Paula Smutny Michel passed away peacefully late on January 22, 2023, in Harmony, Minn., following a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was 83. Paula was born in Des Moines, Iowa, on August 8, 1939, to Alice (Miller) and Ralph Stutsman, a registered nurse and an office equipment and business forms salesman. She was an only child. She described herself as a … [Read more...]
Murrel Allen Prey
Murrel Allen Prey, 86 of La Crescent, Minn., died on his birthday, Wednesday, January 18, 2023. He was born January 18, 1937, in Fillmore County, Minn., to Rudolph and Alma (Peterson) Prey. He attended Harmony, Minn., schools and graduated from high school in 1955. Murrel joined the Air Force and was stationed in Texas, Wyoming, and for three years in Germany. Murrel said he … [Read more...]
Harmony Chamber of Commerce begins rebranding the city
When the Harmony Chamber of Commerce met for its annual meeting January 17, a big focus was the work of rebranding the city. After the 20 or so attendees enjoyed a social hour and soups and salads, Allison Whalen, who became the Chamber director in October, reviewed the process so far. Whalen shared the city’s mission statement, “To support, promote, and foster connections … [Read more...]
William Gartner
William “Billy” Gartner, 78, died on December 29, 2022, at Gundersen Harmony Care Center, where he had resided for the last five years. He had been battling pneumonia the past couple weeks. Billy was born on August 9, 1944, to George and Thenora (Storlie) Gartner, in Preston, Minn., and lived in the same house for 73 years, until he had a fall, and went to the care center. … [Read more...]
Betty Darlene Storlie
Betty Darlene Storlie, 86, passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at Harmony Place in Harmony, Minn. Betty was born on the family farm just south of Harmony on December 13, 1936, to Frances (Olsen) and Leonard Stoskopf. She was the oldest of two children. In 1954 she graduated from Canton High School. Betty recalled being a member of the first senior class to take an … [Read more...]
Harmony council swears in new members
The newest Harmony City Council member, Michael Himlie and returning mayor, Steve Donney were sworn in at the January 10 council meeting. Council member Kyle Scheevel was absent from the meeting, but had been sworn in earlier that day as well by City Attorney Greg Schieber. The consent agenda was approved and included the claims and December checks, approval of the ABDO audit … [Read more...]
Roger Luvern Applen
Roger Luvern Applen sadly passed away, surrounded by his loving family, on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at the age of 74 in Tucson, Ariz. Roger was born March 10, 1948, to Howard and Thelma (Busse) Applen of Harmony, Minn. After graduating from Harmony High School in 1966, he moved to Tucson, Ariz., where he attended the University of Arizona. While in Tucson, he met the love … [Read more...]
Arlene B. Blaess
Arlene B. Blaess, age 85, of Harmony, Minn., formerly of Burr Oak, Iowa and Canton, Minn., died Sunday, January 1, 2023, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. Arlene was born in Ossian, Iowa, to Selmer and Alice (Barnes) Reinertson. She attended country school and Bethany Lutheran Church. On July 31, 1959, she was united in marriage to Darold Blaess at Bethany Lutheran. They … [Read more...]
Ronald “Robin” Warren Foltz
Robin was was born October 7, 1949, in Harmony, Minn. to Warren and Jean (Robinson) Foltz. He graduated from the Mabel High School in 1967. He married Lola Folkedahl on July 15, 1967. They lived in Hesper, where they raised their two children. He had various jobs including DECO Products, Gorham Milk Hauling for 22 years, and most recently, truck driving for Bruenings and … [Read more...]
Home Rebate Program to continue in Harmony with some changes
Chris Giesen gave the EDA report to the Harmony City Council at their December 13 meeting. The EDA will continue its Home Rebate Program with some updates this year. The program has received national and international attention since its inception in 2014. Harmony was only one of three cities in Fillmore County that saw population growth in the last census which Giesen … [Read more...]