OBITUARIES
Recent obituaries in Wadena County, Minnesota
The obituaries in the Sebeka, Minnesota Area reflect the region's diverse population, featuring individuals from a variety of ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Some were pioneers in their fields, while others dedicated their lives to community service or philanthropy. Their stories serve as a reminder of the richness and complexity Wadena County's history and identity.
Donald Kenneth Strayer
Mar 29, 2013
Donald Kenneth Strayer age 79, of Wadena, MN died Friday, March 29, 2013 at Sanford Heath in Fargo, ND. Donald was born to Kenneth and Mabel (Godden) Strayer on March 25, 1934 in Algona, Iowa, where he was raised and graduated from Algona High School. On November 27, 1956 Donald was inducted into the United States Army, after his honorable...
Verlene Jean Nordby
Mar 20, 2013
Verlene Jean (Ylitalo) Nordby was born to Waino and Miriam (Koskela) Ylitalo at the family home near Wolf Lake, MN on the first day of summer, June 21st, 1935. She passed on the first day of spring, March 20th, 2013, at the age of 77. She died peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle...
Steven Lee Salminen
Mar 12, 2013
Steven Lee Salminen age 52 of Menahga, Minnesota died Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at Essentia Health in Fargo, North Dakota. Steven was born July 28, 1960, in Park Rapids, MN, the son of Donald and Anna (Zepper) Kangas. Steven was baptized and confirmed at First English Lutheran Church in Menahga Steven was raised and attended school in Menahga, he completed...
Verna Mae Lieske
Feb 17, 2013
Verna Mae Lieske passed away on Sunday, February 17th, 2013 at her home in Huntersville at the age of 76 with her family by her side. Verna was born on April 18, 1936 in Raymond, MN. The daughter of Elizabeth (Miller) and Clarence Ruchti. In 1955, she was united in marriage to Robert Lieske. This union was blessed with three...
Aldrich Niemela
Feb 16, 2013
Aldrich Isaac Niemela age 93, of Menahga, MN died Saturday, February 16, 2013 at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga, MN. Aldrich was born to Jacob and Mary (Bimberg) Niemela on June 8, 1919 in rural Menahga, MN, where he was raised and attended country school and helped on the family farm. He graduated from Menahga High school in...
Virginia (Ginger) Elaine Weappa
Feb 8, 2013
Virginia (Ginger) Elaine Weappa, 86, of Sebeka, MN passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday, February 8th at the Heritage House of Sebeka. Born on November 28, 1926 to Flora (Lee) and Omer Stephenson, Ginger was a graduate of Sebeka High School. She married the late Ralph William Weappa on August 26, 1943 and they made their...
Wayne Keith Stomberg
Feb 6, 2013
Wayne Keith Stomberg passed away at his home February 6, 2013. Wayne Keith Stomberg was born August 28, 1962 in Denver, Colorado. He attended school in Colorado, Utah and his senior year in Menahga, Minnesota. He was an honor student and played football in Utah and Menahga where he graduated in 1980. Wayne worked in restaurant management for many years....
Wesley Oscar Ervasti
Jan 30, 2013
Wesley O. Ervasti of Sebeka, MN died on January 30, 2013 at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga, MN. He was born January 8, 1926 to Oscar and Hilja (Grip) Ervasti at their farm in rural Sebeka. Wesley lived on the same farm essentially all of his 87 years. He is survived by brother Marlyn (Ruth) and sister Florence...
Ethel Mary Schumaker
Jan 26, 2013
Ethel Mary Schumaker, age 84, of Menahga, MN died Saturday, January 26, 2013 at Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga. Ethel “Sandi” was born to Edwin and Theresa (Voss) Hughes on September 23, 1928 in Underwood, South Dakota. She graduated from Park Rapids High School in 1946. She married Leland Schumaker in 1949 and they were blessed with three...
Sharon Lea Koski
Dec 24, 2012
Sharon Lea Koski, age 63, of rural Osage, MN, peacefully passed away at home on December 24, 2012. Sharon was born to Jonas and Myrtle (nee Eklund) Marjamaa on October 18, 1949, in the Finntown section of Butte, Montana. Her childhood was spent in Butte but her real love was Minnesota and Sharon spent most of her childhood summers staying...
Alvin Joe Haataja
Dec 23, 2012
Alvin Joe Haataja, age 73, of Wadena, MN, died Sunday, December 23, 2012 at the Frazee Care Center of Frazee, MN. Alvin received wonderful care as a resident at the care center since August 2011; with one of his daughters being one of the many caregivers he had. Alvin was born to Andrew and Hilda (Johnson) Haataja in Spruce Grove...
Christ Robert Hinders
Dec 11, 2012
Christ (Chris) Robert Hinders–Bob to those who knew him well was born on October 3, 1943 to Christ Louis Hinders and Mildred Lucille (Rowe) Hinders in Becker County, MN. He passed away in his home on December 11, 2012, at the age of 69. Chris grew up in Sebeka, MN and graduated from Sebeka High in 1961. He was self-employed...
Sherry Denise Nolte
Dec 7, 2012
Sherry Denise Nolte age 47, passed away on December 7, 2012 due to diabetes at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, MN. Sherry was born February 5, 1965 at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas to Thayer (Ted) and Ernestine (Waggoner) Nolte. She graduated from Faribault High School in 1984 and attended Tech School in St. Paul, MN....
Gladys Norma Frahm
Dec 6, 2012
Gladys Norma (Haukedahl) Frahm, age 84, of Sebeka, Minnesota, died at her home in rural Sebeka December 6, 2012 surrounded by the love of her family. Gladys was born on November 23, 1928 in Audubon, Minnesota to Nordahl and Mina (Jacobson) Haukedahl. She grew up in Audubon, Minnesota with her twin brother Glenn and seven other siblings and graduated from...
Martin Sandfred Olson
Nov 23, 2012
Martin Sanfred Olson was born on December 28, 1922 to Chester and Bernice Olson in Wadena County and was taken to Our Lord on November 23, 2012 at the age of 89. He was raised in Rockwood Township and attended school into the ninth grade. On February 27, 1945 he entered the Army and served until December of 1946, when...
Laurie Lee (Odland) Skaro
Nov 18, 2012
Laurie Lee (Odland) Skaro, age 58, of Sebeka, MN, passed away peacefully Sunday, November 18, 2012, at her home, surrounded by her family following a courageous battle with cancer. Laurie was born May 12, 1954, in Buffalo, Wyoming. She was the 1st of 4 children born to Faye Donald and Rita (Sangrey) Odland. She grew up in Montana, moving to...
Kenneth Stanley Moench
Nov 14, 2012
Kenneth Stanley Moench (Ken), age 56, passed away on November 14, 2012, due to complications of cancer at Fair Oaks Lodge, Wadena MN, where he received special, compassionate care. Ken was born September 25, 1956, at Wesley Hospital, Wadena MN, to Stanley and Violet Moench. He graduated from Sebeka High School in 1975 and Anoka Hennepin Technical College for Auto...
Wilbert “Willie” Emil Froemming
Nov 12, 2012
Wilbert “Willie” Emil Froemming age 87 of Menahga, MN died Monday, November 12, 2012 at his home in Menahga. Willie was born to William and Sophie (Dittberner) Froemming on July 18, 1925 in Carlos, MN. Willie was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. He attended grade school in Miltona, MN and graduated with the class of 1943 from Jefferson...
Virginia Raye Sammeli
Nov 4, 2012
Virginia Raye Sammeli, age 74 of Menahga, MN passed away at the St. Joseph's Hospital, in Park Rapids, MN, on November 4, 2012. Virginia was born March 23, 1938 to Signe and Julius Johnson from Menahga. Virginia grew up on a farm near Menahga with her older brother Russell. She went to a country school and then to High School...
Josephine Mary Malone
Nov 2, 2012
Josephine Mary Lamphier Malone, age 104 of Sebeka, MN died Friday, November 02, 2012 at Heritage House in Sebeka, MN. Josephine was born to Clifford and Mary (Koehler) Lamphier on November 14, 1907 in Bear Creek Township, near Elkader, Iowa. She was raised on a farm in Bear Creek which flooded every Spring. Josephine attended 12 years of schooling and...


