All Obituaries

Jack L. Blaylock, age 81, of Cresco, IA, died on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at Accura Healthcare in Cresco, IA. A Memorial Service will be held at 6 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at the Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Cresco, IA, with Dr. Jon Van Dine officiating.  Visitation will be held from 4-6 pm on Thursday prior to the start of the Memorial Service. Jackie Lew Blaylock was born on December 31, 1941, in What Cheer, IA, to Forrest and Cora (Beaver) Blaylock.  Jack went to...

JoAnn Rudlong, age 68, of Rochester, MN passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at Cottagewood Senior Community. JoAnn (Spencer) Rudlong was born on August 9, 1954 in Virginia , MN to Clarence and Bertha (Paul) Spencer. On November 4, 1971, JoAnn was united in marriage to Leslie (Les) Rudlong in Superior, WI. JoAnn was a stay at home mom who found her life’s joy in raising, protecting and being there for her family. She loved to dance and listen to music. She also enjoyed writing...

Jerry James Jones, 74, of Watkins, IA, died at home surrounded by family, on Friday, January 20, 2023, after fighting lung cancer. Jerry was born on October 19, 1948 to Donald (Don) and Katheryn (Kay) Jones, in Lime Springs, IA. Jerry later moved South and settled in Watkins. He worked many years for Whirlpool and ran his own 40 acre farm.  Jerry enjoyed the occasional fishing trips, hunting every year, any western he had time to watch, bird watching, Sudoku puzzles and spending time...

Dianne Kay Swenson-Sikkink, age 70, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 19, 2023, at Mayo Clinic- St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester, MN after a courageous battle with both liver and kidney disease. Dianne was born on March 24, 1952, in Spring Valley, MN to Melvin and Shirley (Oliver) Kappers. She graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1970.  Dianne was united in marriage to David Lee Swenson of Ostrander on June 9, 1973, Their life together tragically ended on...

Larry W. Heath, 75, died of natural causes January 19, 2023, at Valley View Health Care Center in Houston, MN.  He was born July 1, 1947, in Owatonna, MN, the son of Oren and Bernadeen (Condon) Heath.  The family moved to Rochester, MN when Larry was very young. Services for Larry will be held at 11am on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at the Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Preston, MN, with visitation one hour prior. Burial will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston,...

Phillip L. Weiss, 68, of LeRoy, MN, passed on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 surrounded by his family at home. Born the 3rd of 12 children on July 30, 1954 in Port Washington, WI. He was the son of Albert and Mildred (Demerath) Weiss. They moved to Juneau, WI and farmed there. Phil graduated high school at Dodgeland High in Juneau, WI in 1973. He always wanted to farm like his father, but his parents told him to go on to school for something in case farming didn’t happen. Phil went on to...

Louis David Ramaker, 76 years old, died Monday, January 16, 2023, at Spring Valley Living facility in Spring Valley, Minnesota. He was born at home on July 18, 1946, to David and Mildred (Winslow) Ramaker. After graduating from Spring Valley High School, Louis went for training and work at Ability Building Center in Rochester, where he received the Employee of the Year Award in 1978. It was there he met the love of his life, LeeAnne Spencer. On January 4, 1975, they were married in Madelia,...

A man who never met a stranger for very long, Stephen Joseph O’Connor, died on Sunday, January 15 2023.   He was born to Joe and Delma Dean “Mickey” (Allen) O’Connor in Shreveport, LA on August 2nd 1944, where his father was stationed and later raised in Wichita, KS. In Steve’s early life, Joe O’Connor’s plane was shot down over France leaving him a paraplegic.  He was later killed in a car accident when Steve was 5. Mickey remarried,...

Betty A. Brooks, age 79, of Cresco, IA, passed away at her home on January 13, 2023. Betty Ann Brooks was born on April 16, 1943 in Albert Lea, MN, to Eddie and Netta (Madsen) Chrs. She attended country school Dist. 116 from 1st grade to 7th grade. Betty was the smallest in stature but oldest student at school until 1957; when the one room schoolhouse consolidated with Glenville High School where she graduated from in 1961. The summer after she graduated, she attended beauty...

Jerry R. Nielsen, age 79, of Cherry Grove, died on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Jerry was born on the 8th day of June, 1943 to Rudolph and Bernice Nielsen while his dad was away fighting in World War II. After the war, Jerry's dad farmed in Albert City, Iowa and Jerry’s sister, Shirley was born. Later, his brother Larry was born. Then, the family moved to Rolph, Iowa. When Jerry was about 10 years old, the family moved to...