 2020 at Mala Strana Care and Rehabilitation Center.  Carl was born on September 15, 1932 in rural Montgomery on the family farm to William H.

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Vikla, 90, of Montgomery, died on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.
Visitation will be held on Monday, Feb. 10 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery with Rosary at 3:45 p.m. Mass of Christian
Services will be on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Father Tom Niehaus officiating with visitation 9:30 to 11 a.m. at church.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Montgomery.

Arnold Joseph Kukacka, 96, of Montgomery, died on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at his home in Montgomery. Visitation and prayer service will be held on Friday, Jan. 31 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. Interment will take place at Bohemian National Cemetery in spring.
  Arnold was born on June 14, 1923, in Montgomery on the family farm to Joseph and Anna (Tarba) Kukacka. Arnold was united in marriage to Delores Duffney on November 18, 1941, in Montgomery.

Born on April 4, 1958, in New Prague, Minnesota, raised in Montgomery, Minnesota. Mary Therese Schatz-Grootveld was diagnosed with ALS in March, 2019.
She lost her battle and died peacefully in her sleep on December 7, 2019 at her home in Snohomish, Washington at 61.
She received her Master’s Degree from WWU in 2007 and her PhD. in Philosophy, with Concentration on Rehabilitation and Clinical Counseling from East Caroline University in 2017. Mary loved her job as a counselor. Her best job ever was raising her two boys.

Dorothy Ann Sladek, age 88 of Dundas and formerly of New Trier and Bloomington, died peacefully following a brief illness on Sunday, January 12, 2020 at Mayo Clinic Health System - St. Mary's Campus, Rochester.
She married Allen Sladek of Montgomery on June 21, 1980.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 20 at 11:00 a.m., with visitation from 9-11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Trier. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. Memorials are preferred to St. Mary's Church or to donor's choice.

Leonard Joseph Wondra, 95, of Montgomery, died on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020 at Traditions in Montgomery. Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 17 from 4 to 8:00 p.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montgomery with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Interment will take place at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in spring. Full obit in next weeks paper.