September is here. School is underway. I love shopping for school supplies. The array of notebooks, paper, pens, pencils and organizational gadgets makes me smile. I like having a stockpile of paper and pens waiting to be used.
What parent hasn’t been there? It’s been a long day, you still have dinner to make, maybe lunches for tomorrow, too, and you just don’t have the energy to wrangle your kids into a new art project or plead with them to pick up a book.
Paulette Johnson described her brother John’s move from one nursing home to another as “traumatic.” John Johnson had lived in the Meadow Lane Restorative Care Center in Benson for about five years before he had to leave when the center announced its closure last summer. Since the COVID pandemic, nursing homes across Minnesota have been closing at alarming rates, due to financial stressors.
Reconnecting was the goal of the first Ridgewater College Foundation Board Member Reunion Sept. 11 in Spicer.
A Dassel man died Saturday from burns he suffered in a gas explosion. According to a Meeker County Sheriff’s Office news release, Jeffery Holmquist, 46, died from injuries he suffered when there was an explosion inside a fish house in the 70000 block of 178th Street in Collinwood Township.
Patricia ‘Pat’ Ann Herzog, 96, of Litchfield died on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Bethany Assisted Living in Litchfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at Church of St. Philip in Litchfield. A visitation was held from 5 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral and Cremation Service in Litchfield with Parish Prayers and a Rosary at 5 p.m. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery. Patricia Ann Herzog was born on May 16, 1928, in St. Clou to Richard and Gladys (Duffy) Solfelt. She moved to Iowa for a few years before returning to St. Cloud in 1943. In 1946, Pat graduated from St. Cloud High School and also from St. Cloud Technical School in 1948. Pat was united in marriage to Les Herzog in St. Cloud in June 1950. They had two sons - Stephen, born May 1951 and Thomas in May 1953. Over the years they lived in Minneapolis, Minot, N.D., Cooperstown, N.D. and Litchfield, where Pat was a teacher. In 1970, she continued her education, graduating from Mayville State University. She was an active member of Church of St. Philip where she served communion to the homebound as a Eucharistic Minister, sang in the choir, and taught at School of St. Philip. She coached baseball teams in the 1950s and loved watching the Minnesota Twins. In the 1970s, Les and Pat were Minnesota Vikings season ticket holders and often tailgated home games with their friends. She enjoyed knitting, playing cards and bridge, and going on camping and fishing trips. She loved watching her children play sports and traveling to spend time with her grandchildren. Pat is survived by her sons Stephen (Joan) of Kalispell, Mont., and Thomas (Julie) of Fargo, N.D.; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Les and sisters Eleanor Schaefers and Marilyn Solfelt. Thank you to the caring staff and Ecumen and Ecumen Hospice for the many yea
Laura May Ackerman, 92 of Litchfield passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Hilltop Care Center in Watkins. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Visitation was held from 9:30 - 11 a.m. prior to the service. Interment was held at Ripley
Kurt R. Birkemeyer, 69, of Litchfield died on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at the St. Cloud Hospital surrounded by family. A Celebration of Life will be held from 1 - 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral and Cremation Service in Litchfield. Kurt Richard Bir- kemeyer, the son of Richard and Doris (Hillmeyer), was born in Cokato on February 3, 1955. He graduated from Litchfield High School in 1973. He went on to college and graduated from University of Minnesota. He worked many different jobs over the years, including paving, curb and gutter, landscaping of golf courses, and over-theroad truck driving. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Bridget Mueller, on July 8, 1988. Kurt finished his working career at Meeker County Highway Department after 30 years of service. For the last 49 years, he has been a part of a yearly reunion with some closest college friends, known as The TANKS. Kurt liked to drink milk and Old Milwaukee, eat donuts, cheese, popsicles, cherry pie, turkey club sandwiches and chewing gum. He was obsessed with the weather and the beginning of the baseball season. Kurt could often be found listening to music, watching Svengoolie on MeTV or Piano Puzzler on PBS, or reminiscing with his family and friends. He enjoyed sports betting with his mom, reading, bird watching, walking, hunting, fishing, golfing, baseball and pool. Kurt is survived by his wife Bridget; children William Birkemeyer and Hannah Birkemeyer (and Zach Fortun); grandchildren Bodhi Fortun and Berlyn Fortun; and his brother Kris. He was preceded in death by his father Richard; and brothers Kim and Kyle. Please sign our online guestbook at www. johnsonhagglund.com.