Obituaries

Najat Jarjeas

Jan 6, 2025

Najat Jarjeas, 80, of Rochester, MN passed away at her home on Monday, January 6, 2025.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Jarjeas family.

Bette Dines

Jan 5, 2025

Bette Harvey Dines died January 5th, 2025 at the age of 97 in Rochester, Minnesota. She was born in 1927 in Denver to Viola Prey Harvey and Doctor Edward Lee Harvey. She graduated from East Denver High School and attended Mount Vernon College. She married her teenage sweetheart David Dines in 1947 after his return from serving in the Marines...

James DeFrang

Jan 2, 2025

James D. DeFrang, 80, of Zumbrota, passed away on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at his home, holding the hand of his beloved wife, Rita.

James (Jim) was born January 20, 1944, to Helen (Welti) and Roy DeFrang in Plainview, Minnesota.

He went to Breman Country School and graduated from Elgin-Millville Hight School.

He served in the Army, then went on...

Robert L. Sannes

Dec 29, 2024

Robert Lee Sannes, born on November 8, 1940, in Park River, North Dakota, passed away peacefully on December 29th. He married his beloved bride, Cindy, on May 15, 1965, and often referred to as "the best thing that ever happened to him". She rarely left his side during his days in and out of hospitals and his stay in a...

Mary Bremseth

Dec 28, 2024

Mary A. Bremseth, age 86, of Rochester, Minnesota passed away December 28, 2024 at Samaritan Bethany in Rochester, Minnesota.

Mary Ann Bremseth was born on May 27, 1938 to Greta (Pearson) and Harley Lark. On October 10, 1954 she married Kenneth Lyle Bremseth in Grand Meadow, MN, they later divorced. Together they had five children. Mary worked as a housekeeper at...

Theresa Olson

Dec 27, 2024

Theresa Marie Olson, 94, passed away on Friday, December 27, 2024 in Edina, Minnesota. Theresa Marie Gauthier Olson, 94 years of age, passed away peacefully at her home in Edina, MN on December 27, 2024, with family and care volunteers surrounding her. She was born to Lucien Gauthier and Petronelene Gauthier nee Grant in Willow City, North Dakota. She was...

Marjorie Lieske

Dec 25, 2024

Marjorie Lieske Peacefully passed 12/25/24 in Rochester, MN. Her indomitable spirit and sharp mind lived on until the end, but her body finally gave out.

Marjorie Lieske was born 9/14/30 in Ashland, WI to Susan (Pederson) Nelson and Wellington Pederson. After graduating from Superior State Teachers College in 1952 she struck off on her own across the country to...

Mary Schmitter

Dec 25, 2024

Mary Caroline Schmitter was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt who was immeasurably dedicated to her faith, community, and those she loved. Mary passed away peacefully on December 25th, 2024 at the age of 92.

Mary was born on June 6th, 1932 in Rochester, MN to Myrna and George Hanson. Mary was an involved high school student;...

Emily Anderson

Dec 23, 2024

Emily C. Anderson, 86, of Rochester, MN passed away on December 23, 2024, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

Emily was born on December 31, 1937, in Newton, IA to Carl B. and Emma (Kiesel) Hennings. She attended school in Newton, IA. She earned her nursing degree from the Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester, MN. Emily completed her education...

Frank Angelotti

Dec 23, 2024

Frank William Angelotti, PhD., passed away Monday. December 23, 2024, after a long illness. He was born April 20, 1962, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, the son of the late Frank R. Angelotti and Jackqueline L. Angelotti (nee Goodwill). Frank grew up in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and later in Kildeer, Illinois, and attended the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign, earning...

Edward Mataitis

Dec 22, 2024

Edward E. Mataitis, 79, of Rochester passed away on December 22, 2024 at Methodist Hospital in Rochester.

Edward Eugene Mataitis was born on November 27, 1945 in Springfield, OH to Justin Mataitis and Annabelle (Lonsway) Mataitis. He attended the University of Cincinnati and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1968, he moved to Rochester, MN to work for IBM...

Jeffrey Brauer

Dec 21, 2024

Jeffrey Alan Brauer, 56, of Eyota, MN passed away at home surrounded by his family on December 21, 2024, after a courageous battle with Glioblastoma, diagnosed in March 2023.

He was born on December 15, 1968, in Decorah, Iowa and spent his childhood living in Northeast Iowa. Jeff traveled extensively with his father – camping, fishing and hunting in the northwestern...

Maurice Hagen

Dec 20, 2024

Reverend Maurice "Maury" Hagen went to be with his Heavenly Father on December 20, 2024, after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

He was born on June 10, 1943, to Maurice Edgar Hagen and Mildred (Cohrs) Hagen.

Maury grew up in Duluth, MN and graduated from Denfeld High School, Class of '61. He went on to pursue his education at...

Marion Tomfohrde

Dec 19, 2024

Marion E. Tomfohrde, 95, of Rochester passed away on December 19, 2024.

Marion was born on June 22, 1929 in Pine Island, MN to Lucile and Ada Kundert. She attended Pine Island Public School.

In May of 1948, Marion married Alfred Jensen in Kankakee, IL. They divorced in October of 1950. She moved back to Pine Island and worked...

Anna Easley

Dec 18, 2024

Ann Easley passed away peacefully on December 18, 2024, with daughters Patricia and Margie by her side. When a woman lives as long as Ann has, it is difficult to capture the essence of her life in a few words.

The daughter of immigrant parents, George and Mildred Tometich, Anna Frances Tometich was born in Numa, Iowa, on July 25, 1926....

Donald Koster

Dec 18, 2024

Donald C. Koster, age 82, of Rochester, MN passed away on December 18, 2024 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN with his loving wife and granddaughter by his side.

Donald Clarence Koster was born on April 17, 1942 on the Koster family farm in Osborne Township, Pipestone County, MN. He was one of six children, all of...

Michael Siverling

Dec 16, 2024

Michael McHugh Siverling, 83, of Rochester, MN, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 16th at Cottagewood Senior Communities in Rochester.

Michael was born in St. Paul, MN, on February 9th,1941. He was the son of Donald and Alice (McHugh) Siverling and was raised in Richfield, MN.

Michael worked at IBM as an Electrical Engineer and had many great accomplishments...

Lawrence Robitschek

Dec 15, 2024

Larry Robitschek passed away at home on December 15, 2024, surrounded by family, at age 95.

Larry was born in Chicago to Harry Robitschek and Catherine Stichter. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Harry and Glenn, and his sister, Jeanne.

After high school, Larry proudly joined the U.S. Army, serving two tours of duty, including...

Sally Vandermus

Dec 15, 2024

Sally J. Vandermus, 86, died on December 15, 2024, at Cottagewood in Rochester, MN while her 2 daughters kept vigil and surrounded her with ongoing and loving support. Born in Berlin, WI on April 9, 1938, as an only child to Clarence and Anna Erdman. She had a great love of Mayo's remarkable care after surviving a brain tumor at...

Henry Mathre

Dec 14, 2024

Henry Jerome (Jerry) Mathre was born October 4, 1931, in Glenwood, Minnesota. He was the youngest child of Henry and Hanna Mathre. Jerry was baptized upon birth and confirmed at Glenwood Lutheran Church. His elementary and high school education took place in the Glenwood Public Schools.

After graduating from high school in 1949, Jerry attended Luther College in Decorah,...