Obituaries 03/19/26
Scott Berthiaume, 61
Scott David Berthiaume, 61, of Big Lake, bravely lost his battle to cancer and stepped into heaven’s realms on March 9 with his wife, Shelley, at his side.
Scott was born to Harry and Margaret Berthiaume, of Monticello, MN, on July 6, 1964. He grew up on a farm and enjoyed the country life. He was baptized and later confirmed at the Methodist Church in Monticello. He graduated from high school in 1982.
He met his soulmate, Shelley Brown, December 21, 1984, at the Monte Club. They married on May 29, 1987, in Buffalo. A love story that spanned 38 years and 10 months.
Scott and Shelley lived in Buffalo until 1993, where they made their home in Big Lake.
Two of Scott’s greatest joys were his girls, Chyanne and Mariah. They truly made life worthwhile. And life became richer and doubled in happiness when he became a “Papa” to Shane and Blake. Scott loved the men in his daughters’ lives, Nick and Jake, who became like the sons he never had.
Scott worked for years in the computer networking field until 2015. Scott went into business for himself and opened up VIP Painting & Staining. VIP stands for “value, integrity, performance.” Not just a name, but words he lived by.
Scott’s light always shined bright. Happy, smiling, and joking were just his way. He “never met a stranger.” He truly loved people, and it showed. To say he had a few friends would be an understatement.
Scott was honest and fiercely loyal. He was NEVER afraid to voice his thoughts. A few qualities people loved about him.
Helping was his second nature. People or animals, it didn’t matter.
He loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman.
A cowboy at heart. He had every book Louie L’Amour ever wrote and watched every John Wayne movie. He loved horses and was a natural in the saddle.
A dedicated Minnesota Viking’s and Twin’s fan, regardless of the season.
Most of all, he loved home. It was where he always wanted to be. He traveled and enjoyed vacations, but home is where his heart was.
Scott is survived by his loving wife, Shelley; daughters, Chyanne (Nick) Blumenshine, of Becker, Mariah Berthiaume (Jake Erickson), of Rogers; grandchildren, Shane and Blake Blumenshine, of Becker; brother, Ron (Gayle) Berthiaume, of Englewood, FL; sister, Mary Schmidt, of Maple Lake; brothers-in-law, David (Susie) Brown, of Buffalo, Les LeMieux, of Maple Lake, Jerry Simpson (Barb Starken), of Monticello, and Darryl Carlson, of Blackduck; sister-in-law, Linda Vollbrecht, of Big Lake; many nieces and nephews, cousins, and LOTS of friends.
Scott was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Larry Berthiaume; sisters, Barb LeMieux, Vera Raumer, Bonnie Carlson, and Joy Simpson.
A favorite saying from Scott, “Glad you got to see me. I know it’s been a slice of heaven for you!”
The service is as follows: The wake will be Friday, March 20, 2026, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. A Celebration of Life to be held on Saturday, March 21, at Zion Lutheran in Buffalo at 12 p.m., with visitation an hour before. Luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Heidi Dahlin, 56
Heidi Ann Dahlin, age 56, of rural Buffalo, passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at her residence.
She was born in Minneapolis on August 24, 1969, the daughter of Gary O. and Sandra Ann (Richel) Vergin.
Heidi was baptized in 1969. She was also instructed in the Lutheran catechism and confirmed in the Christian faith on May 1, 1983, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo.
Heidi graduated from Buffalo High School in 1987.
On September 23, 1989, Heidi Ann Vergin and Brian E. Dahlin were joined in holy marriage at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo. God blessed their marriage with a daughter.
Heidi enjoyed traveling, playing bingo, attending concerts, enjoyed pets, especially her dogs.
She was currently employed as a Media Center Paraprofessional at The Delano High School.
Survived by her loving husband of thirty-six years, Brian E. Dahlin; a daughter, Brenna Dahlin; her father, Gary O. Vergin, all of Buffalo; parents-in-law, Edward and Joan Dahlin, of Colorado; other relatives and many friends.
Preceded in death by her mother, Sandra Ann “Sandie” Vergin.
Funeral services for Heidi Ann Dahlin were held on Tuesday, March 17, at 11:00 A.M. at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo.
Interment Elmwood Cemetery in Rockford.
A visitation was held on Tuesday, March 17, at the church from 9:00 A.M. until time of services.
Casket Bearers were Rodney Davidson, Grant Bowman, Tony Bresina, and Kurt Bruhn.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo served the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Almond Kreb, 68
Kreb, Almond (Al) W., age 68, of Buffalo, passed away March 5, 2026.
Preceded in death by parents, Al Sr. and Eleanor; and son, Ian.
Al recently sold the local franchise, Play It Again Sports, in Buffalo, which he started and owned for over 28 years.
Al excelled in sports as the starting QB for UM-Morris, playing semi-pro football, years of townball with the Hamel Hawks, and trainer to some MN Twins. Growing up in Long Lake, he was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman, and most at peace with a simple walk in the woods, dropping a line in the water, or listening to music from his vinyl collection. He loved his family, had the gift of gab, was always willing to lend a hand and could make any stranger feel welcome. His proudest moment was the birth of his sons.
He is survived by loving wife, Debra; sons, Sam and Garrett; sisters, Sonja Jacobson, Susan Thompson, Dorothy Reiser (Larry); and brothers, Robert and Gary (Bobbi); along with many in-laws, nieces/nephews and friends he gathered along his journey.
Funeral Service was 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 16, at Calvin Presbyterian Church, 177 Glendale Dr., Long Lake.
In lieu of flowers – memorials preferred to Pheasants Forever. www.rettingerfuneralhome.com.
Gary Lindenfelser, 70
Gary J. Lindenfelser, age 70, of Litchfield, formerly of Maple Lake, died Monday, March 16, 2026. Services are pending. Arrangements entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial and Cremation Services of Maple Lake. A full obituary will appear in next week’s edition and will be available on www.dingmannfuneral.com.
Anthony McHolland, 37
Anthony Earl McHolland (Twan), age 37, was born in Buffalo MN October 22, 1988, and passed away March 10, 2026.
Anthony was born premature, with open heart complications at 14, a stroke at 29, and in the end, a common virus took his life.
He determined to be independent and prove he was as capable as anyone else and continued to live life to the fullest. Health concerns and management always seemed to be a way of life, and he beat all odds and triumphed.
He grew up with his nephews and his brother, Bobby, and loved riding motorbikes, boating on the lake, fishing, video games, and golf (disc and club). He graduated from Buffalo High School in 2007. In recent years, he spent a great deal of time with his dog, Daisy, fishing on the Crow River at his home in Rockford. He loved his family and made many great friends throughout his lifetime. They all loved Anthony (Twan).
Anthony was truly loved by all, and we’ll miss him.
Anthony is preceded in death by his grandfather, Mac McHolland; brother, Chad Cooper; and loving dog and best friend, Daisy.
Anthony is survived by his parents, Robert and Linda McHolland; brothers, Bobby McHolland and Jason Cooper; sister, Sherry DeMarais; grandmother, Anita McHolland; nephews, Josh DeMarais, Jordan DeMarais, and Justin DeMarais; niece, Elianna Cooper; and many other loving family members.
A celebration of life is to be held for Anthony at the Monticello VFW on Saturday, March 21, from 12:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Nan Paumen, 84
Nan Elaine Bittner Paumen passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on March 11, 2026.
She was born on May 26, 1941, in Watertown, SD, to George Bittner and Kathryn Fleming Bittner.
They soon moved to rural Waverly, MN, where Nan grew up on a farm with her brother and sister.
She attended and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic school in Waverly.
In January 1958, she met Edward “Ed” Paumen at a dance and she was smitten! They were married on May 7, 1960, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly. God blessed their marriage with three daughters.
Nan and Ed moved to Maple Lake in 1961 and moved their “little house on the hill” out from Minneapolis in 1966.
Nan enjoyed gardening, camping with friends, traveling, and spending time with her family. She was an excellent cook! She spent many years as a cook at Maple Lake High School and truly enjoyed being one of the “Irish Cook-ies” during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Maple Lake. She was a social butterfly!
Preceded in death by her parents; in-laws, Wilfred “Sandy” and Hazel Paumen; brothers-in-law, Emmett Hausladen, Michael Paumen, and Gene Post; and by a son-in-law, Mike Couette.
Survived by her husband of nearly 66 years, Ed Paumen; daughters, Mary Jo (Gene) Lambert, Julie Couette, and Colleen (John) Entinger; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren with three on the way; sister, Jane Hausladen; brother, Bill Bittner; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Frank (Pat) Paumen, Kathy Fagerness, Judy Post, and Charles “Chuck” (Carol) Paumen; other relatives and many friends.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Nan Elaine Paumen was held on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 11:00 A.M. at St. Timothy Catholic Church, visitation was held two hours prior to the Mass.
Craig Couette was the urn bearer. Inurnment will be held at St. Charles Cemetery at a later date.
Nans family would like to extend a thank you to the nurses and staff at the Glenn Memory Care in Buffalo and St. Croix hospice for their kindness and grace shown to our mother.
The Peterson chapel, Buffalo assisted the family with funeral arrangements. Online condolences can be made at www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Wayne Rebischke, 87
Wayne Albert Rebischke, age 87, of Adel, Iowa, passed away on March 8, 2026, at Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center, Iowa.
Wayne was born on July 7, 1938, in Randall, Minnesota, the son of Albert Emil and Thelma Catherine (Christensen) Rebischke. He graduated from Little Falls High School in 1956 and later attended Minnesota Metropolitan, where he obtained his associate degree.
Wayne proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for four years, serving in Germany as an aircraft electrician. Following his military service, he began a long and dedicated career in law enforcement. In 1966, he was hired by the Minnesota State Patrol and attended the Minnesota Law Enforcement Academy. Wayne served the State of Minnesota as a State Trooper for 32 years before retiring in 1998. After retirement, Wayne was a defensive driving instructor.
On July 31, 1971, Wayne married the love of his life, Karen Hinsch, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Together, they built a life centered around faith, family, and service to their community.
Wayne had a very strong faith. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran church as a child and was an active member at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buffalo, MN, and Faith Lutheran Church in Adel, IA. He served as an elder at both churches.
Wayne was a member of many organizations, including the American Legion, the Minnesota State Troopers Association, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. He also served on the Adel Library Board, as well as the library board in Buffalo, MN. While living in Buffalo, Wayne briefly volunteered as a firefighter with the Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department.
In his younger years, Wayne was very athletic, participating in football, basketball, and track during high school. He also took part in class plays in his junior and senior years. Known for his caring heart and lighthearted personality, Wayne loved telling jokes and bringing smiles to those around him.
Wayne and Karen shared a deep love of travel and adventure. Many summers were spent camping with their daughters, while Wayne attended accident reconstruction conferences. Together, they visited most of the United States and traveled to Israel, Ecuador, England, France, Amsterdam, Germany, Italy, and Greece. They also enjoyed trips to Canada, a memorable Alaskan cruise, but their favorite trip was to Hawaii to celebrate their 50th anniversary with their entire family.
Wayne enjoyed many activities, especially woodcarving, stained glass, reading, and watching westerns. He was an avid Minnesota Gophers football fan and had season tickets for many years. Above all else, Wayne was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren.
Wayne is survived by his loving wife, Karen Rebischke; his children, Sara (David) Gallegos and Heidi (Jeff) Freidhof; and his grandchildren, Hayden, Brynn, and Blayne Schneider. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Lorraine Borgstrom and her husband, Cedric; his brothers, Robert “Bobby” Rebischke and Richard “Dick” Rebischke and Dick’s wife, Judy; and his niece, Debi Zierden.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Church in Adel, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Faith Lutheran Church in Adel, with a luncheon to follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in memory of Wayne Rebischke to the Adel Public Library or St. Croix Hospice.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.
Dennis Varner, 85
Dennis Howard Varner, age 85, of rural Buffalo, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Glenn in Buffalo.
He was born on November 18, 1940, during the aftermath of the Armistice Day blizzard, having made their way to the hospital by horse-drawn sled.
Dennis was a born farmer. As a boy, he was active in 4-H, FFA, and working on the family farm with his brothers, Richard and Ronald, and his parents Howard and Fern.
In the early 1960’s, Dennis was drafted and served in the US Army stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. During that time, he was a mechanic, gas station attendant, and was assigned to crowd control operations in Detroit during civil unrest. With the Vietnam conflict arising, he was asked to re-enlist after serving his time, he declined and went home to milk cows on the family farm.
In 1978, Dennis married Mary and the two were together until her death in 2002.
Dennis, alongside his brothers and father, were crop and dairy farmers until the later 1980’s. He was also raising sheep during that time, which became what many people knew him for. He had a real admiration for sheep and, at times, had up to 300 head. He was always delighted to have visitors come out to see the lambs in the spring or let kids come to feed an orphan bottle lamb.
Dennis was also a school bus driver in BHM for 26 years. He liked the early mornings and flexibility of being able to farm and drive bus. He made many friends of students throughout the years and was happy to stop and chat with former riders.
Dennis will be remembered for his shy, kind, and gentle spirit, as well as his knowledge in farming and freelance mechanics. Always carrying a pair of pliers and having a length of baylor twine handy, most issues could be quickly remedied.
Dennis is survived by his daughter, Kristi Varner; step-children, Jack Clark, Debby Eldridge, and Tim Clark; grandchildren, Wyatt Scarbrough, Chad Perrault, Brandon Vigdor, Zachary Eldridge, Sheena Clark, John Clark, and Jacklyn Clark.
Preceded in death by his wife, Mary; brothers, Ronald and Richard; and parents, Howard and Fern.
Funeral services will be held on March 28 at 11 am at the Buffalo United Methodist Church.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m., one hour prior to services.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
