Richard “Dick” Billings, 90, of Chatfield, Minn., passed away peacefully Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at Season’s Hospice in Rochester, Minn. Dick was born in Rochester, Minn. on February 11, 1931 to John and Sophie (Kapp) Billings. He grew up in the Racine and High Forest area where he attended rural schools through the eighth grade. He enlisted in the Navy in 1946 at a very … [Read more...]
Miriam R. Rogers
Miriam R. Rogers, age 78, of Rochester, passed away on July 5, 2021, at her home. She was born Miriam Rebecca Fokema on April 24, 1943, in La Crosse, Wis., to Peter and Loreen (Gerdes) Fokema. Miriam graduated from a “one room” schoolhouse and received her Teaching Certificate and Master’s from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She taught in Viroqua, Wis. She … [Read more...]
Lois Nora Gehrke Anderson
Lois Nora Gehrke Anderson passed away on May 27, 2021. She was born December 10, 1929, in Chatfield, Minn. Lois was the eighth of Louis and Frieda Gehrke’s 10 children. Lois attended John Marshall High School in St. Paul. In November of 1948 Lois married Harold Anderson at St. Stephanus Lutheran Church in St. Paul. They farmed in southeastern Minnesota, renting and owning … [Read more...]
City of Chatfield covers cost overrun for dugout
The cost of construction of the baseball dugout in Chatfield has run over the estimate by about $10,000 due to delays because of COVID and significant increases in raw material costs this year. At the city council’s May 10 meeting the council approved additional funding up to $10,000 for the project. Councilor Josh Broadwater was absent. The total cost of the project is … [Read more...]
Chatfield School Board approves 2021 revised budget
At the May 5, 2021, board meeting, board members present were: Josh Thompson, Matt McMahon (virtually), Jill Harstad, Tom Keefe, and Lanny Isensee as well as Principals Shane McBroom, Randy Paulson, Superintendent Ed Harris, Trista O’Connor, business manager and Lorri Lowrey, administrative assistant. Board member Katie Priebe was absent. Principal Paulson reported on end of … [Read more...]
Donald “Don” E. Meyer
Donald “Don” E. Meyer, age 84, of Owatonna, passed away at his home on April 21, 2021, surrounded by his family. He was born November 27, 1936, in rural Fountain to Edwin and Alice (Finnerud) Meyer. Don graduated from Preston High School in 1954. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1958. He later joined the Army Reserve, serving from 1980 to 1996. Most of his … [Read more...]
Diane Jeanette Vogen
On March 30, 2021, Diane Vogen, loving mother of three children, passed away at the age of 76. Diane was born in Chatfield, Minn., to Cyril and Ethel Kester, and graduated from Harmony High School in 1962. At the age of 19, she married Larry Vogen at Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony, Minn. In 1982, she and her family moved to Encinitas, Calif., where she received a … [Read more...]
Fireside Pet Lodge: A new place to send your furry friend
The wake-up call usually comes at 6 a.m. and is quickly followed by 30 minutes of outdoor exercise. Next comes breakfast, and then rest and relaxation. But the rest doesn’t last long, as there are a lot more opportunities for exercise and one-on-one time with a trainer throughout the day. No, this isn’t some fitness resort for humans, rather it is Fireside Pet Lodge by … [Read more...]
Douglas Ferguson
Douglas H. Ferguson, 57, died March 19, 2021, with family and friends by his side in St. Cloud, Minn. A graveside service was held Thursday, March 25, 2021, at the Chatfield Cemetery in Chatfield, Minn. He was born in Fort Collins, Colo., to William Ferguson and Ellen Ferguson. His father was a dentist in Fort Collins. His mother was a speech therapist. Douglas … [Read more...]
Chatfield joins Root River Trail Towns
Community representatives of Root River Trail Towns voted unanimously on Wednesday, February 17, to accept Chatfield into the Root River Trail Towns organization. Established in 1988, Root River Trail Towns was created as a non-profit group to market the Root River and Harmony-Preston Valley state bike trails. Participating communities include Fountain, Preston, Harmony, … [Read more...]