Obituaries 6/17/21
Ruth Atkinson, 64
Ruth Atkinson, of Monticello, a retired Speech Clinician and Special Education teacher with the Buffalo School System, passed away unexpectedly at her home last week. She was 64.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced soon.
Debbie Carlson, 48
Debbie Ann Carlson, age 48, of Monticello passed away on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.
She was born on December 23, 1972, in St. Paul, the daughter of Robert L. and Donna M. (Nygren) Carlson.
Debbie was formerly employed for many years at Functional Industries.
She enjoyed Johnny Cash, brownies and pop, and seeing her nieces.
Debbie also loved going to Arby’s and watching her T.V. shows, “The Golden Girls” and “Gilligan’s Island.”
Debbie is survived by her parents, Donna and Robert Carlson, of Buffalo; a brother, Rick (Monica) Carlson, of Maple Lake; half-sister, Bonnie (Ken) Chenal, of Lewis, Wisconsin; nieces and nephews, Anjeanine, Nicole, Amorae, Kayonna, Bennie, Charlie, Catlin and Zach; great-nieces and a great-nephew, Adrionna, Caleb and Annika; aunts, uncles and cousins further survive.
She was preceded in death by a half-brother, Robert A. Carlson; and by an aunt, Joyce Newel.
A Memorial service for Debbie Ann Carlson will be held on Saturday, June 19 at 2:00 P.M. at The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. Pastor Dave Hormann will officiate. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the Memorial service on Saturday, June 19.
The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo is serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Margaret Hennen, 90
Margaret M. Hennen, age 90, of Maple Lake, died Sunday, June 13, 2021, at her home due to arterialsclerosis.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Maple Lake with Fr. John Meyer officiating. Burial will follow at St. Timothy Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Maple Lake with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9-10 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral chapel.
Margaret Magdalena Hennen was born July 27, 1930, in Forest City, Minnesota to Mathew and Mathilda (Grotz) Loch. She grew up in rural Watkins and attended Country School District 35. On September 15, 1951, Marge was united in marriage to Kenneth Hennen at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Watkins. They made their start in Watkins, and while Ken was serving his county in Korea, their first child was born. Marge not only cared for the home, but also worked for Weber’s Grocery Store in Watkins. In 1959, they moved to Maple Lake and their second child was born shortly after. Marge and Ken purchased Salzer Lumber Company in 1965 and renamed it Maple Lake Lumber. Marge worked full time managing the office and keeping the books for the company. In 1992, Marge and Ken retired and sold the business to the next generation.
Marge was a member of St. Timothy Catholic Church, Council of Catholic Women and the Maple Lake American Legion Auxiliary. She was also active in the community with her husband, Kenny; she was at his side and helped in the many organizations that he was a part of. In her younger years, she bowled in the Monday Night Ladies League in Annandale and Buffalo. Marge enjoyed crafts, sewing, quilting and playing cards.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, Daryl and Kathy Hennen and Deanna and Mike Lauer, both of Maple Lake; six grandchildren, Valerie Enter, Brad Hennen, Adam Hennen, Tony Hennen, Jordan Lauer, and Dominic Lauer; 12 great-grandchildren, Emily and Nathan Enter, Megan, Evan, Logan, Grant, Griffin, Dylan, Kalli, and Kenna Hennen and Owen and Molly Lauer; ß-grandchildren, Paisley and Parker Gramsey; and many nieces, nephews, other family members, and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ken; and sisters, Caroline DeMorett, Marie Schultz, Marcella Neu and Clara Broll.
Marge’s grandchildren will serve as casket bearers. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Maple Lake.
Obituary, Tribute Wall, Video Tribute and Funeral webcast online at www.dingmannfuneral.com
Andrew Juetten, 83
Andrew R. Juetten, age 83, of St. Cloud, formerly of Annandale, died Wednesday, June 9, 2021, at CentraCare - Benedict Homes.
Visitation will be held from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 20, 2021, at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel, Annandale with a Prayer Service at 4:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Annandale. The service will be live-streamed on the funeral home website.
Andrew Roger Juetten was born September 17, 1937, in Annandale, Minnesota to Leo and Elaine (Rousseau) Juetten. Andy attended school in Annandale and Maple Lake, graduating with the Class of 1955 from Maple Lake High School. He honorably served his country in the United States Army. On September 16, 1961, he was united in marriage to Andrea M. Leonard. They raised their family on a farm near Maple Lake. In addition to farming, Andy also worked in sewer and water construction for Orfie & Son, QRS, Latour, and Burschville Construcion, before retiring in 2000. Andy served as a township supervisor for Maple Lake Township. Andy and Andrea retired to Sugar Lake and later moved to a home at the Southbrook golf course. Andy enjoyed golfing, fishing, deer hunting, snowmobiling, and playing cards. He loved the time he was able to spend with family, especially his grandchildren.
Andy is survived by his wife of 59 years, Andrea, of St. Cloud; children, Cynthia Poirier (Marvin Olson), of Darwin, Christopher (Gloria), of Clearwater, Daniel (Rochelle), of Rosemont, and Jenifer (Keith) Christensen, of St. Cloud; grandchildren, Samantha, Joseph, Casey, Zachary, Ryan, and Andrew; great-grandchildren, Jaxxon, Remi, Emma, and Bentley; and other family members and friends.
Andy was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clifford, Robert and James Juetten; and sisters, Rosemary James and Dorothy Fobbe.
Andy’s grandchildren will serve as urn bearers. Arrangements are entrusted with Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services.
Obituary, Tribute Wall, Video Tribute and Funeral Webcast online at www.dingmannfuneral.com.
Clark Swenson, 85
Clark Holger Swenson, age 85 of Buffalo, died June 8, 2021, from complications of Lewy Body dementia.
The oldest of three children, Clark was born at home on April 5, 1936 in Jeffers, MN, to Holger and Tonie Bernice (Aslagon) Swenson.
Clark graduated in 1954 from Paynesville High School and went on to compete in track, specializing in high jumping at St. Cloud State University, where he also earned his BS in English and history education in 1958 and Masters Degree in English in 1962.
After teaching for one year in Melrose, MN, he accepted a job at Buffalo High School where he remained for 36 years, coaching track, directing numerous plays and teaching in the English department.
Clark met his wife, Karen, while teaching at Buffalo High School and together they raised three children. Always a quiet, patient, soulful man, he loved his wife, children, grandchildren unconditionally, and found God and spirituality in church, in literature, in nature and being with friends and family.
In the fall of 1970, Clark, and friends, founded the Wright County Community Theatre with a production of “Li’l Abner,” followed by other community plays in Delano and Maple Lake.
Clark wasn’t afraid to take risks and choose difficult, often controversial plays for state contests and productions, resulting in numerous accolades from directors and theatres throughout the state.
His accomplishments in theatre were many, but he was always most proud of his casts and crews; he expected much and stretched them to near breaking points with challenging material, but they always gave back 100%.
Clark, a true Renaissance man, loved all the arts, classics, photography, sports and the outdoors. He was happiest taking family photos, making yearly albums, directing plays and photographing, taping and cataloging each, camping in the boundary waters, fishing, entering fishing contests, picking bittersweet, hunting deer, sitting in duck blinds and photographing every fish, goose, deer and duck he saw.
A small corner of land on Lake Linka between Brooten and Glenwood, MN, that his grandfather, Gunvald Aslagson, bought 103 years ago, and where a family cabin now sits, afforded him hours of family and nature’s wonders. Several cabin owners humorously commented that they set their watches by Clark’s daily fishing hours.
Clark was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Margo.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Karen; daughter, Mara (former son-in-law, Jeff), of Buffalo, MN; sons, Grant (Melany), of St. Augusta, MN, and Leif (Jenna), of Minnetonka, MN; grandchildren, Jordan, Makenna, Ari, Jonah, Isla, Ryder, Zarik; great-granddaughter, Payton; sister, Jan Erickson (Clay Nicles), of Plymouth, MN; brother-in-law, Dane (Claudia) Wobschall, of Waseca, MN; nieces, Brittany Wobschall, of South St. Paul, MN, and Megan Wobschall, of Rochester, MN.
His family will bury his ashes later this summer in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Brooten, MN.
“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with one another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” Thorton Wilder - playwright
A Celebration of Clark’s Life will be held on Thursday, June 24 at 3:00 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service at Zion Lutheran Church of Buffalo, MN. A meal and time of sharing will follow the service also at Zion Lutheran Church of Buffalo, MN.
Arrangements were entrusted to The Peterson Chapel of Buffalo, MN.
Be Truong, 64
A life well-lived / An honorable man
Be Van Truong was born on the 24th of June 1956 in the rice-growing fields of Long Hoa, Saigon, South Vietnam, to Cau Van Truong and Nam Thi Truong (Trinh). Out of ten children, he was the youngest son; four older brothers and five younger sisters.
In the 1960’s, his family relocated to the City of Saigon where during the height of the Vietnam war Be found employment moving furniture at the American Embassy. Before long, his persistent ingenuity helped promote him to telephone technician, playing a critical role in ensuring communications between the Embassy and the United States. Be continued to transmit calls during the last days of Saigon, only leaving his post after the last of the American diplomats retreated, as the North Vietnamese army approached the Embassy. On April 9, 1975, Be was placed on one of the last helicopters that departed from the Embassy’s roof, leaving his family at the age of nearly 19.
Be was flown to an overcrowded cargo ship parked off the coast of Vietnam, sailing East through the South China Sea to Guam. From there, he was flown to the USA and placed in a refugee camp at Fort Chaffee, AR until July of 1975, when he was sponsored by a church in Wilmington, NC. The following October, friends from Vietnam who were sponsored by different churches asked that he join their family in the town of Redwood Falls, MN.
In his new home with his new family, Be met and fell in love with his new neighbor, Christine Bernardy. In the midst of their courtship, his previous telecommunications experience landed him a position as a technician at Norstan Communications/Blackbox Inc. Be and Christine began a long-distance relationship after Be’s new job brought him to Minneapolis, until June 27, 1981, when they took their vows in front of their friends, their family, and God.
Be and Christine became proud parents of three amazing children, who in turn brought three wonderful sons-in-law into the family, which has now expanded to include six beautiful grandchildren. Be and Chris created a family that was truly blessed, full of love, faith, trust, joy, and contentment.
Be and Chris were inseparable, always lifting the other to greater heights of happiness. Their love is palpable and significant, spending nearly 45 years in love and almost 40 years in marriage, always holding hands and carrying the other throughout life’s mix of rocky terrain and beautiful pastures.
On April 14, 2021, Be was diagnosed with stage four hepatocarcinoma. While surrounded by his children and held by his wife, Be’s struggle with cancer ended 20 days later on May 4, 2021.
We will miss his humor, his ability to problem solve anything, and his kind, gentle soul. He is an incredible gift from God. His life impacted countless others who sought his support, warmth, and love. We are all better people for knowing him.
Be was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and a sister. Be will be missed by his loving wife, Christine, of almost 40 years of marriage; their amazing children and their families, Jaymie Hoa (Aaron) Helle, Jayson Manh (Andres) Truong-Rodriguez, and Jayanna Lan (Charlie) Brault; and six beautiful grandchildren, Clara Mai, Lyon Van and Rowan Vinh Helle; Nolan Minh and Arlo Be Brault; and Tomas Rodriguez. He will also be missed by his three sisters and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews in Vietnam; and many more family and friends.
There is a constant presence of grief and heartache. We have faith in God and trust in God to comfort us. Heaven is so lucky to have Be.
Our love and thanks to you all for your friendship, love and prayers. We love you.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 3:30 PM at the Otsego County Park: 15198 96th St. NE, Otsego, MN.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The Peterson Chapel in Buffalo. Online condolences for the family may be directed to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
David Warwas, 68
The family of David Peter Warwas is sad to announce that on June 4, 2021, at the age of 68, he lost his battle with cancer in Las Vegas, NV.
David was preceded in death by his mother, Iva Warwas; father, James Warwas; brother, Dan Warwas; and brother-in-law, Dave Kielas.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Warwas; sister, Terri Kielas; brother, Jeff Warwas; sister-in-law, Nancy Warwas; and many nieces and nephews.
David was born in Buffalo, MN. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy, and lived for decades in Manteca, CA while working at the nuclear lab in Livermore, CA.
Anyone who knew David, benefited from his light hearted sense of humor and the generosity of his time, attention, and resources. David lit up any room he was in, with his warm smile and gregarious laugh.
A memorial service will be held at the VFW at 580 Moffat Blvd., Manteca, CA on June 19th, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
Vivian West, 93
Vivian West, age 93, of Buffalo, MN, passed away at Park View Care Center in Buffalo on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.
Vivian is survived by her seven children, Ric (Deb) West, Buffalo, MN; Ginna (Jack) Leeb, Clearwater, MN; Mary West, St. Cloud, MN; Anne (Dan) Ackmann, Buffalo, MN; Jim (Kate) West, Buffalo, MN; Tim (Kris) West, Maple Grove, MN; John (Chris) West, Annandale, MN; nineteen grandchildren and twenty-six great-grandchildren; her sister, Rosemary Peters, Wilmar, MN; Don Plombon, Niswa, MN; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Henry Richard (Dick) West and her parents Al and Irene Plombon, of St. Cloud, MN.
Vivian was born in Foley, MN on March 24, 1928, the daughter of Al and Irene Plombon. She attended St. Cloud Tech High School and college at St. Cloud Teacher’s College (St. Cloud State University). She owned and operated West Appliance and West Marine in downtown Buffalo alongside her husband for over 40 years.
After their retirement, Dick and Vivian spent winters in Arizona, summers in Buffalo and many happy times in their cabin in the woods of central Minnesota.
Vivian enjoyed cooking many meals for her family, including chicken and dumplings, fresh bread and delicious cookies. Her hobbies included sewing, cross stitching, and making beautiful baby blankets. Family was the most important thing in her life.
In lieu of flowers, condolences can be sent to Anne Ackmann, 104 Inger Place, Buffalo, MN 55313. A donation will be made to Vivian’s favorite non-profit.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, June 17, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Buffalo, MN. Private interment will follow.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to The Peterson Chapel of Buffalo. Online condolences for the family may be directed to www.thepetersonchapel.com.
Celebrations of Life
Mary Cady
You are invited to a get-together to remember Mary Cady, at the home of Tim Cady, 5251 Christen Ave. NE, Buffalo, on Saturday, August 7, at 12:00 noon. Lunch served from 12:00-3:00 p.m. Bring a fold-up chair, if you wish. Music by Wagon Wheelers Band. Tent available in case of rain or snow. Stay as long as you can. RSVPs appreciated. Marycadycelebration@gmail.com.
