obituary

Minnesota lost a legend. One of the world’s most celebrated nature photographers James (Jim) Edward Brandenburg passed away peacefully at his Medina, Minnesota, home on April 4, 2025, at the age of 79. He was surrounded by his wife Judy, daughter Heidi, and granddaughter Olivia. He had been privately battling anaplastic thyroid cancer for seven months with further complications from pneumonia…

Peter Arlyn Kracht, age 59, of Steen, Minnesota, died peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, April 7, 2025, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne. Visitation was Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 4-8 p.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Funeral service was Friday, April 11, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Living Rock Church in Luverne. Trucks were driven to the funeral service in honor of…

LeRoy “Roy” Adam Bieber peacefully met his Lord and Savior on March 17, 2025, in Vacaville, California, at the age of 90. A celebration of life will be from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Crescent City Elks Lodge at 359 H Street. Roy was born on June 26, 1934, in Lakefield, Minnesota, to Henry and Ida Bieber. He grew up alongside his siblings Clarence, Herbert, Dorothy and Lillian, all of…

Dennis Klein, age 81, of Luverne, Minnesota, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at the Hospice of Murray County facility in Slayton, Minnesota. Visitation was Monday, April 14, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne, Minnesota. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 10 a.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne. Inurnment…

Robert Carl “Ike” Wiese, age 89, of Luverne, died Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was born January 5, 1936, in Luverne, to Carl and Mary (Jensen) Wiese. He attended school in Luverne and graduated in the class of 1954. Ike later attended Dunwoody College in Minneapolis, graduating in 1962. He joined the Minnesota Army National Guard where…

Orlando Dale Pluim, age 62, of Pipestone, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2025. Orlando was the beloved son of Orville and Audrey (Vander Weide) Pluim.  He was born on November 9, 1962, in Sioux Center, Iowa, and was baptized at the Netherlands Reformed Church in his hometown. He graduated from Luverne High School in 1981 and went on to complete his studies at Minnesota West…

Phyllis Ann (Petersen) Mohr, age 86, of Luverne, Minnesota, died peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at the Good Samaritan-Mary Jane Brown nursing home in Luverne. Visitation will be Friday, April 11, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Funeral service will be Saturday, April 12, at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Luverne. Burial will follow…

Robert Edmund “Bob” Bailey, age 92, of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025, while at the Sanford Luverne Hospital. Memorial visitation will be Friday, April 25, from 4-6 p.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Memorial service will be Saturday, April 26, at 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Luverne. Burial will be at Ottertail Union Cemetery in Ottertail,…

Carole Ann Hemme passed Sunday, March 16, 2025, from cancer, surrounded by family, at Ridgeview Sibley Medical Center/Arlington at age 74. Carole is survived by husband Gordon Hemme; brother Ronald Bowman; sister-in-law Jayona Bowman; children Jason, Jacalyn, Jana and Jessica Dunham; grandchildren Zane Raiche, Zuri, Derek, Deyla, Kaia and Nevaya Dunham; stepchildren Troy/Wendy Hemme and Chad…

Scott I. Wentler, 41, Valley Springs, South Dakota, died on Friday, March 7, 2025, at Select Specialty Hospital in Sioux Falls. A Celebration of Life will be held from 2-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon, South Dakota, with a time of sharing beginning at 3:30 p.m. Full obituary is at www.heartlandfunerals.com

Judith Elaine (Wendt) Fick was born to the Reverend Walter Samuel and Doris Louise (Carlson) Wendt on August 12, 1941, in Ottumwa, Iowa. She was baptized on September 28, 1941, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa. In 1944 the family moved to Belle Plaine, Iowa. In 1951 the family relocated to Davenport, Iowa, where Judy was confirmed on May 22, 1955, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Growing up,…

Anthony “Tony” James Brandenburg, 54, of Minneapolis, passed away unexpectedly at home on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Born on Nov. 7, 1970, in Duluth, Minnesota, Anthony attended elementary school in Worthington, Minnesota, junior high school in Two Harbors, Minnesota, and high school in Wayzata, Minnesota. He started his professional photography career early. At age 11 he realized that lemonade…

Charles "Chuck" J. Fodness was born Jan. 2, 1936, to Emmett and Tena (Buss) Fodness on a farm in rural Lennox, South Dakota. He moved with his parents to rural Kenneth, Minnesota, and went to a one-room country school until the eighth grade. Chuck graduated in 1954 from Edgerton Public High School in Edgerton, Minnesota. He attended Nettleton Business College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Chuck…

Barb Bullerman was born on Feb. 8, 1951, in Luverne, Minnesota, to Berdell and Ione Kraetsch Bush. She grew up in Hills, Minnesota, and graduated from Hills High School in 1969. Barb then attended Spencer School of Business, graduating in 1970. Following graduation, Barb worked in the Rock County Assessor’s office in Luverne. On Dec. 4, 1976, she and Florian “Lorry” Bullerman were married at St…

Jule Terrance Rodman, better known as "Terry," was born on April 17, 1945, in Miller, South Dakota, to William and Lois (Morgan) Rodman. He passed away on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, surrounded by his family. Terry grew up on a small family ranch south of Ree Heights, South Dakota, and attended a one-room country grade school. He and his two brothers very much grew up on the "frontier" where for…

Tamara Ann Dobson Slegers, age 65, of Lake Benton, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 17, 2025, at Sanford ICU in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, surrounded by her loving family. Memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home - Pipestone Chapel in Pipestone, Minnesota, with visitation one hour prior from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Inurnment…