Area Obituaries

Pamela Rae Faken, 81, of Lancaster, Minn., passed away peacefully at Kittson Memorial Hospital on Thursday, May 1, 2025, with family by her side. Born on Jan. 4, 1944, Pam was the daughter of Carl and Lela (Buck) Baker. She was raised in Hallock, Minn., and was baptized in the Lutheran Church during her youth.…

Dr. Bruce Montplaisir, age 78, of Onamia, Minn., passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025. Bruce Montplaisir was born in Fargo N.D., on April 3, 1947. His parents were Henry and Jennet (Larum) Montplaisir. Bruce was the eighth of Henry and Jennet’s 12 children. The family lived in Horace, N.D., at the time. Bruce graduated…

Billy L. Dexter, 61, of Grand Forks, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., passed away on Sept. 21, 2024, at his home in Moorhead. Billy Lyle Dexter was born on Nov. 6, 1962, in Hallock, Minn., the son of Lyle and Jane (Boychuk) Dexter. Billy grew up on the family farm with his parents, sister and brothers.…

Richard A. Olson, 78, of Lancaster, Minn., passed away peacefully at the Hallock nursing home on Thursday, April 24, 2025, with his wife, Carla, by his side. Richard Allen Olson was born to Peter and Charlotte Olson on Nov. 30, 1946. He was baptized and confirmed in the Presbyterian faith. Richard attended Hallock High School,…

Marie Margaret Lindstrom, 85, of Lake Bronson, Minn., passed away Thursday, April 17 in Hallock, Minn. Marie was born July 29, 1939, to William and Lena (Safriuk) Weleski, and raised in Caribou Township. After graduating from Lancaster High School, she worked at Northwestern State Bank in Hallock, then moved to Minneapolis and began working as…

Richard Wilwant, 98, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2025, in Hallock, Minn. Born on Oct. 24, 1926, in Blackduck, Minn., Richard lived a long and fulfilling life marked by joyful service, loyal integrity and ultimate kindness. Richard proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. Stationed in Guam during…

Willard “Willy” Levenhagen, 91, a long-time Lake Bronson area farmer, passed away at Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center in Hallock, Minn., on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Willard William Levenhagen was born Nov. 2, 1933, in Monona, Iowa, the son of Frederick and Clara (Kiester) Levenhagen. Willard’s family moved to the Donaldson-Kennedy area when he was a…

Susan Aileen Tufford died Monday, March 10, 2025. Susan Olson was born Jan. 1, 1944, the second of six children and the only girl. Susan graduated from Hallock High School class of 1962. She obtained an RN degree from Fairview nursing school in 1964. She married Robert Tufford in 1965. They had three sons; David,…

Margaret (aka Peg/Peggy) Anna (Strege) Backstrom was born at home near Orleans, Minnesota, on Sept. 3, 1925. And she left us from her home in Long Beach, Calif., to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Her wit, determination, and commitment will be missed by all who knew her. Peg, daughter of Art…

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Darlyne Ruth (Swanson) Holmgren Koch, 88, passed peacefully on the evening of Saturday, March 1, 2025. She was a devoted wife, loving homemaker and community builder. Darlyne, the daughter of William and Pearl (Johnston) Swanson was born Feb. 14, 1937, in Hallock, Minn. The family temporarily moved to Fergus Falls,…