Obituaries

Jul 1, 2025

The world lost a force of nature when Robert "Bob" John Swenson left this life on July 1, 2025. He faced his final months with grace and grit and is now pain free (though likely still a little gruff).

He was born June 6, 1945 in Slayton, Minnesota, the fourth of seven children to Harold "Swede" and Cathryn (Onken) Swenson. He...

Jun 24, 2025

Arlene Pauline (Littau) Post, Chandler, MN, was born on February 8, 1934. She passed away June 24, 2025, due to failing health at the age of 91. Arlene was the 8th of 10 children born to Benjamin and Katherina (Burr) Littau on the ranch by Carter, SD. 

Arlene went to a one-room school until 9th grade when she went to Winner...

Jun 7, 2025

Henry W. Van Dam was born on a farm northwest of Chandler, MN to Henrietta (Roghair) and Gerhart Van Dam, Sr., on June 15, 1935.

When Henry was 5 years old, they moved to a farm northeast of Edgerton, MN where he grew up. Henry helped on the family farm and as a teenager, he helped with custom work in the...

May 25, 2025

Raymond H. Talsma was born April 30, 1948 to Dick and Angie (Masselink) Talsma. He attended Chandler Christian Elementary School and Southwest Christian High School, graduating in 1966. He then attended Jackson Vocational School for carpentry.

Ray enlisted in the Navy in the fall of 1969 and served in the Seabees until July of 1971. During that time, he was trained...

Apr 29, 2025

David Dean Overman of Slayton, MN was born on August 25, 1958, in Slayton, MN to William J. and Anne Joyce (Schelhaas) Overman. David grew up on the family farm north of Iona, MN while attending school in Slayton. He graduated from Slayton High School in 1977.

Dave returned to the farm after high school and married Pam Kemper on November...

Apr 8, 2025

Henry Marvin “Jack” Van Dam

December 20, 1938 — April 8, 2025

Henry Marvin “Jack” Van Dam was born on December 20, 1938, in Slayton, Minnesota, to Henry Jr. and Eva (Van Ruler) Van Dam. The local schoolteacher boarded with the family, and she looked after Jack after school. As he was quite the rambunctious young man, she joked that he was...

Feb 21, 2025

 WILLIAM “BILL” KARSSEN JR., age 82, of rural Chandler, died Friday, February 21, 2025, at Hospice of Murray County, in Slayton after a battle with cancer. He was born June 16, 1942, in Leeds Township, to William Sr. and Jeanetta (Eggink) Karssen. Bill graduated from the Chandler High School in 1960. He served his country in the Army Reserves as...

Feb 21, 2024

Wallace Runia, 95, of Balaton, MN passed away peacefully at Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall, MN on February 21, 2024. A visitation will be held at the Chandler Funeral Home in Chandler, MN on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 from 5:00-7:00PM and a memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at the Chandler Reformed Church at...

Nov 15, 2023

Lois Ferguson,  88, of Lake Wilson, MN died on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at the Prairie View Nursing Home in Tracy, MN. Gathering of friends and family will be on Monday, November 20, 2023 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at the Chandler Funeral Home, Chandler,  MN.   A private burial will be held at a later date.

Lois...

Nov 1, 2023

Delphia Merrie (Gilbertson) VandenBurg, 98, of Fulda, Minnesota passed away peacefully on November 1, 2023, at the Maple Lawn Nursing Home in Fulda, Minnesota.

Delphia, best known as Del, was born August 11, 1925, in Rock County, Minnesota to Augustus Gilbertson and Edna (Schmidt) Gilbertson.

On March 16, 1945, she was united in...

Oct 28, 2023

Julia Lavina (Noethe) Johnson passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, MN.

Julia Lavina Noethe was born on October 20, 1933 in Holly Township of Murray County, MN to William and Tilde (Knudsen) Noethe. Julia was baptized at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tracy, MN. She grew...

Oct 7, 2023

James (Jim) Willard Post passed away peacefully at his home on October 7, 2023. A Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023 from 5:00-8:00PM at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church in Chandler, MN. A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 13, 2023 at 10:30AM at St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in...

Aug 31, 2023

Marie (Van Bemmel) Van Dam

Marie (Van Bemmel) Van Dam passed away peacefully at Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, MN on August 31, 2023. Visitation will be on Monday, September 4, 2023 from 6:00-8:00PM at the Chandler Funeral Home in Chandler, MN. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 10:30AM at the...

Jul 14, 2023

Janice Alfreda (Karssen) Vander Poel was born on May 5, 1939, to William Karssen and Jeanetta Karssen (Eggink). Janice was born in Leeds township in Murray County, Minnesota.

Jann grew up with five siblings on a farm outside of Chandler, MN. She graduated as Valedictorian from Chandler High School in Chandler, MN. She later graduated from Pipestone...

Jul 5, 2023

Taylor Joy Krosschell was born January 17, 1993 in Belem, Para, Brazil. On December 2, 1994 she was placed in the hearts of her parents Roger and Tami Krosschell. She and her new brother, Brett soon called Chandler, MN their home. Taylor was baptized at Chandler Christian Reformed Church on February 19, 1995. She went on to attend Chandler...

Sep 8, 2022

Ronna Lee Varns was born on January 17, 1963, in Greeley, Colorado, to Delbert and Bette (Ott) Hodson. On Thursday, September 8, 2022, Ronna lost her battle with cancer and died at her home with her family beside her. Ronna attended public school in Gearing, Nebraska and later Ipswich, South Dakota. After graduating high school, Ronna attended and graduated...

Aug 1, 2022

Dorothy Kathleen Klingenberg, 79, of Chandler, MN passed away peacefully on Monday, August 1, 2022, at Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, MN.

Visitation will be held on August 25, 2022 from 9:00 - 10:00 AM at Chandler Reformed Church, Chandler, MN and Interment will be at the Chandler Memorial Cemetery at 10:15 AM. Memorial Service will follow...

Feb 10, 2022

Verna Sabin, age 93, of Lake Wilson, died Thursday, February 10, 2022, at the Pipestone County Medical Center in Pipestone, MN.  She was born October 27, 1928, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, MN, to Wieber and Evelyn (Bauman) Swart. She was the oldest of three children and grew up on the Swart family farm in the...

Jan 31, 2022

Hedwig (Hedy) Schmitke, 88, of Chandler, MN, died on Monday, January 31, 2022 at Murray County Hospice House, in Slayton, MN. Services for Hedwig Schmitke are planned for Memorial weekend in Virginia, MN.  Condolences may be mailed to Karl Schmitke, 310 3rd Ave. SW, Pipestone, MN 56164.

On July 19th, 1933, in the town of...

Dec 12, 2021

Alan Dale Van Dam, 51, of Chandler, MN died on Sunday, December 12, 2021 at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.  Visitation will be held at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church on Thursday, December 16, 2021 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM, and will continue on Friday, December 17 from 9:30 - 10:30 AM with the funeral service at...