Darleen D. Tupy, age 82, of New Prague, died peacefully on Monday, July 4th, 2022 at Mala Strana Health and Rehabilitation Center.  Darleen was born on December 17, 1939 in Wheatland Township, Rice County, MN to Casper J. and Mary E. (Simota) Dols.  She grew up in the Veseli area, attending Most Holy Trinity Parochial School and graduating from NPHS.  She married Leonard M.

Monica S. Straiton, age 96, of Waconia, formerly of New Prague, died peacefully on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at Good Samaritan Society in Waconia. She was born a twin, the younger of the two, on June 28, 1926 in Mendota to Martin and Susan (Hart) Stevens. She grew up in Westbrook, MN, where she graduated from Westbrook High School. She and her sister enjoyed sports throughout their lives and were active as majorettes in high school, one of the few sporting activities available to girls.

Josie Ploetz, age 80 of Belle Plaine, passed away June 23, 2022. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 1, 2022, at Pax Christi Catholic Church in Eden Prairie. Fr. Roger Hessian will officiate. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday at the Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine and continue one hour prior to Mass at church on Friday morning. Memorials are preferred to Belle Plaine Dollars for Scholars in lieu of flowers.

Kim (Palmquist) McGovern, age 51, of Montgomery, passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer on Sunday, June 26, 2022 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.
Memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at the St. Peter Funeral Home, 906 N. Washington Ave, St. Peter. Private service will be held for the family.

LaVonne K. Erickson, age 74, of Faribault, MN, passed away Friday, June 24, 2022, at Faribault Senior Living with her family at her side.

Thomas E.

Rita Ann (Trnka) Chlan, age 89, of Webster, MN passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 19, 2022. She was born on April 23, 1933 in Erin Township to Mathias and Helen (Brabec) Trnka of Lonsdale.

Joseph (Joe) Docken, Jr., age 88, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2022 at the Northfield Retirement Community, with his family at his side.
Joe, son of Joseph and Lillian Docken, was born in Northfield on June 26, 1933. He married Lorna (Meyer) on June 30, 1962. He raised and nurtured a family of five, tended his family’s farm homestead and served the Solor Lutheran Church community for decades.

Robert “Bob” Michel, 78, passed away in the Lutheran Home of Belle Plaine on Tuesday, May 24th, surrounded by loved ones. He had succumbed to illness that he had been battling for some time.