Helen M. Austin, age 97, of Mabel, died Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at Green Lea Senior Living in Mabel. Helen was born July 2, 1920, in Mabel, Minn., to Oscar and Bernice (Lee) Thompson. She attended country schools in the Mabel area and graduated from the Mabel High School in 1938. After high school Helen attended beauty school and worked as a beautician. She later worked … [Read more...]
Lois (Lommen) Sollien
Lois (Lommen) Sollien, age 83, of rural Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on January 1, 2018. Lois was born in Spring Grove to Harry and Stella (Aasum) Lommen on August 6, 1934. She attended country schools in rural Mabel and Spring Grove. She graduated from Spring Grove School in 1952. Lois was very active in 4-H, serving as president of … [Read more...]
Mabel works to attract new businesses
Mayor Jim Westby told the city council at its December meeting that he met with representatives from Kwik Trip and Dollar General in an effort to get them to locate in Mabel. Both companies said the same thing — there’s just not enough traffic to make it feasible to come here. Westby said he met with the top-level representative from Kwik Trip and it was a good meeting, but the … [Read more...]
Jill Annette Dawley
Jill Annette Dawley, age 61, of Burr Oak, Iowa, passed away Saturday, December 2 at home surrounded by family, following a brief battle with cancer. Jill was born February 23, 1956, in La Crosse, Wis., to to Eugene and Clara (Casterton) McCabe. She attended school at the North Winneshiek School in rural Decorah. On August 29, 1975, she married Daniel Dawley at the St. … [Read more...]
Roger N. Eiken
Roger N. Eiken, age 83, of rural Canton, died Thursday, November 30, 2017 at Green Lea Senior Living in Mabel. Roger was born April 26, 1934, in Spring Grove, Minn., to Norman and Doris (Dahl) Eiken. In 1952, he graduated from the Canton High School. He farmed in Amherst Township of Fillmore County, raising beef cattle and crops. On March 23, 1955 he married Winifred … [Read more...]
Marcellus Ranzenberger
Marcellus Ranzenberger, age 77, of Spring Grove, Minn., formerly of Mabel, Minn., and Dorchester, Iowa, died Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at Gundersen Tweeten Care Center in Spring Grove. Marcellus was born January 6, 1937 in Waukon, Iowa. He graduated from Spring Grove High School. He married Mary Ann Rasmussen and they lived and farmed in the Dorchester area until moving … [Read more...]
Freddie C. Paulson
Freddie C. Paulson, age 84, of Rochester, Minn., formerly of Mabel and Grand Meadow, died Saturday, November 18, 2017. Fred was born January 6, 1933, in Canton Township, Minn., to Edwin and Mabel (Erickson) Paulson. On August 22, 1953, he married Mary Yetzer at the Church of the Assumption, Richfield, Minn. Fred is survived by a son, Thomas (Juli) Paulson; four daughters: … [Read more...]
Allan J. Dybvik
Allan J. Dybvik, age 77, of rural Decorah, Iowa, died Saturday, November 18, at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. Allan was born January 19, 1940, in Cresco, Iowa. He graduated from the Cresco High School and then served in the United States Air Force with the Military Police K-9 unit. After returning from the Air Force, he married Carol Rommes at St. John’s … [Read more...]
Brian Kerns
Brian Kerns, age 56, of Canton, passed away peacefully Saturday, November 11 at his home in Canton, following an 18-month battle with cancer. Brian was born November 5, 1961, in Rochester, Minn., to Lynn and Diana (Dotzenrod) Kerns. He grew up in the Prosper area and graduated from the Mabel-Canton High School in 1980. On August 29, 1987, he married Lorie Qualy in Lanesboro … [Read more...]
Mabel fire department awarded increase
Mabel’s Fire Chief, Orel Tollefson, addressed the city council again regarding a pay increase for his firefighters. Tollefson said, “When I was here at last month’s meeting, it seemed somewhat combative. It bothered me when Mayor Westby said that he had heard if we didn’t get a raise, my guys were going to quit. Well, that just isn’t true. I asked my fire department and no one … [Read more...]