Obituaries

20 years ago: First District celebrates record year

Multi Community Care and Homes Inc. has as its mission to enhance the lives of those we serve by providing knowledgeable support staff, an atmosphere for growth, learning and skill acquisition, and an opportunity for personal dreams to be realized.

Maxine M. Broderius, age 93, of Hector, Minnesota, passed away on Monday,

Alma A. Johnson, 95, of Hutchinson passed away on Friday, November 29, 2024, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson. Funeral Service was held Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson with interment in Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson. Clergy Officiating: Pastor Greg Tobison; Organist: Jon Wheeler; Congregational Hymns: “In the Garden”, “How Great Thou Art”, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”; Casket Bearers: Jeremy Johnson, Mike Bishman, Matt Bishman, Kevin O’Connor, Zach Zimmermann, Matthew Holland, Eric Wolf, Emil Pagel Alma Amelia Johnson was born on April 8, 1929, in Hutchinson. She was the daughter of William and Victoria (Byczynski) Pofahl. Alma was baptized as an infant on July 28, 1929, at St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Hutchinson and later confirmed in her faith as a youth on April 2, 1944, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lynn Township. She received her education in Hutchinson and was a graduate of Hutchinson High School, class of 1948. On March 11, 1949, Alma was united in marriage to Charles A. Johnson at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lynn Township. This marriage was blessed with four children, Ronald, Bruce, Jeanette, and Julie. Alma and Charles resided in Hutchinson. They shared 47 years of marriage prior to the passing of Charles on September 16, 1996. In 1957, Alma began working in the production department at Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing in Hutchinson. She retired in 1988 after 31 years of employment. Alma sold bingo cards at VFW Post 906 in Hutchinson from 1989 to 2010. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. She was also a member of the 3M Century Club. Alma and her husband, Charlie loved going on trips to visit their son, Bruce and family, in Okinawa, Japan, the Philippines, and Hawaii. They took annual trips in March and November to Las Vegas to meet up with relatives from Oregon, California, and Illinois. Alma enjoyed going to casinos, dancing, and car rides. She liked listening to music, especially “old-time” polka and waltzes. Alma also liked socializing with her co-workers, neighbors and friends. She was an avid gardener and canned the vegetables that she grew, with pickles being her specialty. Alma cherished spending time with her family, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren.

NELLIE “NELL” Nellie “Nell” Gehrke Peterson, 79, of Hutchinson passed away on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at Harmony River Living Center in Hutchinson. Memorial Service was Saturday, November 30, 2024, 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson with interment in Oakland Cemetery, Hutchinson. Clergy Officiating: Reverend Greg Tobison; Organist: Jon Wheeler; Soloist: Jon Wheeler, “Go Rest High On That Mountain”; Congregational Hymns: “The Old Rugged Cross”, “How Great Thou Art”, “Amazing Grace”, “On Eagle’s Wings”; Honorary Urn Bearers: Grandchildren - Alex Messner, Madilyn Gehrke, Morgan Gehrke, Ethan Block; Urn Bearer: Grandson - Mitchell Messner Nell was born April 17, 1945, in Hickory, N.C., She was the daughter of Elmer and Nelie (Smith) Brittain. Nell was the ninth of 10 children and has many fond memories of her large family. She was baptized in the Baptist church as a youth and later confirmed and baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Hutchinson in 1969. Nell grew up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and attended George Hildebran School, graduating with the class of 1963. She was an avid basketball player. Upon graduation, Nell went to work in Washington, D.C., for the Federal Bureau of Investigation where she worked for J. Edgar Hoover. It was there she met the love of her life, David. They were married and later moved to Minneapolis where Nell continued employment with the FBI Minneapolis field office. Later they moved to Hutchinson where she worked for 3M and then became a stay-at-home mom. Nell cherished those years of being at home as a mother and wife with so many wonderful memories and always felt she was blessed to be able to carry out that chosen role. Nell was married to David E. Gehrke on September 25, 1965, in Washington, D.C. They shared 45 years of marriage and their marriage was blessed with two marvelous children, Stacy and Eric. Nell spent many years serving her community at Grace Lutheran Church, Hospice, Harmony River, Hutchinson Health, and Saturday Night Cruisers. She loved Hutchinson and promoted it as the best place in the world to live. Nell and David enjoyed dancing, woodworking projects, traveling, especially to North Carolina and winters in Mazatlán, Mexico, and spending time at their sawmill until his passing on October 10, 2010. She was blessed to have love come into her life again and married Robert “Bob” Peterson on June 7, 2013. They enjoyed motorcycle riding, Car Cruise-Ins, winters in Lake Havasu, Ariz., dancing, and bingo. Nell also enjoyed crocheting, machine embroidery, reading, Minnesota sports and NASCAR. She cherished her family time. Dinners together, baking with grandchildren, cheering at her grandchildren’s events, and family vacations were always a priority. Nell is survived by her husband Bob Peterson; daughter Stacy Messner and her husband Keith; son Eric Gehrke and his wife Kari; stepdaughter Bridget Block and her husband Jon, all of Hutchinson; grandchildren, Mitchell Messner (Sadie); Alex Messner (fiancé Jessica); Madilyn Gehrke; Morgan Gehrke; and step grandson, Ethan Block, and many other relatives and friends. Nell was preceded in death by her first husband, David Gehrke; parents, Elmer and Nelie Brittain; father- and mother-in-law Elton and Grace Gehrke; stepdaughter Christine VanderVoort; and four siblings. Nell asks that you remember her as a loving and compassionate wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She had strong faith in knowing that life here was temporary and that someday she would be in heaven with her Lord and Savior. Praise the Lord and thank you for this wonderful life here on earth and for eternal life in heaven. Blessed be her memory. Arrangements by Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson. Online obituaries and guestbook available at www.hantge.com.

Alice L. Hellwig, 94, of Litchfield died on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at Bethany Assisted Living in Litchfield. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Litchfield. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be held at Ellsworth Cemetery.

Alvin DeWall, 77, of Litchfield died Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in Litchfield. A Celebration of Life is planned for Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the American Legion, 222 N Sibley in Litchfield from 1 - 3 p.m. Military Honors will be held at 2 p.m. He was born in St. James on February 7, 1947. The family moved to Nevis where he graduated high school in 1965. He graduated from Dunwoody College studying electronics.

Einar O. Lundin, 97, of Litchfield passed away on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield. A funeral service was held on Saturday, November 30, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield with Rev. Tom Evenson officiating. Interment followed at Lake Ripley Cemetery in Litchfield. A visitation took place on Friday evening, November 29, 2024, from 4 to 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Saturday morning from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield. The Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel handled funeral arrangements. Einar O. Lundin, the son of Albin and Myrtle (Ahlstedt) Lundin, was born on October 6, 1927, in the family farmhouse in Greenleaf Township, Meeker County. He was baptized at First Lutheran Church on November 18, 1927, and confirmed there on May 24, 1942. Einar was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church, where he actively participated in church life, including serving on the church council. He attended District #59, a one-room schoolhouse known as the Little Red Schoolhouse, through the 8th grade. Einar answered the call to serve his country and enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard, where he served from May 8, 1947, until his discharge on January 4, 1951, achieving the rank of Sergeant. On June 25, 1950, Einar was united in marriage to Delores Johnson at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield.